After an extensive nine-month renovation, the University Club Golf Course is back open for play.
The project of nationally renowned golf course architect Jim Lipe and PGA professional and former Tiger All-American David Toms, the home of the LSU men’s and women’s golf teams now spans more than 7,600 yards from its new championship tees. The addition of 500 majestic trees and 110,000 cubic yards of pristine lake area make the course more challenging than ever.
Long hitters will appreciate the 300 yards of added length, seen mostly on the massive 620-yard, par-5 third hole. The intricate course is about more than length, however, as golfers will be required to use every aspect of their game.
“This project has really turned out to be something special,” said University Club General Manager Jared LeBouef. “Not only for LSU, but for the neighborhood, for the members and for Baton Rouge as well.”
The newly redesigned course will undoubtedly benefit LSU’s men’s and women’s golf teams by giving them a difficult course to help shape their game.
“We wanted to shrink the driving areas so that when the teams go to a golf tournament, they feel like they can drive the ball,” said Toms. “We also wanted to challenge them with the short game. Chipping and putting is the name of the game most of the time, so we elevated the greens to let the ball roll off.”
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The Lady Tigers have already seen great results, winning last month’s Mason Rudolph Championship while shooting a school-record 21-under par. The team also placed second at the season-opening Fall Preview.
“By playing out here just in the short time the course has been open, our golf team was the most prepared we’ve ever been for a tournament,” LSU women’s coach Karen Bahnsen said.
With a slope rating of 130 for members (the average course rating is 113, with the toughest courses rating in the 140s), the first-class facility now rivals some of the region’s finest courses. Because of this, LSU has already secured the 2013 NCAA men’s golf regional, the first time the event will take place in Baton Rouge. In addition, the LSU women’s golf team is hoping to place a bid for a future NCAA National Championship tournament.
“I think all LSU fans are going to be very proud of what this is not only going to do for the membership at the University Club, but also the impact it is going to have on our golf programs here at LSU,” said LSU men’s coach Chuck Winstead. “The golf course looks gorgeous. It’s been lengthened. We’ve got trees, bulkhead and water in play. It’s an impressive example of golf course architecture.”
In addition to serving the LSU men’s and women’s golf teams, the impressive course will benefit the community by hosting future tournaments.
“Baton Rouge has a lot of good golf courses, and I think with the renovation to the University Club, you have a facility now where you can host tournament golf,” said Toms. “Not only do you have a golf course that stands up compared to others, but you have a practice facility and everything else that you need to hold a big event.”
The first tournament hosted by the new course will be March’s LSU Golf Classic. With a field of 21 teams competing, the tournament should provide evidence of just how demanding the course is.
“The course is about as tough as they are going to find,” Toms said. “I am sure they hope they catch University Club on a calm day because it is certainly a challenge.”
By the looks of things so far, the LSU men’s and women’s golf teams appear to be up for that challenge.