




Coverage area: Louisiana and Mississippi
Publisher: John Price (TTGmagazine@yahoo.com)
Social media: TTGgolfmagazine
Double Eagles (also called an albatross)are rare shots in the game of golf. Another rare shot is a hole-in-one, making the ace albatross one of the most rarest shots in the game.
The list of local players that have accomplished this feat is not a long one, but on June 8 Blake Jones added his name to this list.
Jones aced the par-4 No. 14 at Quail Hollow Golf Course at Percy Quin State Park (McComb, Miss.)from 350 yards away with his driver. The shot was witnessed by his father George Jones, Roger Lott (his uncle)and Matthew Harvey. One other local recorded an albatross since our last issue and that was Corey Mouton, who resides in Baton Rouge, La. Mouton made the double eagle on the seventh hole at BREC’s Santa Maria Golf Course (Baton Rouge)on May 9. The 199-yard shot was with a 5-hybrid on the par-5 hole, which played 475 yards that day. Mouton, 43, was playing with Michael Melancon. The double eagle was the first for Mouton, who shot even-par.
LEFT: David Hoffmann holds up the ball he made an ace with on July 22 at BREC’s Historic City Park Golf Course in Baton Rouge, La. The course now has a wooden sculpture of course designer Tom Bendelow.
RIGHT: Mallard Golf Club joins Audubon Golf Trail.
Labor Day Weekend was just a little bit more special this year in Starkville.
While the Bulldogs football team was able post a blowout win over Memphis on Saturday,it was the re-opening of the Mississippi State University Golf Course — one day earlier — that brightened the day of lots of 150 golfers.
The $500,000 renovation closed the course for four months, but the finish product has lots of people raving.
"We have been extremely happy with how the renovation project went,” said MSUGolf Course Head Professional Tim Basel.“We closed May 2 and opened back up four months later on our projected timeline.In today’s world with challenges on getting supplies and equipment,our project went off without a hitch and we couldn't be happier."
The bulk of the renovations were green replacements to all 18 holes.In addition,there were some new tee-box complexes added,some moved,some clearing out of areas and some cart-path work.
On Sept.2,players got to check out the new TifEagle greens as well as the new green complex on the ninth hole,new tee on No.10 and resurfaced par-3 tee boxes on the second and 13th holes.
One of the many people to play on re-opening weekend was Neil Price,who is the radio announcer for the MSU football and basketball teams.
The 42-year-old Starkville resident was pleased with the positive changes,especially on the par-4 ninth hole,
www.golf.msstate.edu
which plays just over 400 from the tips and is bordered by the entire left side by water.
“From the tee box,you can see the green stretching over the water because all the trees on the left were removed,”Price said.“It went from being one of the smallest greens to one of the biggest.That is really a beautiful sight out there.”
Price also likes the par-3 eighth and par-4 16th.
“The third is a fun uphill hole (shortest on the course on the front nine) and the 16th has a second shot where you have to carry water,”he explained.“There is a Sawgrass feel to it and you feel accomplished when you get on the green.Ilove the way that hole looks too.”
Built in the mid 1980s and designed by Brian Ault,the MSU Golf Course is home to the PGAManagement Program and the MSU Golf and Sports Turf Management
Program.The facility,which received a new practice area in 2011,has been recognized by national publications.
The practice facility and this recent renovation were both done under the direction of MSU alumnus Nathan Crace and his company Watermark Golf.
All the on-course work and the six different areas of the cart path that were replaced will be welcomed by the players,but the secret to MSU being one of the best college courses in the country is the staff.
“The personal service the staff provides is great,” said David Woods,who has also played the renovated course and is a pass-holder at MSU Golf Course.“I’ve been a member at a country club in Greenville and the way they treat you is what keeps lots of people coming back.What was done the course is wonderful too.We are all really excited about that. It looks so good and they did a remarkable job.”
One of the new touches that makes the course even more unique are the cowbell tee markers.
“That’s a detail that resonates with a lot of people,”Price said.“It was a brilliant decision.It’s a great touch that is really cool.Those are actual cowbells but with a stake at the bottom of them.”
Woods also appreciates the one-of-a-kind markers.
