4-24-26-Behind the Bricks INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Brickyard Crossing Golf Course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened for the season Friday, April 24, following minor renovations and updates. The 18-hole PGA-level course, known for its location inside the famed oval, received improvement s, including a new tee box at Hole 14 and maintenance on 28 bunkers at holes eight and nine. Designed by Pete Dye in the mid-1990s, the course features four holes, known as the Founders Four, located inside the track. The recent updates were completed by the IMS Golf Grounds crew to maintain course standards and improve playability. Work on the bunkers included a pea gravel and sand drainage system designed to improve water flow. Offseason work at Hole 14 addressed a limited teeing area and heavy divot damage. Crews relocated the mounding, raised the tee box by several feet, and shifted it slightly to the right to improve driving conditions. Michael Kaltenmark, vice president of marketing for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, said the project involved “rebuilding or repurposing the land that was already here.” Crews also completed extensive bunker maintenance on 28 bunkers at holes eight and nine, part of a 10-year effort. The bunkers are engineered with a pea gravel base beneath the sand to help water drain into an underground irrigation system. “You think about golf being quiet, mild-mannered. Not at the racing capital of the world,” Kaltenmark said. “And that’s part of the experience.” He added that golfers frequently end up in the bunkers. “But if you do, just know there’s new sand underneath the sand,” Kaltenmark said. “There’s pea gravel that’s been bound together so that when it rains, the water can drain down into our irrigation system.” The course is known for its unique setting inside the racing capital of the world. Kaltenmark said it is “truly unique” to play there and noted the view of golfers playing toward the Pagoda. With the 111th running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge about a month away, track activity is increasing. Kaltenmark said golfers may see Indy cars reaching speeds above 200 mph during rounds. “We have cars on track almost 150 days a year,” he said. “So chances are you’ll get lucky, and you’ll get a time when you can get out there when cars are out there.” An IndyCar oval test is scheduled for April 28-29, when speeds are expected to exceed 230 mph. Tee times are available through the course’s website throughout May, including during testing and racing activities. For more information, visit brickyardcrossing.com. ...read more read less