Noblesville, Indiana
Purgatory Golf Club delivers Indiana’s largest, boldest public golf experience: a Ron Kern original with enormous scale, links-inspired visuals, and a blend of beauty and brute challenge. Its sprawling bunkers and massive, rippling greens provide drama from the opening tee shot to the final putt—you’ll need both power and patience to conquer it.
Purgatory Golf Club is Ron Kern’s boldest Indiana creation—an 18-hole public course that fuses the scale and visual drama of classic links inspiration with the playability and strategic diversity of modern design. Features include some of the Midwest’s largest, rough-hewn bunkers, immense undulating greens, and sweeping fairways flanked by tall fescues. Kern’s philosophy was to blend the old and the new, crafting a course that looks intimidating but plays fair, especially with carefully designed, forgiving bunker floors and multiple routes to every hole. The result: a memorable journey where each shot presents a clear but always tactical dilemma.
Ron Kern pulled from the playbook of Alister Mackenzie and Indiana’s own Bill Diddel—delivering a bold, strategic course that balances spectacle and fairness.
A lengthy par 3 surrounded by fescue and guarded by severe bunkering, this hole tests both nerves and long-iron prowess. Opt for the center of the green—a risky play at the pin can mean a quick trip to purgatory’s sand.
Play to the fat side of the green; don’t chase tucked flags.
Misses right or short bring brutal recoveries from deep bunkers.
Solid public-course turf; dramatic bunkers; some areas a little ragged in shoulder season but generally well-kept for high traffic.
Efficient for such a large-scale course—4.5-5 hour rounds typical weekends, faster midweek.
Relaxed, welcoming; friendly staff; avid-golfer energy without city-club stuffiness.
Standard collared shirt and soft spikes; check website for updates.
You’ll hit everything from driver to long iron—be ready for yardage swings from the many tee options.
Bunkers shape every tee shot and approach. Knowing their locations is key to plotting your round.
Don’t force yourself to play extreme yardage—match your chosen tee set to your game for a better experience.
The open, links-inspired design means gusts are common—dress flexibly for unpredictable conditions.
Purgatory Golf Club opens; designed by Ron Kern
Earns top-10 in Indiana from Golf Digest
Debuts at #87 on Golf Digest 100 Greatest Public
Settles into repeated 'Best in State' placements
Named among GolfPass’ Top 25 Friendliest U.S. Courses
Major bunker renovation project begins
Ranked #19 in Indiana by Golf Digest
Standing on Purgatory’s 13th tee, it’s hard to believe a par 5 can be 741 yards—one of the longest in America. Success here is about discipline, not ego: survive three big shots, avoid the multitude of bunkers, and escape with a par you’ll remember.
Every bunker at Purgatory was lined with packed limestone at Ron Kern’s insistence, so every splash of sand that looks menacing is secretly designed to be playable—rolling balls out instead of swallowing them.
When the course opened, locals buzzed about its unusual name—one even called it blasphemous. Now, 'Purgatory' is synonymous with big-play Indiana public golf.
Despite its back-tee length, Purgatory’s broad fairways and multiple tee sets mean juniors, seniors, and low handicappers all find their own battleground. It’s challenge by choice on every hole.
Hole 13 is among the longest par 5s in the country at 741 yards.
Nearly every bunker is lined with limestone to prevent buried lies.
The course’s name sparked local controversy when it opened.
The largest green is nearly 15,000 square feet.
Purgatory has been ranked among the 'Friendliest Courses in the U.S.' by GolfPass.
A top-tier, modern public design—superb companion to Purgatory’s scale and style.
Classic, playable municipal course with a fun atmosphere and strong reputation.
Unique opportunity to play inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway—memorable layout.
Pete Dye’s home-state masterpiece; get on if you can—one of Indiana’s true heavyweights.
Carmel or northern Indianapolis for the best access to all top courses and local amenities.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Royal New Kent Golf Club asks for the same disciplined decision-making, making it a compelling counterpart to Purgatory Golf Club.
Why it matches: If Purgatory Golf Club is your kind of course, Pete Dye Golf Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
Why it matches: Stonehouse Golf Club is a natural next stop after Purgatory Golf Club: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.
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