“It’s a great symbol for our university,” he said.“I think even those that play the course on game day that are not familiar with what the cowbell means to our school will enjoy it.”
Price also gives lots of credit to the staff at MSU,which is comprised of Adam Scott (Director of Golf Operations and Director of PGA Golf Management),Tim Basel (PGA Head Professional),Erika Scott (Assistant Director of PGA Golf Management and Teaching Professional) and Nate Kitson (PGA Assistant Golf Professional).
“The entire staff there is top-notch,”Price said.“They all deserve lots of credit.They encourage everyone to have fun. I enjoy spending the afternoon there.It’s a very pleasant place.”
The par-71 tract plays just over 6,600 yards from the tips and with six different tees (two are family sets),there is an appropriate yardage for every player.The front-nine is a par-36 with a nice string of par-4s on the middle stretch of holes. The back nine,which is a par-35,features a collection of three par-3s,four par-4s and two par-5s.
“The course is challenging,but not unfair,”Price said.“They really did a great job on the renovation.”
The course has water that comes into play on nine holes.Three holes (6,12 and 14) are long par-4s with large mature pine trees on them and out-of-bounds areas.These trio of holes will test a players’ patience.The last three holes of the front nine border a 40-acre lake.The entire course is strategically laid out over the beautiful Northeast Mississippi farmland.The 18th hole features a recognizable paw on the green (see above picture),which was part of Crace’s work in 2011.In 2012-2013,working with the MSUForestry Department,additional trees were planted along some holes to give the course a somewhat new look.This work will also enhance the hole definitions in the future.
The 17-acre practice area features a 20,000-square-foot putting and chipping space.A small range bag of balls are $5. A large basket of balls are $9.There are also lessons for men,women and juniors available.
The fully stocked pro shop also has club fitting and repairing options.To make your tee time,call 662.325.3028.
Louisiana’s Audubon Golf Trail has recently added three courses to its lineup with two of them being new additions.
Farm d’Allie Golf Club (Carencro),Mallard Golf Club (Lake Charles) and The Island Golf Course (Plaquemine) are now part of the 18-course trail.
The Island used to be part of the AGT,but had closed. It reopened in June of last year.Farm d’Allie Golf Club and Mallard Golf Club are new trail courses.
Located just outside of the city of Lafayette,Farm d’Allie was opened in 2003.The semi-private facility was designed by Jeffrey Blume over 215 acres in Lafayette Parish.Much of the course is laid out in what Acadians called bottomland,which was once part of the riverbed of the Mississippi River. Part of the course also sits on a ridge 55 feet above sea level on land that used to harvest cotton and soybeans.The area was also used for raising cattle and a popular place for locals to ride their horses.
This championship course plays over 7,000 yards from the tips,but also features four other tee-box locations. The course is closed on Mondays.
Mallard Golf Club,a municipal course owned by the City of Lake Charles,was also designed by Blume.
The 165-acre land in southeast Lake Charles was used to create a true Scottish links-style layout.The course is in the Morganfield Area,which is just a few miles south of where the now closed Mallard Cove Golf Course used to sit.Mallard Cove used to be owned by the City of Lake Charles.Mallard Golf Club opened in 2021,making it the newest course in Louisiana.There are no trees at Mallard Golf Club.There are elevated tee boxes and greens and rolling hills.Native areas are sprinkled along the tract and the generous landing areas were designed to be firm and fast.The clubhouse is currently under construction and should be open at the end of the year. This facility is closed on Tuesdays.Mallard Golf Club plays at 7,181 yards from the tips,but also has four other tee-box locations.
The Island Golf Course is located in Plaquemine,which is 15 miles from downtown Baton Rouge.Laid out
over 160 acres,the course has nine man-made lakes. The front nine plays clockwise,while the back nine plays counter-clockwise.From the tips,the course measures 7,010 yards.A total of 14 holes have water coming into play.Mike Young designed the course,which initially opened in 2000,but closed in April 2020 before changing owners.
The Island Golf Course,which is semi-private,is closed on Mondays.
www.louisianagolftrails.com
In early 2023, Tee to Green Golf Magazine will be distributing its 2022 Yearbooks.
