Almus Boudreaux Jr.
August 16, 2018
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August 16, 2018
A couple inches of rain fell on Saturday morning in central Lafourche Parish — enough to drench the yards of most of the folks in the small, tight-knit community with standing water and mud.
But over at LaTour Golf Club in Mathews, the wet start didn’t put a damper cm the day—not in. the least
After waiting out the rain, a large crowd gathered in the club-house played some golf— lots of it — something that new course management said is becoming par for the course around these parts
After a abort public hiatus. La-Tour is open again — now under the management of new owner trey Bouvacalt
The course is dazzling — an IB-hole gem pieced together by longtime PGA Tour pro David Tamas.
And with the wet glimmer we’ve had in southeast Louisiana the fairways are lush. the greens are smooth and the course is as good as it’s ever been, according to everyone who plays it on a regular basis.
“I live in Texas, so I see a lot of really nice golf courses oat there,” Boucvalt said “And I’ve played at some really nice placees but I think this is one of the best I’ve seen The course is green. I came here in May and I said, man ererything is so dry But we’ve gotten same rain and if s not dry anymore. Everything green. smooth and it’s just a beautiful golf course”
Tm not exaggerating when I say this I think it’s a in the beet condition of any golf course I’ve seen in Louisiana” Lonisiana club pro Johnny Friloux mid *We could host a PGA Tour event here right now— no problem It’s in that good of shape.”
The process to re-open LaTour was a welcome sight for local golf fans who wanted a little extra variety in searching flair a place to play locally
Boucvalt a prominent businessman in the oil and gas industry, said he was approached about purchasing the course, but added that he wasn’t sure if he wanted to do it. knowing the time commitment that goes into maintaining and keeping up a wall-run facility.
But be said lie toured the course before the sale and saw that the course had been kept in peak audition by the previous owners — even though it was no longer open.
That, combined with the people of southeast Louisiana, had him convinced that this was a project investing in.
“The people here are like no other. They are same of the best people in the world,” Boucvalt a said. “I was always told that once the people here let you in, they’re going to support you and love you like you’re one of their own—like family. And l’ve Been that first hand Anyone I ‘ve ever taken here, they’ve all said the same thing They all said they couldn’t wait to come bade”
The course is challenging but fair. The way the tees are set up make for a challenge for players of all skill levels
On the black tees players face a brutal grind—a 7.170-yard golf course with lots of water; sand traps and hills, which create unique stances on every shot
From the red, the course shrinks to 5,656-yards. but is still quite the challenge for the modest flayer.
“Anyone can play the course,” Boucvalt said ‘That’s the beauty of it
The course re-opened for public business a few months ago and business haft been teaming since that re-launch.
Friloux conceded that La-Tour’s prices are mere expensive than some other courses* bat he quickly added that believes the experience is worth the money.
“We don’t want to ever have a course that is a $20 per round golf course.” Friloux he said That not what wets trying to do hero”
But he added that LaTcur constantly hag discount packages on social media, which will significantly lower the price and make the deal even sweeter.
Friloux said because business is so brisk, a golfer should call and making a tee time in advance to guarantee themselves the opportunity to play.
We hate to send people away. We bale to have you come here and have to tell yon. “Look, we don’t have anything available for another two hours, so you have to sit here and wait'” Friloux a aid. “The bed bet is to call and we can hook you up with a great time”
Friloux said when planning a tee time, plan to make a day of it with friends, adding that coats significantly decrease if there are four players in a tee time, as opposed to one
On the grounds is also a clubhouse, tour shop and restaurant which has delicious eats far all three meals of the day
Boucvalt said he has huge plans for LaTour that are pie in the sky ideas,, but he said tit challenge is to scratch one item off the to-do list at a time without getting impetient
Several lots on the property have been sold since betook over the business and he. himself plans to build on the property.
He said he’d like to build a fully functioning practice facility on the site, as well as a new clubhouse. In the immediate future, he’s working to add sirens, which will be able to signal to golfers that it ‘a time to came inside in the event of lightning in the area. He also playerto build lodges on some of the vacant properties, which will be used as housing, Si players who may wish to play the course from out of town, but who draft feed like commuting.
“We want LaTour to be one of the premier places to live in Southeast Louisiana,” Boucvalt said. ‘That’s the goal The course has been full The public support is great That’s been excellent to see”
Latour Goif club in Mathews is open for business again after a short closnre
