Louisiana Hotspot A Wonderful Alternative To Western Destinations
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2018-12-10
By GORD MONTGOMERY, Inside Golf
LAKE CHARLES, Louisiana — If you love to travel as a golfer but have become weary of the usual routes through the California/Arizona/Nevada landscape, here’s a hint on a destination that may never have occurred to you: Southwest Louisiana, and in particular, Lake Charles. This popular stop for many Americans offers up a delightful mix of great golf, outstanding food, and spectacular accommodation that can all be rolled into one handy package if you desire.
Why Lake Charles? Well, start with some great courses and then add in the extras that make for memorable golf holidays — casino action, outdoor activities to spice things up just a bit and then of course, the golf. Lake Charles offers up six public layouts which can meet anyone’s budget criteria, ranging from modest to high-end. Four of these tracks fall into the wanna-play mix, including Gray Plantation, Contraband Bayou, National Golf Club of Louisiana and The Country Club At The Golden Nugget.
In regard to the golf, and the tourism activities that entice people to travel to Lake Charles, William Precht, the media relations manager from the Lake Charles/SWLA CVB (Convention & Visitors Bureau) had this to say: “The community offers a lot and tourism in our area is robust. Our largest attraction is the casino gaming. We’re the south’s largest premier gaming destination that directly includes golf. Each one of our resort destinations includes golf and has some of the premier golf courses, not only in the south, but in the United States.
“We also have area courses like The National, Gray Plantation and smaller municipal courses that the public can take advantage of as well.”
In addition to that there are the outdoor offerings this lowland area has to offer, including, Precht noted, the Creole Nature Trail; the All American Road (a National Scenic Byway recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for one or more of six "intrinsic qualities” like archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic. The program was established by Congress in 1991 to preserve and protect the nation's scenic but often less-traveled roads and promote tourism and economic development). The outdoors is really trendy right now,” said Precht “and is a staple of the tourism industry here given there are over 400 species of birds, miles of beach and other activities.”
The Layout At Gray Plantation Offers A Number Of Great Risk/Reward Holes That Challenge Players To Take Gambles They May Otherwise Not Even Think About As They Make Their Way Around This Layout. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)
Gray Plantation GC
This however is about golf, and the golf here at sea level is great. There is the ever-present jeopardy of coming across an alligator or two during a round, which for those of us from the Far North, is always an intriguing sight. Gray Plantation wends its way through some protected areas and is a member of the Audubon Golf Trail. Set on the shores of Calcasieu River, the course offers some wide fairways but if you stray a bit too far, the marshes and waters of the area do come into play. Gray Plantation can play exceptionally long if you really want to challenge yourself, as the Rocky Roquemore design stretches out to just under 7,000 yards and at sea level, that’s a hunk of real estate to cover over 18 holes. Other tees here play from 6,400 yards down to 4,700 making it playable, and fun, for anyone of any skill level.
And if you find your skill needing a bit of a tune-up, the newly renovated Teaching Academy with TrackMan now onboard, is available to help you fix any swing flaws. “This is an area that’s been neglected,” said pro Jonathan Jester. “We can help you play better golf which is not a bad thing.”
For more on Gray Plantation Golf Club, to to www.grayplantation.com/golf-club.
At The National Golf Club Of Louisiana, One Of The Best Holes Is A Par 3 That Is Guarded By Water And Then Three Church Pew Bunkers That Turn This Short Hole Into A Monster If You Mis-Club Or Mis-Hit Your Opening Salvo. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)
National Golf Club of Louisiana
As if there wasn’t enough water for you at the first stop, The National Golf Club of Louisiana tops that by teeing up water on almost every hole — and that’s soon to change to every hole. As of 2018, the course had liquid hazards on 14 holes but that’s rising to all 18 in the near future as they upgrade the playpen and the clubhouse in an upscale area of Westlake, just minutes away from Lake Charles.
This David Bennett layout plays to a par of 72 and takes you through many on-course adventures with unique, and challenging holes with some great risk/reward options. Hitting the fairway here is more a priority than hitting the ball deep, as the rough, and the hazards including all that water, aren’t hard to find if you stray a bit too much.
