How to Play Crooked Stick Golf in Indiana

Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana, is one of the most exclusive golf courses in the world. Crooked Stick was designed in 1964 by famed architect Pete Dye, who loved the course so much he built himself a home on the course. John Daly is one of the best-known professionals to win a tournament at Crooked Stick. Daly was a ninth alternate when he won the PGA Championship tournament there in 1991. There are at least six ways you can play golf at Crooked Stick Golf Club.

Instructions

    • 1

      Apply for membership. Crooked Stick is a private, members-only club, with only about 230 members. Becoming a member at Crooked Stick guarantees you can play golf there. If you're accepted, you will be put on a wait list; once you're through the wait list, you must pay an $39,000 initiation fee and $440 monthly dues as of January 2011.

    • 2

      Play as a guest of a member. Crooked Stick Golf Club members are permitted to invite guests to play the course with them on designated guest days and guest tournaments. Guests must pay guest fees when they play.

    • 3

      Rate the course slope for the United States Golf Association (USGA). The USGA organizes 10 four-person volunteer teams to play Indiana golf courses and rate the slope of each course, including Crooked Stick Golf Club. Slope is the term for the baseline the USGA uses to adjust a player's handicap based on the difficulty of the course he is playing.

    • 4

      Play in one of the fundraising events hosted by Crooked Stick, like the New St. Vincent Hope Golf Outing. Crooked Stick has hosted the outing for more than 20 years. Sponsorship prices for the 2011 tournament are $4,000 for a two-player scramble or $6,000 for a four-player scramble.

    • 5

      Play in the Crooked Stick Invitational, a college golf tournament for the schools in the the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Central Region. Indiana University hosts the tournament.

    • 6

      Play in the PGA, LPGA or Senior PGA tours. Crooked Stick regularly hosts tournaments for the three major golf tours.