Mike May’s on a mission to bring more golfers to Indiana.
While many associate the Hoosier State with basketball, May believes the links sprawled across state stack up with some of the best in the country.
The Seymour native recently published a 29-page booklet titled, “The Top 10 of Hoosier Golf: Ten of Central and Southern Indiana’s Top Public Golf Destinations,” which lists some of the top courses in the region.
May, a freelance golf writer based in Wellington, Florida, has traveled across the world writing about golf.
He lived in Seymour with his family from 1962-77. At the conclusion of the 1977 school year, his family moved to England. After graduating high school, May returned to the United States to attend the University of Florida, where he graduated in 1985.
At Seymour High School, May played tennis, baseball, and swam.
May has written about golf for years, starting in 1983 at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
He is currently a correspondent for Golf Central Magazine, Ohio Golf Journal, GoGolfandTravel.com, Midwest Golfing Magazine, Golftrips.com and Golfdaily.com.
May, who has visited hundreds of courses, says that Hoosiers need to realize how many quality courses there are in the area.
“These are some great golf courses that deserve to be publicized and told in Indiana,” May said. “ Hoosiers need to be aware of it and non-Hoosiers need to make a trip. Non-Hoosiers will say, ‘why didn’t I come earlier?’
“Being a Seymour boy, with roots in Indiana, I feel like Indiana deserves some more recognition. There’s more to it than the (Indianapolis) 500 and Indiana University basketball. We have some really good places.”
May lists Covered Bridge Golf Club (Sellersburg) as the No. 1 course in the area, followed by Champions Pointe (Henryville), Chariot Runn (Laconia), Otter Creek (Columbus) and Legends (Franklin). The bottom five include The Donald Ross and Pete Dye courses in French lick, Sultan’s Run (Jasper), Fort Golf Resort (Indianapolis) and Brickyard Crossing (Indianapolis).
May said there are plenty of other attractions for visitors to hit while visiting new golf courses.
“So many golf courses market themselves, but you should really market it as a destination,” he said. “You go from Indianapolis to Louisville. I’ve played a lot of golf across this country, in the Carolinas, Michigan, Florida, but why not in southern and central Indiana? It’s always overlooked. These public access golf courses are really, really nice. You can come here in the spring, summer, or fall and have a great time.”
In addition to writing about golf, May coaches girls high school basketball, officiates soccer, and works with PHIT America, a cause focused on bringing daily P.E. back to all U.S. schools.
May recently appeared on WISH-TV’s “Indy Style” and on WXIN-TV’s FOX 59 Morning News promoting the book.
May said he intends to make another booklet soon, which will include courses north of Indianapolis.
“Everyone in this state is very genuine,” he said. “There is a lot of pride in what’s produced, and it’s just a part of Americana that’s really solid. There are some tremendous golf courses.”
The free booklet can be read at Indianagolf.com.