One of the most interesting holes, and one that could play extremely tough dependent on the pin position is the 5th, a par-3 that’s fronted on the left by three massive church pew bunkers. It’s shown on the card as the 14th toughest hole, but don’t let that fool you into thinking this is a simple shorty. It plays to 187-yards off the blue tee and includes a carry across water and over those bunkers to toughen it up just a bit.
Another real challenge at National is No. 16, rated as the course’s top handicap hole and touted as possibly being “one of the toughest par 4’s in the state.” It’s 439-yards off the blue tees and has water to the right off the tee as well as more wet stuff on both sides of the fairway from about 180 yards to within 50 yards of the green. Then, there’s a massive bunker on the front right of the green to further your stress making par on this hole a hole seem like a birdie.
This scenic and fun course plays host to around 35,000 rounds a year, so that alone goes to show that it’s popular and well worth the time to tee it up here. For more, go to nationalgcla.com.
With The Beautiful Golden Nugget Hotel Looming Over Your Shoulder On Many Of Its Holes, The Country Club At The Golden Nugget GC Offers A Great Variety Of Challenges Over Its Outstanding Layout. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)
The Country Club at Golden Nugget
This is the most expensive tee time in the Lake Charles ara, but it’s worth every penny. This layout, designed by Todd Eckinrode, is mere steps from the hotel it fronts and offers up a great variety of holes including long and short par 4’s in particular, making for some great scoring opportunities. Two of those short-4’s are No. 10 at 290-yards and No. 13 at 285. The thing is, No. 11 evens the distances up a bit, playing to 418-yards, also as a par-4.
Overall, this is a big course if you choose to play from the tips, but again, because it’s basically at sea level, the ball doesn't fly as far as it does in most parts of Western Canada. Built right on the bayou, there are plenty of hazards scattered about the premises, including over 15 acres of waste bunkers. And be advised, this isn’t your typical resort style course. While the fairways are wide, when you take into account all the greenside bunkers, water hazards and ornamental, but penal, grasses along the edges of the fairways, this is a track where hitting the short grass far outweighs hitting the ball deep.
A factor that can help your score is that the putting surfaces, while large, aren’t overly tricky to read. Most putts have little to no break, meaning you can be aggressive when faced with a long birdie, or par putt. The grand facade of the hotel comes into view on several of the holes, as you’re either teeing off directly at it or with the venue looming over your shoulder, making for a neat backdrop for some of the gorgeous pictures you’re going to want to snap during your round. For more on this great facility, with an outstanding locker room, go to goldennugget.com.
The Contraband Bayou GC Is Another Course Attached To One Of The Great Hotel/Casino Complexes In Lake Charles Offering Up Some Of The Best Golf Holes In This Area. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)
Contraband Bayou GC
A neighbour to the Golden Nugget, both in course and hotel location, is another great design that makes use of the natural hazards that about in this area, the Contraband Bayou Golf Course. This is a Tom Fazio design where the front nine is stronger than the back, but even still, there is one monster hole on the inward nine that can take your breath away … as well as your hopes for a great score.
Measuring out at just under 7,000 yards overall, this is a course where playing from the correct tee is a must. Without a lot of carry due to elevation, Contraband Bayou plays longer than stated and even at 6,100 yards, can be a bit of a beast. The fairways on the front are bounded by trees for the most part meaning that keeping your tee shot straight is a key to some sort of success. The greens are large with plenty of break on them, so putting can be a challenge if you end up too far from the pin.
There aren’t a lot of short holes here as most of the par 4’s, from the White tee, range in the mid- to high 300-yard range. The exception is the 13th, a little 310-yard job that still requires care and attention to stay away from the big numbers. As for that one hole mentioned a bit earlier, it’s the 15th, a massive and tight par 5 that will eat your lunch, not to mention several of your golf balls for desert, if you let it get into your head. The hole stretches out to 557 yards from the back tee and ‘only’ 487 off the middle deck. By the way, it’s OB left off the tee all the way to the green and water guards the majority of the right side all the way down, so good luck in achieving par on this true test of skill.
The back nine here seem a little more wide open than the front, save for No. 15, but it certainly doesn’t play any shorter on this course, which has won numerous awards, and is attached to the L’auberge Casino Resort. Overall, the front nine is a real treat both for play and your eyes, but the back does leave one a little desirous of re-doing the outward nine. Still, a fun course that you don’t want to miss. For more, go to llakecharles.com/hotel/amenities/contraband-bayou-golf-club.
