Peru Municipal Golf Course in north-central Indiana

PERU, Ind. - Whenever an American travels around Scotland or Ireland, he or she is struck by the number of small, municipal golf courses dotting the landscape. They all seem so quaint and quirky and fun. These golfers often lament that there aren't courses like this "back home."

Well, if "back home" happens to be north-central Indiana, Peru Municipal Golf Course might well remind golfers of those eccentric little Old World tracks. "The Muni," as it's called by locals, tumbles up and over and down and through numerous hillocks, swales, ravines, and crests, taking golfers on a short 6,006-yard joyride that is anything but dull.

In past years, the generally tiny, often bunkerless greens were known to get extremely hard and unreceptive, but recently the conditioning has improved dramatically. Many of Peru Municipal Golf Course's holes are quite short, but the dense trees and occasional OB, along with branches overhanging some fairways protect most holes from bombers.

With a course rating of 69.0 and slope rating of 118, you can certainly score here, but you'll need a sharp iron game to do so. Rates are extremely reasonable as well.

In short, The Muni reminds us what golf is all about: a pleasant stroll through nature, chasing a little ball over hill and dale. Just like it is on all those charming golf courses in the British Isles.

Peru Municipal Golf Course - hole 5

The green at the 130-yard fifth hole at Peru Municipal Golf Course is partially obscured by trees, and OB lurks just behind the putting surface.