March 29, 2011

EVANSTON, Ill. -- French Lick Resort, located in southern Indiana, has been awarded the Big Ten Men's and Women's Golf Championships in 2012, 2013 and 2014. This marks the first time that both the men and women will compete at the same time and on a neutral site.

Prior to this move to a permanent neutral venue, Northwestern will stage the final on-campus Big Ten Women's Golf Championships April 22-24 at historic Lake Shore Country Club in Glencoe, Ill. The event marks the first time the Wildcats have had the opportunity to host the women's conference tournament.

"Our standard for the Big Ten Championships is to stage a world-class event, and we are excited to have the opportunity to serve as the launching pad toward a permanent site beginning in 2012," Northwestern head women's coach Emily Fletcher said. "With the tremendous support of the staff and the members at historic Lake Shore Country Club, we feel the student-athletes and fans are going to have an amazing experience. From electronic scoreboards to on-course standard bearers and Big Ten Network television coverage, our expectation is to make the final on-campus Championship the best one yet."

Link to the Official Championships Page at NUsports.com for more information on the 2011 Big Ten Women's Golf Championships. The page will continue to be updated as more details become available.

Beginning in 2012, the Big Ten men's championships will be contested on the award-winning Pete Dye course at French Lick Resort, and the women's event will be held on the historic Donald Ross Course. Golfweek Magazine recently ranked the Dye course Indiana's "Best Courses You Can Play," and the Ross course No. 2 among the "Best Courses You Can Play" rankings in the state.

Both courses have a history of hosting elite players and golf events. In 2010, the highly acclaimed Dye course hosted the PGA of America's Professional National Championship. The Donald Ross course hosted the prestigious LPGA Championship in 1959 and 1960. In addition, the Ross course also hosted the 1924 PGA Championship won by Walter Hagen.

"We are very excited and honored to host one of the top college tournaments in the country and to be hosting these great players from the Big Ten Conference," said Dave Harner, director of golf at French Lick Resort. "Both courses will provide unique challenges for the players, and the resort is the perfect setting to host such a prestigious tournament for both men and women."

The Pete Dye Course, which was named America's Best New Public Course in 2009 by Golf Digest, is regarded as one of the most breathtaking and exciting 18 holes of golf in the country. The course was carefully carved on a dramatic hilltop offering a variety of elevation changes, rugged and dramatic terrain, narrow fairways and challenging bunkers. There are spectacular views from every hole, some that stretch for over 40 miles.

The historic Donald Ross Course, which was restored to its original early 20th century design in 2006, is a parkland gem meandering up and down the rolling hills a few miles from the main resort. The wonderful routing of the holes take full advantage of the many elevation points for the classic Ross greens which slope dramatically from back to front. It is one of only two public Ross courses in the state of Indiana.

French Lick is the only resort in the world that combines the classic history of Donald Ross and the modern day design of the legendary Pete Dye. This combination is a wonderful opportunity for Big Ten teams to experience two of the best designers who ever shaped beautiful landscapes into golf courses.

"The conference coaches have discussed moving the Championships to a neutral site for a while and we have found a great home at French Lick Resort," Northwestern head coach and Director of Golf Pat Goss said. "Their enthusiasm to host and their facilities will provide a wonderful Championships experience for the Big Ten. I am excited to take my team down there for the next three years."

Since the inception of the Big Ten Men's Golf Championships in 1920, 10 different teams have taken home a conference title. Northwestern has had the most recent success in the tournament, winning nine team or individual titles in the last 11 years. On the women's side, Alice Kim captured the 2006 individual Big Ten crown for the Wildcats.

Information from the Big Ten Conference was used in this release.

••••••

Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook! and subscribe to the NU Sports Express e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and video and to interact with NU. For more information on following specific Northwestern teams online, visit our Social Media page!