WHERE TO STAY
While there is accommodation all over in Lake Charles, camp for us was set up at L’Auberge Casino Resort, a great place to not only hang out, but to do some gaming if you want. This mega-hotel hosts a spectacular casino full of table games of all sorts. The hotel rooms are clean, large, and provide you with a sense of comfort as soon as you walk in the door. A great place to stay that’s close to all you want to do, both on and off the grounds. For more, go to llakecharles.com.
Even If You Don't Know What They Are, Make Sure You Try The Boudin Balls, A Flavourful Favourite In SW Louisiana. And Trust Us, These Taste As Good As They Look. And The Pickles Are Pretty Good, Too! (Photo/Gord Montgomery)
DINING
One thing you can’t forget about in Southwest Louisiana is the unbelievable variety of food available just about everywhere. Topping the list of course is seafood, where you can get anything you want from oysters to alligator, crab to crawfish and red fish, cooked in any manner you want. The Cajun/Creole style of preparing the harvest from the sea is a delightful change for those of us who may live in a land-locked area so rest assured, no matter what you choose, you simply can’t go wrong.
Places to experience some of this great cuisine includes Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill at the L’Auberge Resort & Casino, where the oysters, boudin ball (don’t ask; just try it!) and bar-b-que are delectable. Everything is crafted and/or created by award winning chef Lyle who knows his way around the kitchen. For more, go to @LAubergeLC.
While The Food At The Blue Dog Cafe Is Outstanding, The Works Of Art The Renowned George Rodrique Are Worth Spending Some Time Admiring. The Dog He Used As A 'Model' Was His Pet That He Memorialized After it Passed Away. (Photo/Gord Montgomery)
Another great spot for dining is the Blue Dog Cafe, where along with delicious food, the works of artist George Rodrique are on display, and worth pondering over while you wait for your Cajun, Louisiana-fusion meal to be served. How good is this grub? Well, chef Ryan Trahan was recently crowned the King of American Seafood, so let that be your guide to an outstanding evening of food and art. For more, go to lakecharles.bluedogcafe.com.
A place worth stopping at for a ‘light’ lunch is Darrell’s, a popular spot for the famous Po’ Boy sandwich. These things are staggeringly large, and come in a trio of ham, turkey and roast beef topped with three kinds of melted cheese and best of all — jalapeño mayo! Be assured, this place is well worth the time it may take you to get there.
If You're A Seafood Lover, Then A Trip To The Seafood Palace Is A Must, Where You'll Meet Up With Some Of The Outstanding Dishes There Like The Blue Crab, A Meal In Itself! (Photo/Gord Montgomery)
The Seafood Palace in Lake Charles may not be your high-end restaurant by any stretch, but rest easy, from the number of people seated at it’s long plank tables, to the number waiting in line to feast, this is a popular spot. Again, you can get just about anything you want that comes from the local waters and it’s all done up perfectly. A hint: If you like blue crab, go for that. The table servings are massive and if need be, your waitress will even help you break into the big fella to dig out the tasty meat inside! Located at 2218 Enterprise Blvd; Phone 337-433-9293.
If you’re looking for a high-end dining experience, then head on over to the Golden Nugget, where you’ll find the fabulous Chart House. The menu here is wide-ranging from prime rib to seafood and everything in between. The service is great, the setting even better and it all makes for an evening to remember. For more, go to chart-house.com/locations/lake-charles.
So, if you’re a golfer looking for a bit of off-the-beaten-path adventure, or just an outdoors person who likes variety, Lake Charles may be right up your alley. It’s an easy connection from the Houston or Dallas airports and once there, you’ll find that everything you need, or want, for a great vacation is right at your fingertips, including great golf to outstanding food to interesting recreational opportunities.
For more on the area, go to their website at www.visitlakecharles.org or check out Facebook (Visit Lake Charles); Twitter (@LakeCharlesCVB); Instagram (VisitLakeCharles); and on YouTube (VisitLakeCharles).
About the Writer
Gord Montgomery is a member in good standing of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He is now in his 10th year of writing for Inside Golf. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. He’s also on Twitter at @gordinsidegolf and on Instagram at gordinsidegolf2.
Website: www.visitlakecharles.org
Twitter: @LakeCharlesCVB
Instagram: VisitLakeCharles
Facebook: Visit Lake Charles
YouTube: VisitLakeCharles