By Jim Grosjean
Winter is just around the corner here in the north, but that doesn’t mean you and your golf clubs must hibernate for the next five months. A trip to Louisiana could be just the cure for your cold weather blahs!
As the Cajuns say in Louisiana, “Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler.” (Let the Good Times Roll!)
Golf enjoys a year-long season in Louisiana, but the prime time starts in October and runs through May, exactly right for northern visitors.
Every trip to Louisiana should begin in New Orleans. It is not only known for its superior dining and music. The Golf Club at Audubon Park will get your golf trip off to a great start. Don’t be fooled though, at only 4,220 yards from the tips, it is an extremely challenging track. The historic course opened in 1898, but there are live oak trees much older lining the fairways throughout the course. Denis Griffiths redesigned the course in 2001, adding Bermuda grass to the fairways and Tif-Eagle on the greens, which are quite fast. Expect more than a few three-putts.
Visitors to New Orleans should also make the 15-mile trip to play the TPC of Louisiana, home of the PGA Tour Zurich Classic. Pete Dye supplied a visually stunning and rewarding course full of pitfalls and rewards. Six tees range from 5,121 yards to a robust 7,425 providing every level of golfer a fighting chance to score well. Beware you must avoid more than 100 bunkers and numerous lakes that await to attract your golf ball.
A few miles to the north lies Baton Rouge and the Santa Maria Golf Course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. The Baton Rouge Recreation Department does an excellent job maintaining the live oaks and fifteen lakes with an ever-watchful eye towards conservation.
Just west of New Orleans, near Morgan City, we found the Atchafalaya at Idlewild Golf Course. Spanish moss hangs from the trees, while gators lurk around in the ponds. Cypress knees are used as 150-yard markers and once again, we experienced fast greens, that are common in southern Louisiana.
Slightly further west along the Audubon Golf Trail is Farm d’Allie Golf Club near Lafayette. Water is visible on fifteen holes and there are enough bunkers to keep things interesting. Architect Jeff Blume designed a course that’s playable, yet fun for all golfers.
With casinos at both The Golden Nugget and the L’Auberge hotels, Lake Charles is a must-visit destination for golfers, who like to visit the casino after their round. Both hotels provide Las Vegas quality accommodations, plus the Country Club at the Golden Nugget and Contraband Bayou at the L’Auberge Resort both offer championship quality golf experiences.
We also recommend Mallard Golf Club at Lake Charles, which is an anomaly in Louisiana, due to the fact that it does not have any trees! It relies on its length and raised greens to supply the challenge.
For more information on Lake Charles, check out the May 2022 issue of Michigan Golf Journal.
While golf may be foremost in your mind, Louisiana has so much more to offer. Do you like to combine your golf with fishing? Would you care to try a Louisiana delicacy like beignets or boudins? How about a visit to a craft brewery or a craft distillery? Try your hand at a game of chance? Does pure American music touch your soul? Everything you need to plan the golf trip of your life can be found at www.louisianagolftrails.com.
Enjoy your stay in Louisiana, “Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler.”
