Sugar lsle Golf Country was built in 1972 by renowned architect Jack Kidwell. It is an 18-hole par 72 public facility set upon gently rolling terrain. The course plays up to 6,754 yards, and features a combination of bent grass tees and greens with bluegrass fairways. Kidwell’s design brings water hazards into play on more than half of the course’s 18 holes, and showcases a total of 20 white sand bunkers. Several fairways are lined with mature trees. These obstacles blend with a degree of forgiveness to provide Sugar Isle with a layout that can offer a challenge to accomplished players, while still maintaining an accessibility to golfers of all ages and skill levels. This facility, owned and operated by the Smart family since its inception, contains several amenities to enhance the golfer’s experience. These amenities include a pro shop, driving range, and putting green. There is also a Pavilion area that can accommodate up to 120 people that is free to use for groups hosting events at Sugar Isle.
The first lesson in Golf Course Architecture 101 is that land should dictate design. So it’s no surprise that hall-of-famer Hale Irwin, one of the few players in history to win three U.S. Opens and a prodigious student of the game, would follow that rule to a “tee” at Coyote Crossing in West Lafayette, IN. The award-winning layout fits the property like a well-worn glove.
