Baton Rouge, LA

[CUTigers2011]

I just moved to Baton Rouge at the beginning of July for a job and am interested in memberships around here. So far I've only played at City Park (cheap and easy to do at spur of the moment), the LSU course (can be a absolute zoo and unbelievably slow), and Santa Maria (IMO overpriced). I'm a recent Clemson graduate so I've been spoiled with the Walker Course quality at the student price. Being a recent graduate also puts me on a budget so anything in the ranks of CC of LA or University Club is out of the question, and any membership plans at a reduced price for people under 30 would be a plus. I'm planning on playing The Oaks at Sherwood, Island Country Club, and Pelican Point soon. The Oaks is a little more expensive but closer and Island CC is a little cheaper but 20 miles my house and office. I think the membership at Pelican Point is higher but has 2 courses and is also 20 miles from my house in the opposite direction. I'm a little concerned that with them being 20 miles from home and work that it will limit my chances to play on weekdays after work more so than somewhere closer and I think the mid week rounds is what would make a membership cost effective for me. A BREC annual pass may be an option as well which would be access to more courses but all city owned and I think would have to be paid in full at once instead of monthly dues.

 

Anybody have any suggestions on other clubs to look into or opinions on courses in the Baton Rouge area?

[Wildcatmike]

Went to grad school at LSU and I frequent BR to visit the in/laws. Unfortunately, golf in LA is gawd awful. The nicest course in the area is the University Club which is pretty neat design and probably the best kept in condition...but unfortunately, they allowed David Toms to go in and change it up, in which he should be kicked in the balls for making the greens almost unplayable!

Santa Maria is probably the best designed course in the area (RTJ Sr) and The Bluffs (Palmer)...Beaver Creek is ok. If you are looking to join, I would, I would check out either University Club or The Bluffs.

Also, another option is Copper Mill.

But when I am in town, I like Santa Maria, Carter Plantation, Univeristy Club, and the TPC of LA.

Hope it helps.

[CUTigers2011]

[quote name='Wildcatmike' timestamp='1314407488' post='3522204']
golf in LA is gawd awful
[/quote]

This is exactly what I have discovered in the past 2 months! Or maybe I was spoiled by living in South Carolina for the past 4 years.

Thanks for the input. I'll call and talk to them at the University Club also but I think the membership costs there are going to be out of my league right now. Maybe ought to give some more consideration to an annual pass for Santa Maria which would include the rest of the muni courses also.

[Wildcatmike]

[quote name='abajoczky' timestamp='1314419251' post='3522657']
[quote name='Wildcatmike' timestamp='1314407488' post='3522204']
golf in LA is gawd awful
[/quote]



This is exactly what I have discovered in the past 2 months! Or maybe I was spoiled by living in South Carolina for the past 4 years.

Thanks for the input. I'll call and talk to them at the University Club also but I think the membership costs there are going to be out of my league right now. Maybe ought to give some more consideration to an annual pass for Santa Maria which would include the rest of the muni courses also.
[/quote]


I can see why, LSU and City are goat ranches!

If I was in BR, I would probably go with the BREC pass...you would have access to Santa Maria, Beaver Creek, Webb Park (locals call it Webble Beach). You can always get on to the Bluffs, Copper Mill, and knowing a member at the University Club, they will let you on.

If the BREC pass is reasonable, I say go for it for Santa Maria alone and you can alway get on Webb if Santa is too crowded...and Beaver Creek is a nice lay out as well.

And yes, I am spoiled as well to golf in Lexington...we have a public course own by the city that was designed by Pete Dye...public courses here that would be a plush course in LA.

[dblung]

I live about 45 mins from B.R. and have played most of the courses in the area. One that wasen't mentoined was "Greystone" in Denham Springs. They have a challenging layout and keep the course in good shape. Although, it seems you are trying to get the most bang for you buck and for that reason the Brec pass would make the most sense. I say give it a try for a year and see how you like it.
The only downside to the pass is that you will end up playing at santa maria for the most part and it can get a little crowded at times. Beaver creek is the next best option with the pass but is a little out of the way.
Pelican point does have two courses but they put most of their care into the Links course. It is reflected in the greens fee. Its worth a look if you were to join. There again you would probably spend most of you time on the links course.
I think you said it best, you were spoiled living in S.C.

The Bluffs on Thompson's Creek(St. Francisville) T.P.C Louisiana(Avondale)
Copper Mill(Zacary) La Tour (Matthews)
Greystone(Denham Springs) Lakewood(New Orleans)
Carter Plantation(Springfield)
Atchafalaya at Idlewild(Patterson)

Just a few others to visit once in a while.