Limited to only 1,000 copies, these yearbooks will summarize the 2022 tournament season. Every copy will be personally numbered. The cost per copy is $10 and that includes shipping and handling. To secure your copy, e-mail TTGmagazine@yahoo.com and an invoice will be sent to you that you can pay with any card. To make sure your events are included in the yearbook, reach out to Publisher John Price at TTGmagazine@yahoo.com.
When BREC’s Historic City Park Golf Course welcomes its participants to The Second Annual Tom Bendelow Classic on Oct.14-16,there will be a welcome surprise in the form of a wooden sculpture of Bendelow.
How the sculpture came about was unplanned as a 2021 thunderstorm partially destroyed a huge oak tree on the course.Shortly after that happened,the collaboration started on what to do with the bottom portion of the tree.
When it was all said and done,the base of the tree was carved into a statue honoring the original designer of the City Park Golf Course.Bendelow,who was known as the Johnny Appleseed of American Golf,designed the course in 1926.Bendelow (1868-1936) designed more than 800 golf courses.
The creation was done (with a chainsaw) by St.Francisville,La.wood artist Burt Fleming.The 100-year oak was split,but a large base remained after the damaged parts were taken down.BREC Director of Golf Mike Raby and Friends of City Park worked together to get this $7,000 project done.
“They told me what they wanted and I got started,”explained Fleming,who turned his life-long hobby into a full-time career in 2000.“As I was working, people would stop by and ask questions.”
The finished product is an eye-catcher and a great conversation piece at Baton Rouge’s oldest public golf course.
The statue is located between the clubhouse and the second fairway.It is six feet tall and a formal dedication is expected soon.
Mike Raby,Stan Spring (with the Society of Hickory Golfers at Historic City Park),local architect Kevin Harris and Lillie Gallagher,who is with Friends of City Park,were instrumental in getting this project done.
Anything that can last 106 years needs to be well-built and popular and those two adjectives surely describe Natchez Golf Club.
Built in 1916,this historic course sits just east of downtown,which sits on the east-side bank of the Mississippi River.
Natchez Golf Club is 85 miles north of Baton Rouge and 90 miles southwest of the capital city of Jackson.
Greg Brooking,who has been the PGA Head Professional at NGC since 1995,is a life-long resident of Natchez.He started one of the facilities’ signature events — The Natchez Open — in 2020.
“I have been wanting to do the tournament for many years,but I needed the backing,”Brooking said. “Now that Ihave the backing, we can not only do it,but Ican figure out how to make it better and better each year.”
This year’s event is Nov.4-6 and features a 54-hole competition for professionals and amateurs.The Natchez Open is sponsored by Taco Bell, William Burnsed,GoMart and Visit Natchez.
Last year’s winner Michael Arnaud (Covington,La.) is looking forward to competing once again.Last year,Arnaud won the professional event and the $5,000 prize despite being the first time he played the course.Natchez Golf Club is now special to him.
“That place reminds me a lot of the home course in Texas Igrew up on,”Arnaud said.“Natchez takes pride in that course.Communities that continue to support a place like that is special.It’s a staple of the community and they take pride in the course.”
While Arnaud plays a lot of modern courses as a professional,he enjoys the older-style courses as the things you learn on them sometimes can’t be practiced
anywhere else.
“The greens have more movements on them and you really have to realize to keep the ball below the hole,” Arnaud said.“The greens always seem to break on the older courses like Natchez Golf Club.It’s simple,but at the same time,there is risk there and lots of headaches to be had out there.”
The other big event at NGCis the annual Norman Puckett Junior Championship,which is played during June.
This past year,Will Burnham (Jackson,Miss.) won in a playoff over Andrew Zielinksi (Ocean Springs,Miss.) in the boys’ division and Sophia Macias (Denham Springs,La.) ran away with the girls’ crown by 13 strokes.Macias is one of the up and coming standouts in Louisiana and plays lots of rounds on modern courses,but really enjoyed her time at Natchez Golf Club this past summer.
“The course has been around for a while now,but is still in great condition.It was a great opportunity to play there and very cool to be around,” Macias said.
