INDIANA'S OWN FUZZY ZOELLER CREATES NEW GOLFING EXPERIENCES FOR HOOSIERS

Southeastern Indiana is divided on many issues; Indiana University vs. University of Kentucky, Bengals vs. Colts, Kentucky Derby vs. Indy 500. The only subject where there seems to be total agreement is golf. Fuzzy Zoeller is the area's favorite son and he has worked hard to give back to his community.

Long known for his golf prowess, Zoeller started his run in 1973 as the Indiana State Amateur champion and turned professional shortly after the win. Zoeller has gone on to win 10 PGA Tour titles, two Champions Tour events, the 1979 Masters, the 1984 U.S. Open and the 2002 Senior PGA Championship.

In addition to his talents on the golf course, Zoeller also was interested in golf course design. "Being a golfer, I wanted to build golf courses for my community as a way to give back to the game," Zoeller said.

Zoeller became partners with rookie designer, Clyde Johnston. Johnston flew to Orlando to have a sit-down with Zoeller about collaborating. "We sat around his condo. chatted over a couple of beers about our ideas and decided to go for it," Johnston said.

Their partnership began in 1989 with Jacksonville (Fl.) Golf and Country Club and has since included six more design projects.

"In the beginning, Fuzzy looked at everything," said Johnston. "Tour players have a wealth of knowledge that is beneficial from the start." Johnston says the other great asset Zoeller brings to the table is his ability to make a course incredibly player friendly.

After Jacksonville Golf and Country Club, Johnston and Zoeller collaborated on several other projects, including Covered Bridge Golf Club, Chestnut Hills and Timbergate Golf Course, all located in the Hoosier state.

When they discovered the land that would become Champions Pointe, Johnston knew it would be a good location for a course. The land had already been partially developed for a golf course but the project failed. When Johnston and Zoeller resumed the project, they benefited from some of the previous developer's work.

"The developer had built a huge lake, maybe 12 to 15 acres, and we were able to site the clubhouse so it over looked the lake." said Johnston.

Green complexes were developed to be average in size, about 6,500 square feet. They have subtle features with a 1 to 2 percent slope range. Most notable are the varying green shapes Zoeller and Johnston enjoy using.

"By using different shapes, you can change the angles on approaches to vary pin placements," Johnston says. "The varying pin placements can be very approachable for open play but then tucked into corners for tournaments."

When questioned about the signature hole, Johnston said that architects hate to pinpoint a signature hole. However, Johnston did describe the end of the course as "four really good finishing holes."

Phil Lobeck, General Manager for both Covered Bridge Golf Club and Champions Pointe, couldn't agree more. No. 15 is an elevated tee shot to a really big green. Surrounded by water and woods, it is an impressive view from the tee.

"The view from No. 16 is one of the nicest i:n the area," says Lobeck. As you walk up to the hole, you are greeted by the beautiful roll of Southern Indiana with a church steeple tucker: into the tree tops up a distant ridge.

The hole is a long par five that requires a tee shot over water to an elevated landing area. From there the hole drops off down to a creek and then back up to the green. Go for it in two? "Not even with the wind behind me, hitting a sprinkler head, playing a Top Flight," Johnston says.

No. 17 is a straightforward par 4 with the green visible from the tee. There is water left but just bomb it down the fairway and attack the green.

The finishing hole is a testing par 4. With water off the tee, even the best hitters won't be able to place the ball less than 170 yards out from the pin, which leaves a long approach over water. Lobeck likes this hole as a finisher.

"Definitely makes things interesting when you and your buddies have a little wager on the line and it comes down to this hole."

Opening day at Champions Pointe was July 12, 2007. Johnston thinks the course turned out even better than expected. "It was a good project with a good team and we all had fun building the course."