Pros:
Murdock park is a small city park a few miles west of I-65 in Lafayette . There was limited access to the small parking lot and facilities when i was there due to construction . A nice bathroom is on site near hole #1 and #18's basket . Murdock is an 18 hole course .
The Equipment - I was reading past reviews and found out that the equipment here has steadily improved . The baskets are mixed here , but most favor nice Chainstars . The baskets are encircled by a brick arrangement ( classy ) . There are 2 tee pads per hole .They are mostly cement , and some have a turf carpet over cement . The #11 long tee pad was a paver pad . There were nice Next Tee signs under each basket to help with navigation . A nice touch . The signs are on the orange posts for the long holes and white posts for the shorts . There is a kiosk with map up near the parking lot .
The Landscape -The course was mowed and the grounds were well taken care of while I was here . I have played many courses so far in central Indiana and most are flat or just rolling . This course is not . There are a decent amount of trees in the park , even more on the back holes . They are all sitting on some elevation at Murdock . These holes go from park-style , examples . 1 , 2 , 10 , to semi wooded , 4 ,5 ,6 , 7, 8, 9, to total woods 12-17 . This is a pleasant change from the usual flat courses close by .
The Highlights - There was a lot of variety and balance ( right and left ) here . #1 ( 314' , 420' ) starts you off with a long slightly sloping downhill drive that fades right , protected by overgrowth in the fairway on the right , protecting the fairway angles where the basket is located on the right . #4 ( 245' 296' ) is a short drive to an elevated basket . #10 ( 283' 355' ) is a right to left uphill drive , with overgrowth protecting the basket about 50' in front of it . #14 is a short gully shot to a basket that is level with the ground ( ? ) Beware of #15 . The basket sits in front of a long dropoff . Lots of risk/reward in your drive or putt .
Signature Hole - #11 ( 433' , 598' ) . This choice was a no brainer . It is a long downhill drive along a treeline that slowly breaks left . The ground will start to slope left . The small flat green is protected around it by small trees and overgrowth .
Disc Risk - For having woods holes , there is not a lot of threat to lose a disc , unless you bang one really hard off a tree from the long tees in the woods . The park was clean and well cared for .
Time - It took me just over an hour to play here . A group of 4 should finish in 2 hours , or just under .
I feel there is a lot of fun factor here for both the Average Joe and the better players .
Cons:
#1 Safety - Even at 8:00 on a Sunday morning , there were a couple of players out here . Some of the fairways do come close together ( ex. 7 & 8 ) , and there is the occasional dog walker . Give them the right of way and be classy .
#2 Rain - I couldn't see laying my life ( or my rump ) on the line after a good rain . Lots of elevation and lack of grass = some nasty falls .
#3 Challenge - upper level players will have their way with most of this course even from the back tees . You are rarely punished for missing your line . Please don't confuse challenge with fun , though . One man's frustrating 3 is another's exhilarating 3 .
#4 Amenities - The course could use some benches or bag hangers , maybe a decent shelter or picnic tables to keep the players in the park between or after rounds .
Other Thoughts:
When I call a course a " Sleeper " , I mean it is a course that is either underrated or overlooked . Murdock is what I call a Sleeper course . In this area , I heard more about Wabash Washout and Camp Cullom than I ever did about this course . It is a veteran course ( ca. 1984 ) , that has tried to improve and keep up with the times .I had this course rated just above a 3 , but I had to move the needle up instead of down . Why ? You have to appreciate the 2 tee pads per hole , and the fact that instead of pulling up holes 11 & 17 during the winter for sled riding , they just move them . I think the course is not only fun , but a great course to either play as a local or coming off of the highway . I just hope this construction doesn't take a chunk of this course .
My Recommendation - This a fantastic course for newbies and locals . even maybe families and 1 discers . With the 2 tee system and the right amount of fun from platform tees , elevated baskets , woods holes to keep them excited and wanting to improve . Intermediates will like this course because of the woods and park holes from 1-10 will warm them up , take them though long hole #11 , and rough them up with the more technical woods holes ( 12-17 ) . Ams should like the course as well . Might be only practice for the pros , but the will have fun doing it . The traveler will like this course . While a little hilly , it is about 10 minutes from I-65 , and fun from either tee . The Course Collector will oove it here . It is an easy add , and you can group Murdock with 2 short courses at Purdue and both Wabash course . Cha-Ching ! Play This Course !!!