By Mike May
The Sultan’s Run Golf Club is one of the marvels of golf in Indiana, if not the entire Midwest. Designed by Tim Liddy, a protégé of Pete Dye, this 18-hole layout is located in the southwest Indiana community of Jasper, about a 30-minute drive from the resort town of French Lick.
Years ago, this piece of property was once the home turf of the famous Supreme Sultan, which sired a record number of world champion American Saddlebred horses. Not surprisingly, the logo for Sultan’s Run features the silhouette of an American Saddlebred horse and each hole at Sultan’s Run is named after a world champion sired by Supreme Sultan. 
Sultan’s Run, which provides beautiful views of the scenic southern Indiana countryside, features rolling hills, wonderful bunkering, bent grass greens, and a one-of-a-kind waterfall behind the 18th, which makes the ideal backdrop for a photo op with you and your buddies.
The rolling Indiana hillside provide a series of uphill and downhill shots throughout their round. Only a handful of holes at Sultan’s Run don’t have an element of elevation change.
Water hazards can be found on ten holes. The most prominent is the lake that hugs the left side of the fairway at the 15th hole and comes into play on your approach to the 15th green.
Sultan’s Run features two ‘risk and reward’ short par fours – the 7th and 11th – which can be tempting for big hitters looking to drive the green, in search of an eagle putt.
“The Sultan’s experience is unique in that we are secluded from the hustle and bustle of big-city noise,” said Jeff Howerton, head golf professional at Sultan’s Run. “Upon arrival at Sultan’s Run, the golfer only sees woods, lakes and the golf course, which is unusual in today’s time with housing developments and resorts. It’s a great experience coming to hole number 18 with the beautiful vista from the top of the hill while teeing off and culminating with the 18th green being surrounded by a rock wall, trees and the waterfall!”
The 18th hole, aptly named, Supreme Sultan, is the Signature Hole.
The view from the back of the 18th green back down the fairway will be your final memory of your trek around Supreme Sultan’s former homestead – truly one of the marvels of Indiana golf.
In 2015, Sultan’s Run was voted the #1 golf course in Indiana by the Indiana Golf Owners Association. The course has hosted many prestigious events such as Korn-Ferry Tour Qualifiers, Indiana PGA Senior Open, Golfweek Midwest Junior Classic, and the Indiana PGA Junior Masters Series.
When you play Sultan’s Run, budget sufficient time in your schedule to eat at the Schnitzelbank in nearby German restaurant in Jasper. I highly recommend the German Sampler as an appetizer and either the wiener schnitzel or the schweine schnitzel. For dessert, the coconut cream pie, apple strudel, German chocolate pie, and the Black Forest cake are beyond compare.
When visiting southwestern Indiana, you will be hard-pressed to discover a better 54-hole golf experience than Sultan’s Run and the nearby French Lick dynamic duo of The Donald Ross and Pete Dye Courses, which make a terrific trifecta.
Capping off those 54 holes with a cold German beer and authentic German meal at The Schnitzelbank makes a ‘Grand Slam’ golf experience.
Yet another marvel of Indiana golf.
