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Promoting itself as the Bayou Region’s “premier golfing community,” LaTour Golf Club in Mathews has gained notoriety for its golfing prowess since its grand opening in 2009.
Covering 7,170 yards (from the back tees) and boasting a rubber stamp from course designer, former LSU star turned PGA Tour pro David Toms, the Lafourche Parish golf course has quickly risen among the local ranks to become a top-tier Tri-parish development.
Gumbo writer and Tri-Parish Times sports editor Casey Gisclair spent the afternoon on the links.
After 18 holes of crooked drives, mishit chips and pulled putts, it can safely be said that LaTour is worth the hype – easily among the elite courses in the region.
Layout
Even the most pure player will be given a stiff challenge by LaTour’s layout – something that is impressive to both those looking for a stiff challenge and also the golfing purist.
The course has a subtle blend of ease and difficulty glittered throughout its 18 holes. The true masterpiece of Toms’ design is that every inviting situation that presents itself on the scorecard is met with some sort of penalty – usually in the name of a bunker or pond.
Simply put: quality shots are a must for a good score to be had at LaTour.
Likewise, poor shots are punished with golfing trouble.
Never is that more evident than on the par-3 4th hole. Playing 197 yards from the back tees, one must carry the ball about 150 yards to avoid a water hazard that engulfs the front-side of the green.
Even if one successfully carries the drink, precision is key. The green is surrounded by bunkers on both the front and back, which means distance control within one’s tee shot is a must.
If that tickling challenge isn’t enough, the par-4 5th hole is up next with its hefty 491-yard baggage.
One favorite of most regulars is the par-3 17th hole and its signature “island” green. Sitting just 156-yards from the back tee box, the hole is a replica of the famous 8th hole at the Royal Troon course overseas, which features trouble surrounding the green from all sides.
LaTour’s 17th hole has an identical feel, which places a great deal of stress onto even the most elite local players.
Away from the course’s degree of difficulty, LaTour just has the feel of a professional site. Ropes separate the course from the out-of-bounds lines on each hole.
This gives a player with an imagination, like myself, the mental picture of how beautiful the course would be if filled with an audience.
Inside of the ropes, the course is nearly perfectly kept. Every bunker is raked and every fairway is littered only by sand-packed divots.
Once on the green, the ball glided as smooth as can be expected.
One player enjoying a round remarked that it was the pace and smoothness of LaTour’s greens that separated the course from the others within the area.
Without having played any of the other courses, we cannot back that statement fully. But we can concur that LaTour’s greens are first class and give the course a truly professional feel.
That professional feel is accompanied by a reasonable price tag, as one can play a round for $49 (with a cart) on Tues-Thurs. The cost is lifted to $69 Friday through Sunday. Twilight times, nine hole rounds and senior citizens are all offered discounts on the course, which is closed every Monday (except chosen holidays) for maintenance.
Scenery
There is never a doubt that one is in south Louisiana when playing at LaTour.
That was made evident on the first hole of the day as we encountered a small alligator enjoying our company from a swamp-like lake resting on the left side of the fairway.
The local golf club did its absolute best to keep a Cajun feel within its ropes. They largely succeeded, as the rough, trees and water all look like they belong to south Louisiana.
One complaint that could be made about the course it that there is a definitive lack of trees within its 18-hole layout.
But those who share our feelings toward this small criticism should know that help is on the way and several small, budding trees will be adults within the next few years, which will give the entire course an overhaul.
Lagniappe
One of the biggest assets LaTour has is its service and friendly atmosphere. That hospitality shined through the entirety of our stay within the course.
The players who enjoyed our afternoon on the links were mostly all regulars, which gave the club a family-like feel.
To make that feeling even richer was the warmth of LaTour’s employees who went out of their way to take care of everyone throughout the stay.
When one considers that most golfers are trying to escape day-to-day stresses while hitting the links, hospitality is an underrated touch that really goes a long way in defining a club.
Anyone who isn’t overly interested in golf and/or a hungry player looking for a bite at the turn is also in for a treat.
LaTour’s clubhouse features a dine-in restaurant dubbed JB’s Grill. Loaded with Cajun favorites, the grill is much more than a country club hot dog joint – it’s loaded with lunch specials and delicious treats, which come at an inexpensive price.
We recommend the Cajun Philly and the Cuban po-boy, but the truth is that virtually the entire menu sounded appetizing to us on our afternoon.
JB’s is also available to empty bellies that didn’t play 18 holes, as a slew of children glittered the restaurant at our time of feast.
By no means am I a golfing pro.
So coming into my afternoon, I knew I was in for a long day in terms of my 18-hole score.
With that said, I will go out on a limb and say that I shot in the mid-80s. I just won’t say how many holes I played to accumulate such a score, of course.
Golfing jokes aside, with a big-name professional designer and a lot of local momentum, LaTour has quickly established itself as one of the elite golf courses within the Tri-parish area.
With a wonderful blend of challenge, atmosphere, hospitality and scenery, it’s hard to deny those claims.
LaTour is a hit for those interested in summer golfing action.
Steve Williams, a Larose native, seeks the pin at LaTour. The course, which opened in 2009, has garnered a reputation because of its smooth, curving greens and provokingly difficult layout.
Jared Chiasson, of Lockport, tees off at LaTour.