April 28, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Pines Course No. 2 (125 yards)
April 29, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Pines Course No. 6
April 29, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Pines Course No. 6 (140 yards)
May 2, Clear Creek Golf Course (Vicksburg, Miss.), No. 2
May 3, BREC's Santa Maria Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 17 (126 yards)
May 3, BREC's Beaver Creek Golf Course (Zachary, La.), No. 8 (148 yards)
DAVIS
May 5, Mossy Oak Golf Club (West Point, Miss.), No. 11 (181 yards)
MICKEY
May 6, Quail Hollow Golf Course at Percy Quin State Park (McComb, Miss.), No. 13 (120 yards)
May 7, Tamahka Trails Golf Club (Marksville, La.), No. 15 (142 yards)
May 7, BREC's Beaver Creek Golf Course (Zachary, La.), No. 17 (115 yards)
May 10, St. Mary Golf and Country Club (Berwick, La.), No. 5 (130 yards)
May 11, Tamahka Trails Golf Club (Marksville, La.), No. 6 (122 yards)
May 11, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Pines Course No. 6 (115 yards)
May 12, Tamahka Trails Golf Club (Marksville, La.), No. 2 (117 yards)
May 14, Simpson County Country Club (Mendenhall, Miss.), No. 12
May 14, Tamahka Trails Golf Club (Marksville, La.), No. 13 (139 yards)
May 15, Timberlane Golf and Recreation (Gretna, La.), No. 3
May 15, Dixie Golf Course (Laurel, Miss.), No. 10
May 17, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 5 (157 yards)
May 19, Copper Mill Golf Club (Zachary, La.), No. 2 (124 yards)
May 19, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 8 (158 yards)
May 19, Clear Creek Golf Course (Vicksburg, Miss.), No. 14
May 20, St. Mary Golf and Country Club (Berwick, La.), No. 3 (160 yards)
May 20, Les Vieux Chenes Golf Course (Youngsville, La.), No. 7 (117 yards)
May 20, Hebert Memorial Golf Course (Lafayette, La.), No. 6
May 24, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Pine Course No. 2 (150 yards)
May 24, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Pine Course No. 13 (141 yards)
May 26, Whispering Pines Golf Course (Moss Point, Miss.), No. 17 (95 yards)
May 29, Tamahka Trails Golf Club (Marksville, La.), No. 15 (135 yards)
May 30, Les Vieux Chenes Golf Course (Youngsville, La.), No. 3 (143 yards)
May 30, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 8
May 31, English Turn Golf and Country Club (New Orleans), No. 12 (91 yards)
June 2, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 5
June 3, The Pines at North Park (Denham Springs, La.), No. 3 (113 yards)
June 4, Reunion Golf and Country Club (Madison, Miss.), No. 12
June 5, Bay Pointe Golf and Country Club (Brandon, Miss.), No. 3 (75 yards)
June 5, Bay Pointe Golf and Country Club (Brandon, Miss.), No. 17 (103 yards)
June 8, Quail Hollow Golf Course at Percy Quin State Park (McComb, Miss.), No. 14 (350 yards)
June 9, Copper Mill Golf Club (Zachary, La.), No. 11 (132 yards)
June 10, Hickory Hill Country Club and Resort (Gautier, Miss.), No. 5
June 12, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 16 (176 yards)
June 13, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Cardinal Course No. 13 (100 yards)
June 14, BREC's Santa Maria Golf Course (Baton Rouge), No. 11 (74 yards)
June 16, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Cardinal Course No. 13 (96 yards)
June 17, Okatoma Golf Club (Collins, Miss.), No. 11 (113 yards)
June 18, Bay Pointe Golf and Country Club (Brandon, Miss.), No. 6 (140 yards)
June 18, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 5 (124 yards)
June 19, BREC's Santa Maria Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 17 (138 yards)
June 16, The Atchafalaya Golf Course at Idlewild (Patterson, La.), No. 11 (165 yards)
June 23, The Island Golf Course (Plaquemine, La.), No. 3 (156 yards)
AUSTIN
June 25, Clear Creek Golf Course (Vicksburg, Miss.), No. 2
GEORGE
June 29, Hickory Hill Country Club and Resort (Gautier, Miss.), No. 3
July 1, BREC's Santa Maria Golf Course (Baton Rouge), No. 2 (139 yards)
