Future of Pete Dye’s Mystic Hills: Will Indiana’s Longest Course Return to the Public?

For nearly two decades, Mystic Hills Golf Club in Culver, Indiana, was a local gem — a public course that perfectly embodied small-town Midwestern golf. Set just off Lake Maxinkuckee, in what’s often called the “Cape Cod of the Midwest,” Mystic Hills was more than a place to play; it was a community hub.

Designed in 1998 by Pete Dye and his son P.B. Dye, the course featured all the hallmarks of Dye’s genius — strategic bunkering, bold greens, and plenty of visual drama. Dye and his wife, Alice, were frequent faces at Mystic Hills, often mingling with weekend golfers who were just happy to share the fairways with legends.

The course hosted everything from charity scrambles and amateur tournaments to emotional local outings, like one honoring a high school athlete who had died in a car crash. For locals, Mystic Hills wasn’t just another layout — it was their course.

That changed in 2019, when Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay bought the 159-acre property for $1.4 million. He closed it for several years and transformed it into an ultra-private retreat known as Horseshoe Farms. The redesign kept the Dye pedigree but expanded it dramatically — stretching the course to 8,160 yards, which Irsay proudly declared made it the longest par-71 course in the world.

Horseshoe Farms featured Colts-blue touches and custom signage adorned with horseshoes. The fairways and greens were maintained in pristine condition, but only a select few ever got to experience them. Access was limited to Irsay’s invited guests — a mix of former Colts players, friends, and celebrities.

Golf purists admired the course’s immaculate upkeep and daring length, but others lamented the loss of what had been one of northern Indiana’s most beloved public tracks. Irsay defended the move, saying his purchase prevented developers from turning the open land into apartments or condos.

Now, following Irsay’s death in May, the future of Horseshoe Farms is uncertain. The Colts organization has confirmed there’s a pending offer on the property, but no details have been released about the buyer or their plans.

Golf enthusiasts are watching closely — hoping that one of Pete Dye’s most personal Indiana designs might once again be open to the public. As one fan posted, “I’d love one more crack at that track.”