[lildev0426]

oaks is in good shape. I have been a member for over a year. greens are great and the pace is much better than the Brec courses. keep in mind that you have to pay cart fees for the Brec courses on top of your pass. unless you pay cart membership also. you can join the oaks as a junior for about $175 everything included per month.

[CUTigers2011]

[quote name='lildev0426' timestamp='1314554122' post='3525469']
oaks is in good shape. I have been a member for over a year. greens are great and the pace is much better than the Brec courses. keep in mind that you have to pay cart fees for the Brec courses on top of your pass. unless you pay cart membership also. you can join the oaks as a junior for about $175 everything included per month.
[/quote]

Played at The Oaks for the first time today. Maybe I caught it at a bad time and just need to give it another shot...


Had a tee time and when we pulled up to #1 we had to wait for 3 groups to tee off. Play was painfully slow, took a little shy of 5 hours to play 18. A group in front had 2 open fairways in front of them and never let anyone play though (they were 2 groups ahead of us on the front and on the back they were right in front of us). Range was completely sand, no grass. I had a tough time getting my tee into some of the tee boxes because they were so hard. Many fairways were just as hard. The greens overall were fine.

On the flip side the staff and everybody else that we talked to were great and very welcoming.

Again, hopefully I just had a fluke experience and I'm willing to give it a shot again in the near future. And for $150 a month for me since it would be an apprentice membership it seems like a good value. It looked like there were some improvements going on at the range for a new hitting area and another practice green going in also. Maybe next time out it'll be a difference experience.

[lildev0426]

[size="4"]sorry you had that experience yesterday man. i have to admit the range was in really bad shape yesterday (and saturday). not sure why they did not move the hitting area to a better spot. that is really not the usual case. they just built/planted that hitting area last year and it is usually pretty nice. the new practice green is supposed to be ready pretty soon and they are also putting in a practice fairway bunker near the range.

as far as pace of play, i think you got a bit unlucky. we played in 3:40 hours there yesterday but we started early. if you are ever there and there are open fairways in front of a group in front of you, i really encourage you to call the pro shop. the marshals are VERY good out there and they will push pace of play or get someone to let you through. i also play there on fridays around 11am and we are usually done in 4 hours or less.

not trying to "sell" you, lol, i just think, having played all of the brec courses for a few years, the oaks is the best deal out there for a junior or apprentice membership.

if you PM me i will give you my opinion on all of the courses around here.



[/size]

[CUTigers2011]

Thanks again for the all the suggestions. I'll definitely be giving it another shot soon and maybe next time I'll try to get a round in earlier in the day and see if that makes a difference.

[lildev0426]

cool, give me a PM and ill give you my email if you want to play with a buddy and I. We are playing Bluff's Friday morning if interested (awesome course). fyi, we are not scratch golfers, lol - both 10-14 handi's, but we play ready golf.

[ab7735]

Recently moved from BRLA to Columbus, OH so my situation is opposite yours. Plenty of golf courses around here at a good price. Sounds like you can't travel much and if that's the case then Santa Maria will be as good as it gets without joining a club. Santa Maria in late spring/early summer can be in good condition and worth the price IMO. And yes, LSU can be sloooooooow at times. The times I played The Oaks, course was in ok shape, greens were actually good and rolled smooth. So that's my 2 cents. If you can travel to play then there are good tracks 2 hours from BR in all directions.

[CUTigers2011]

I just moved to Baton Rouge at the beginning of July for a job

 

Well, my company has decided that it would be best for me to work out of the Raleigh (home office) instead. I'm real excited since I was hoping to be able to move to that office eventually anyways. So it looks like the golf situation for me will be taking a 180 degree turn. Can't wait to get back in the Carolinas!

[Dat_Dude]

I am from Iowa but just went down to New Orleans for the Bears vs Saints game (vomit). We drove up to Carter Plantation and were very impressed. I will say though that you should play one tee back from what you normally play. The course is extremely short. Blues at a normal course=Golds at Carter.

[Hollywood1565]

Hate to bring this back but as a member of santa maria it really is a nice course though can be a little crowded on weekends rounds still progress at a reasonable pace never over 5 hours in my expirence and is usally in nice condition if any one wants to join me for one of my daily rounds pm me

[jrg9]

[quote name='Wildcatmike' timestamp='1314407488' post='3522204']
The nicest course in the area is the University Club which is pretty neat design and probably the best kept in condition
[/quote]

Worked at CC of LA while at LSU pretty much just for free golf when I wanted and it was hands down the best course in the br area.