Golf Course Review & Scouting Report

Bear Chase Golf Club

Shelbyville, Indiana

IN #33

Established

2005

Access

Public

Par

Par 72

Length

4,980 – 6,509 yds

Green Fees

The verdict

Straightforward Value, Local Flavor

Bear Chase delivers honest Midwest golf with playable challenge, walkable routing, and the region’s friendliest pace. Solid shotmaking and position off the tee are rewarded, but you won’t find elite conditioning or national prestige here—just reliable fun and affordability.

Course DNA

Difficulty

Scenery

Conditioning

Shot Variety

Walkability

Green Complexity

Wow Factor

Design Quality

Don't miss

The 17th tee is a true local debate—watch regulars bet on who will go for the green and who will lay up on this short risk-reward par 4.

At a glance

Quick facts

Tee Time Access

Public and semi-private guests welcome

Pace of Play

3 hours 16 minutes average

Course Rating / Slope

71.2 / 126

Longest Hole

Hole 9, Par 5, 550 yards

Charity Events

Regular host for local fundraisers

Local Vibe

Friendly, casual neighborhood feel

Alternate Names

Also listed as 'Blue Bear' in past directories

The design

The architecture

Bear Chase Golf Club delivers a straightforward, no-nonsense Central Indiana layout—think honest par 4s, reachable par 5s for aggressive players, and a few robust par 3s to keep everyone honest. The design lacks showy modern features, instead blending into its open, slightly rolling landscape and prioritizing playable routing over penal contours. Most holes favor position from the tee, making it a thinking-golfer’s course, even as the modest greens and general accessibility keep things relaxed.

No credited architect has been verified for Bear Chase; the course reflects the anonymous, blue-collar ethos of much Midwestern golf.

Defining features

Traditional Midwest par-72 routing
Gently rolling, walkable terrain
Emphasis on position and tee accuracy
Risk-reward short par-4 seventeenth
Modest, approachable green complexes
Open but tree-lined corridors

Hole by hole

Signature holes

Hole 9

Deep Front-Nine Stretch

PAR

YARDAGE

550

The longest hole on the card, this 550-yard par 5 demands three solid shots for most players—tight off the tee, with a daunting approach if you’re out of position. It’s a true gauntlet to end the front nine and a dividing line for your round.

Play it smart

Favor placement over length—heavily flared drives will block out any real birdie chance, and the green demands a controlled layup or precision long approach.

Where it bites

Wild slices or pulls can bring bogey or worse; over-aggressive second shots risk tangled rough and a tough recovery.

Course management

Shots to think about

Facing a firm, breezy day and long par 3

Club up and play a bit short—run it on to minimize ballooning into the wind.

Tempted to drive the green on 17

Let your match and confidence decide—over-aggression can torpedo your card with a single wild shot.

Approaching the massive 9th green in two

Unless you’ve driven the fairway, play for your best wedge distance; overreaching from the rough brings big numbers.

Tricky wedge into tight Sunday pins on 5 or 6

Play toward the heart of the green—short-side yourself and you’ll need a magician’s touch.

After a blocked opening tee shot

Don’t chase hero recovery—cut your losses and a bogey, not a snowman, will keep you in the round.

Mid-iron into a crosswind on 12 or 16

Choose a target that lets you miss on the safe side; wind will amplify even small mistakes.

On the day

What to expect

Conditions

Average-to-fair, trending improved—expect playable fairways, simple bunkers, and basic greens with seasonal variation.

Pace

Generally quick, with most rounds clocking in under 3.5 hours.

Vibe

No-frills, blue-collar local atmosphere with friendly staff and casual players.

Dress code

Traditional golf attire recommended—relaxed but no tank tops or cut-offs.

Before you tee off

Your game plan

Work Your Straight Drive

Left or right off the tee quickly makes for a grind—brush up on your driver accuracy before heading out.

Keep a Sharp Wedge Game

Several short par 4s set up big birdie chances for those who can wedge it tight after a safe layup.

Pack for Changing Weather

Open fairways mean wind is a factor; bring layers and be ready to adapt.

The lore

How it came to be

2005
Bear Chase Golf Club officially opened for play in Shelbyville, Indiana.
2005
Hosted an Indiana Wesleyan University benefit outing shortly after opening.
2006
Venue for the third annual Shelbyville University golf outing.
2021
Ranked #15 on GolfPass’s Top 25 Most Improved U.S. Courses.

Stories & legends

What makes it special

naming-history

From Blue Bear to Bear Chase

Players sometimes confuse Bear Chase with its previous listed identity, Blue Bear or Elks Blue River Country Club. It’s all the same physical course, providing decades of public access to Shelbyville golfers.

condition-upgrade

Most Improved—But Still Local

Making GolfPass’s Most Improved list in 2021, Bear Chase capitalized on maintenance upgrades and steady play, but the course’s essential soul remains that of a blue-collar Indiana local hangout.

player-tip

A Course for the Straight Hitter

Reviews routinely mention that hitting it straight is key: the trees, fairway shape, and a few sneaky hazards punish wild driving, making Bear Chase a test of accuracy over power.

For the group chat

Fun facts

The course has been known as Blue Bear and Elks Blue River Country Club in its colorful past.

It ranked #15 in the entire nation for GolfPass’s Most Improved U.S. Courses in 2021.

Bear Chase’s 17th is a local favorite for wild swings late in a match—eagle or double is always in play.

Recorded pace of play has broken the three-hour mark on fast days, an Indiana rarity.

You’ll find community charity outings and local fundraisers filling the calendar at Bear Chase every season.

Build the trip

If you're building an Indianapolis-area value golf weekend

CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip

The Fort Golf Resort

Public

Premier public course with a destination feel, strong Pete Dye design, and a shotmaker’s test.

Sahm Golf Course

Municipal

Easy-to-book Indianapolis muni—classic walk, quick round, and good for groups of any skill.

Riverside Golf Club

Public

Affordable city option with history and the chance to pair with other north Indy venues.

Purgatory Golf Club

Semi-Private

Challenging layout and a local favorite, offering a more bold, modern risk-reward challenge.

Indianapolis for best access and amenities, or Shelbyville for the hyper-local experience.

Course DNA

If You Like Bear Chase Golf Club

Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.

Strong DNA Match6.5

Clear Creek Golf Course

Houston, Texas

Walkability

Why it matches: Clear Creek Golf Course is a natural next stop after Bear Chase Golf Club: it has a similarly satisfying rhythm on foot.

Strong DNA Match6.4

Burns Park Golf Course

North Little Rock, Arkansas

Walkability

Why it matches: If Bear Chase Golf Club is your kind of course, Burns Park Golf Course is worth a look because it moves through the round with the same walkable flow.

Strong DNA Match6.3

Birkdale Golf Club

Chesterfield, Virginia

Walkability

Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Birkdale Golf Club has a similarly satisfying rhythm on foot, making it a compelling counterpart to Bear Chase Golf Club.

From the community

Community Sentiment

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