Noble Hawk Golf Links, Kendallville, IN

When you’re thinking about where to go on your next golf vacation, Fort Wayne isn’t likely to be top of your list. But if you live in the upper Midwest, maybe it should be. There are no less than 25 courses in the area that are open to public play and several of the top tier courses have been packaged together by Great Indiana Golf, which operates out of Cobblestone Golf Club in Kendallville, IN. Here are three “must-play” courses when you're in the area.

Noble Hawk is one of those elite courses and a “must-play” in the area; it too has received its share of recognition. Golf Digest Places to Play awarded them 4 out of 5 stars. Course owner Tim Dykstra thinks that Noble Hawk is one of the most unique courses in the area and after playing a round on it, I think he may be right.

The course is a combination of several golf course styles. Several holes will remind you of a southern course with lots of sand and water. Believe me, having lived, and played golf in Florida for 25 years, there is only so much you can do with sand, water, and palm trees, so having a couple of other styles to fall back on is a good thing. A few holes feature tree-lined fairways, something you find on mountain-type courses. Several holes feature manmade hazards such as ponds, bunkers, and built-up rough like a parkland course. But to me. the overall feel of Noble Hawk is more like a Scottish heathland-style with gently rolling fairways carpeted in Bentgrass fairways, large undulating greens, and a variety of ornamental grasses that add to the challenge and overall linksy look of the layout. In addition to outstanding golf facilities, the level of service provided by the friendly staff is second to none.

Each side has its own risk/reward hole. The 7th is listed on the scorecards at 295 yards but plays downhill. Sand and water divide the fairway and while it is drivable and gives up the occasional eagle, playing for birdie is a more prudent idea. Number 14 is a very narrow but short par 4 that plays 299 yards. An iron or fairway wood off the tee is the smart play. The slope of the fairway will funnel the ball back to the middle and leave a short iron into one of the course’s smallest green. Brains over brawn will yield a better score.

The 13th hole stands out in my memory from my trip to Noble Hawk. I love courses that name their holes and this is one of the best: The Jugular! For most golfers, this 542-yard par 5 is a 3-shot hole. It’s a tight driving hole with trees on either side and is best played with a drive down the right. Choose your layup club carefully and leave yourself a manageable distance into the green. You’ll have to carry a small valley on your approach shot and it’s important to be on the right level of this multi-tiered green. Par is a great score here.

The Best Western Kendallville Inn is the preferred hotel partner of Great Golf Indiana. The hotel is locally owned and was recently renovated. The Best Western Kendallville Inn has all of your typical big-city hotel amenities and a heaping helping of warm, small-town hospitality. They offer a variety of rooms and suites that are perfect for golf groups and couples. Rooms include a microwave and refrigerator, 32-inch LCD TV, high-speed Internet access, and a full breakfast buffet. Be sure to ask about the “special perks” available for their golf visitors. Nearby Fort Wayne offers big-city entertainment, dining, and shopping.

The Fort Wayne area is poised to be the host of a multi-venue golf tournament like they have in Myrtle Beach and Mesquite, Nevada. They have the courses and accommodations to pull it off and with a little participation from local restaurants I’m confident it would be a success. Great Indiana Golf has put together some great golf packages that include some of the best golf courses Indiana & SW Michigan has to offer together with overnight accommodations at the Best Western Kendallville Inn.