Purgatory Golf Club, Noblesville, Indiana - Its Name Notwithstanding, A Golf Course That's A ``Slice of Heaven''

The Purgatory Golf Club is a resort-quality golf course devoted exclusively to golf. With a name like Purgatory, golfers may wonder what sort of experience to expect. For those brave souls who choose to play from the tournament "Purgatory Tees,'' there may be some suffering involved as the course plays to a staggering 7,754 yards (the longest in the state) with a USGA course rating of 78.1 and a slope rating of 142. From the White tees, the course plays to a very manageable 6,422 yards, and golfers may choose from a minimum of six tees on each hole. For good measure, each hole features a colorful name, such as "Pride,'' "Stains of the Inferno,'' and so on.

The course covers 218 yards, with Bent grass tees, fairways and greens and lots of space between one fairway and the next. The rough is tall Fescue, which changes color depending upon the water content in the soil. In the Fall, the rough is typically a golden brown color.

One of the most noteworthy features of the course is its bunkers, with more than 120 found on the course. The bunkers usually define the holes visually, and also outline many of the fairways, providing golfers with both safe and challenging routes to every green.

One of the most noteworthy holes is No. 2, a medium-to-long par-4 with a lake that runs the length of the hole. For golfers who shy away from that hazard, the right side of the fairway is guarded by six bunkers along its length.

The Purgatory Golf Club has received numerous honors and accolades, including a ranking among America's 100 Greatest Public Course by Golf Digest Magazine; a ranking among the Top 50 Public Courses, Readers' Choice Awards, 2009, by Golf World Magazine; a ranking as the #1 course in the state by Golfweek Magazine; and consistently being ranked among the Top 50 Course for Women by Golf for Women Magazine.

Practice facilities at the Purgatory Club include a state-of-the-art range that's more than 300 yards long with up to 40 tee stations. The practice tees, as well as all the tee boxes on the course, were leveled with a patented laser technology, ensuring a perfect, one-degree fall.

There's also a vast short-game practice area with putting and pitching greens, as well as a sand-game practice area. There's also a four-hole Junior golf course that routes through the practice area for clinics and to certify Junior golfers prior to being allowed on the full course. Golf instruction is also available by a staff of PGA certified professionals.

The Purgatory Club also features a log-cabin-style clubhouse with a full Pro Shop, a lounge affectionately named "The Confessional,'' a full-service restaurant and a banquet hall with seating for up to 250 people. There's also a snack bar on the lower level for golfers making the turn.