Peru, Indiana isn't exactly the first place that pops into your head when you think of world-class golf destinations. It's a quiet spot, deeply rooted in the Midwest. But tucked away on a piece of land that used to be a gravel pit sits Rock Hollow Golf Club, and honestly, it’s one of the most visually arresting and punishing tracks you’ll ever play in the state. People talk about "hidden gems" so much it’s become a cliché, but this place actually earns the title. It’s a Tim Liddy design—he was a protégé of the legendary Pete Dye—and you can see that sadistic, brilliant influence in every jagged rock and undulation.
It’s rough. It's beautiful. It's affordable.
Most people expect a flat, cornfield-adjacent round when they drive through Miami County. Instead, you get a 300-acre masterclass in reclamation. The Smith family, who owns the property, took an old industrial site and turned it into a sanctuary for golfers who don't mind losing a sleeve of balls to the limestone.
The Quarry Aesthetic and Why It Works
The sheer scale of Rock Hollow Golf Club hits you the moment you step toward the back of the clubhouse. It doesn't look like a suburban country club. There are no rows of identical houses lining the fairways. It's just you, the woods, and the remnants of a massive mining operation.
Liddy didn't just clear the rocks; he used them as focal points.
On several holes, you're staring down massive outcroppings of limestone that frame the greens or line the hazards. It creates this sense of "stadium golf" but without the artificiality. Because it was a quarry, the elevation changes are dramatic for Indiana. You aren’t just hitting side-to-side; you’re hitting up and down into "hollows" that trap the wind and make club selection a total guessing game some days.
The soil is different here too. Since it’s built on a base of sand and stone, it drains better than almost any other course in the region. You could have a torrential downpour on Tuesday and be playing firm, fast conditions on Wednesday morning. That’s a massive advantage over the clay-heavy courses found further south toward Indianapolis.
The Difficulty Factor
Let’s be real: Rock Hollow is hard. If you’re a 20-handicap, it can be a long afternoon if you pick the wrong tees. The course can stretch out to nearly 6,900 yards, and with a slope rating of 131 from the back tees, it demands precision.
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You’ve got to be able to shape the ball.
Many of the fairways are deceptively narrow because of the way the forest encroaches on the old mining pits. If you spray your driver, you aren't finding your ball in the woods. You’re just reaching into your bag for another Titleist. But that’s the draw. It’s a "players" course that rewards the bold but absolutely destroys the reckless.
Breaking Down the Most Infamous Holes
Every course has its signature, but Rock Hollow Golf Club has about four or five holes that locals talk about with a mix of reverence and genuine frustration.
Take the 9th hole. It’s a par 4 that requires a carry over a significant portion of the old quarry. If you’re short, you’re in the rocks. If you’re long, you’ve got a tricky approach to a green that doesn't like to hold onto shots.
Then there’s the 14th.
This is often cited as the hardest hole on the back nine. It’s a long par 4 where the tee shot is framed by dense trees, and the green is protected by more of that signature limestone. It feels like you're playing golf in a canyon. The silence out there is heavy. You don't hear traffic. You just hear your own heart rate increasing as you try to stick a long iron onto a tiered green.
- The Par 3s: They are arguably the strongest set of short holes in Indiana. Each one faces a different direction, meaning the wind is never the same twice.
- The Greens: They are big. Seriously. But they have "rooms." If you're in the wrong section of a Rock Hollow green, a three-putt is almost a guarantee.
- Conditioning: For a public course, the bentgrass fairways are usually kept in pristine shape, often rivaling private clubs that charge triple the greens fee.
Why Tim Liddy Matters Here
If you know golf architecture, you know Liddy’s work often feels like a puzzle. He likes to give you a "safe" side and a "hero" side. At Rock Hollow Golf Club, the hero side usually involves flirting with a 40-foot drop into a rock pile. It’s psychological. He wants you to see the danger.
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Unlike some modern architects who hide the hazards to keep play moving, Liddy puts the quarry right in your face. It’s honest golf. You see the trouble, and you either beat it or you don't.
The Logistics: Getting There and Playing
It’s about an hour and fifteen minutes north of Indianapolis. Most people make the trek up US-31, and honestly, the drive is part of the experience. You watch the landscape shift from flat industrial sprawl to the rolling hills of the Wabash River valley.
The clubhouse is functional and unpretentious. Don't come here expecting a five-star spa or a valet. That’s not what this is. This is a "boots on the ground" golf facility. The focus is 100% on the turf and the layout.
Pricing is a shocker for outsiders. You can often find midweek rates that feel like a steal for a course ranked consistently in the top 10 public tracks in the state by Golf Digest and Golfweek. It’s a working-class price for a championship-level experience.
What to Bring
- Extra Balls: Don't be proud. Even the best players lose a couple here.
- A Camera: The view from the elevated tees on the back nine, especially in the fall when the leaves change, is worth the trip alone.
- Patience: The greens are fast and the slopes are subtle. Spend ten minutes on the practice green before you head out or you’ll be frustrated by hole three.
Dealing With the "Limestone Mentality"
There is a specific way to play Rock Hollow Golf Club that most first-timers ignore. They try to overpower the course.
Bad move.
The limestone isn't just a decoration; it’s a reminder that the ground here is unforgiving. If you hit the rock, the ball isn't coming back. It’s going to bounce 50 feet into the air and disappear. The smart play is almost always to find the "fat" part of the fairway, even if it leaves you with a 170-yard approach.
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The locals know this. You’ll see guys who have played there for twenty years hitting hybrids off the tee on holes where the "big hitters" are reaching for the driver. They know that a 5 is much better than a 7, and at Rock Hollow, the difference between those two scores is usually one bad decision on the tee box.
Environmental Impact and Legacy
It’s worth noting that the Smith family didn't just build a business; they saved a piece of land. Old quarries are often left as scarred eyesores or used as landfills. By converting this into a golf course, they preserved the local topography and created a massive green space that supports local wildlife.
You’ll see deer, hawks, and the occasional coyote out there. It’s a thriving ecosystem now, which is a cool twist considering its industrial past. It’s one of the best examples of "brownfield" redevelopment in the sports world.
Final Thoughts on the Rock Hollow Experience
Is it the best course in Indiana? That’s subjective. If you like the manicured, flat perfection of a Pete Dye course in Carmel, you might find Rock Hollow a bit "rugged."
But if you like character? If you like a course that tells a story? Then Rock Hollow Golf Club is hard to beat. It’s a place that demands respect. It’s a course that makes you feel like you’ve actually accomplished something when you card a good score.
It’s not just a round of golf; it’s a bit of a battle against the elements and the history of the land itself.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
- Book in advance: Since it’s a high-ranking public course, weekend tee times fill up fast, especially during the peak autumn season.
- Check the weather: Because it's a quarry, it can get significantly hotter down in the hollows than it is in the parking lot. Bring extra water.
- Study the map: Look at the overheads of holes 8, 9, and 18. These are the "scorecard killers." Knowing where the hidden drop-offs are will save you at least four strokes.
- Visit the nearby Grissom Air Museum: If you’re making a day trip of it, the museum is just down the road and features a ton of vintage Cold War aircraft. It fits the "industrial history" vibe of the day perfectly.
Walking off the 18th green, you’ll likely be tired. Your legs will feel the elevation, and your brain will feel the strain of 18 holes of tactical planning. But you’ll probably be checking your calendar to see when you can come back and try to solve the puzzle again. That’s the hold this place has on people.