By Len Ziehm
Casino owned golf courses, Contraband Bayou and The Country Club at Golden Nugget garner the most attention, when golfers visit this popular gambling mecca near the Louisiana/Texas border.
A couple other local courses, well known to the casino crowd, are making major upgrades. Gray Plantation has opened its new indoor academy – one of the very few in Louisiana, plus the National Golf Club of Louisiana expects to break ground on a new clubhouse.
In addition, the L’Auberge and Golden Nugget casinos are close to consummating a deal that would bring the PGA Tour Champions to Lake Charles, in 2020.
The Golden Nugget and L’Auberge casinos are within walking distance of each other and both have championship quality 18-hole courses on their premises.
“As everybody knows, the golf business now is tough to make money at,’’ said John Hurt, director of golf at The Country Club at the Golden Nugget. “But, with the casino, our owners don’t necessarily look at our numbers. They give us credit for the people we bring in to the casino that come because of the golf course. They make money across the street at the casino because of this amenity. Amenities are what sets casinos apart. Golf is an amenity which brings people in.’’
Country Club at Golden Nugget
Todd Eckinrode designed the Country Club at Golden Nugget with gamblers in mind. It features wide fairways, rough that’s not too thick so golfers can get back into the casino.
“The main thing is the playability,’’ said Hurt. “The majority of our play is from groups of 12 to 20 players. They’re having fun at night gambling and drinking and staying up late. They don’t want to be beat up by a hard golf course.’’
Tillman Fertitta owns the Golden Nuggets casinos and hotels, as well as, the Landry’s restaurant chain. In 2017 he also purchased the National Basketball Association’s Houston Rockets for a reported $2.2 billion.
Fertitta was quick to make his presence felt at The Country Club at the Golden Nugget when it opened five years ago. Hurt had expected the clubhouse music to be kept at a level so it wouldn’t impact golfers, but Fertitta disagreed.
“We’re not as stuffy as a private club. We have music,’’ said Hurt. “Our owner tells us to kick up the music. He wants a party atmosphere.’’
So, the sounds of music are part of the golfing ambiance at this Golden Nugget.
Contraband Bayou
Contraband Bayou, a Tom Fazio design, opened 12 years ago and has served its casino well. 
“There’s not a drive for revenue here,’’ said Davey. “It’s for the high rollers to come and play. It’s a well-maintained course, and the service level is high. Ours isn’t your typical Fazio. Our course has to be playable for all levels of players. The greens are flat and the fairways are wide open. It’s built for 4-hour 15-minute rounds – so the players can get back to the casino. What do golfers like to do? They like to gamble, so our course is a great tool to get people here.’’
Whatever your reason for visiting southern Louisiana’s Lake Charles, you will find exceptional golf to distract your gambling desires.
This article is posted with permission from Len Ziehm and can be read in it’s entirety at: http://lenziehmongolf.com/travel-destinations/golf-is-thriving-in-lake-charles-and-not-just-at-the-casino-courses/