July 1, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Pine Course No. 6 (110 yards)
July 3, The Island Golf Course (Plaquemine, La.), No. 16 (138 yards)
July 3, Les Vieux Chenes (Youngsville, La.), No. 3 (132 yards)
July 4, The Island Golf Course (Plaquemine, La.), No. 16 (110 yards)
July 4, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 13 (155 yards)
July 8, Copper Mill Golf Club (Zachary, La.), No. 2 (132 yards)
July 10, Bay Pointe Golf and Country Club (Brandon, Miss.), No. 6
July 10, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 9 (161 yards)
CHRIS
July 11, Pine Creek Golf Club (Purvis, Miss.), No. 2 (185 yards)
July 14, St. Mary Golf and Country Club (Berwick, La.), No. 5
July 15, Pine Creek Golf Club (Purvis, Miss.), No. 11 (182 yards)
July 16, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Pine Course No. 16 (150 yards)
July 20, BREC's Webb Memorial Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 3 (124 yards)
July 20, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 13 (128 yards)
July 22, BREC's Historic City Park Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 9 (123 yards)
July 23, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Cardinal Course No. 13 (101 yards)
July 23, Clear Creek Golf Course (Vicksburg, Miss.), No. 2
July 26, Dixie Golf Course (Laurel, Miss.), No. 14
July 29, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 5 (125 yards)
July 30, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Cardinal Course No. 13 (129 yards)
Aug. 3, Bay Pointe Golf and Country Club (Brandon, Miss.), No. 17 (105 yards)
Aug. 3, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 13 (185 yards)
Aug. 4, BREC’s Santa Maria Golf Course (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 17 (190 yards)
Aug. 6, The Wetlands Golf Course (Lafayette, La.), No. 4 (135 yards)
Aug. 7, The Dogwoods Golf Course (Grenada, Miss.), No. 14 (133 yards)
Aug. 8, Bay Pointe Golf and Country Club (Brandon, Miss.), No. 17 (106 yards)
Aug. 10, BREC’s Beaver Creek Golf Course (Zachary, La.), No. 15 (123 yards)
Aug. 10, Greenville (Miss.) Municipal Golf Course, No. 3
Aug. 11, The Atchafalaya Golf Course at Idlewild (Patterson, La.), No. 15
Aug. 13, Country Club of Jackson (Miss.), No. 13 (102 yards)
Aug. 14, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Pine Course No. 15 (132 yards)
Aug. 19, The University Club (Baton Rouge, La.), No. 16 (167 yards)
Aug. 21, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Cardinal Course No. 7 (164 yards)
Aug. 25, Cam2 Golf Club at Springview (Roseland, La.), No. 15
Aug. 28, The Club at Diamondhead (Miss.), Pine Course No. 6 (120 yards)
Aug. 29, Dixie Golf Course (Laurel,Miss.), No. 8
Aug. 30, Dixie Golf Course (Laurel,Miss.), No. 10
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
Natchez has likely played host to over a million rounds in its lifetime and some of its most famous customers were Walter Hagen,Sam Snead and Babe Zaharias.
Playing at 6,502 yards,the greens are what make NGCa true challenge. “Most of them are smaller and feature a turtleback,”Macias explained. “It was difficult to play and the par-3s are little harder than I’m used to.”
Natchez Golf Club started as a 9-hole course and was designed by Seymour Dunn.The second nine were added in 1993 and designed and built by Bryan Ault.
The facility is minutes from historic downtown and features Dogwoods, Long Leaf Pines and towering Oaks draped in Spanish Moss.The course is also a founding member of the Mississippi Golf Trail.
www.natchezgolfclub.com
TIMBER TRUSS GOLF COURSE (Olive Branch)
THE DOGWOODS GOLF COURSE (Grenada)
BAY POINTE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB (Brandon)
NATCHEZ GOLF CLUB at DUNCAN PARK (Natchez)
OKATOMA GOLF CLUB (Collins)
QUAIL HOLLOW GOLF COURSE at PERCY QUIN STATE PARK (McComb)
PINE CREEK GOLF CLUB (Purvis)
SHELL LANDING GOLF CLUB (Gautier)
THE OAKS GOLF CLUB (Pass Christian)