LOUISIANA GOLF ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2022 CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

November 1, 2021 — Lafayette, Louisiana

The Louisiana Golf Association (LGA) is pleased to announce its 2022 championship schedule. The LGA will once again conduct twelve Championships, in addition to sixteen Louisiana Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championship Qualifiers. The LGA is an Allied Golf Association of the USGA, and as such, the governing body for amateur golf in Louisiana will conduct seven qualifiers on behalf of the USGA in 2022. “We are excited about our 2022 schedule and the quality venues we can provide our members with an opportunity to play,” said LGA Executive Director Logan Ray. “The schedule showcases premier LGA member clubs across the state that give back to the game by hosting our Championships, and we sincerely appreciate their support. The LGA is proud to provide first-class competitions for all golfers, and we look forward to welcoming everyone next season.” 2022 is sure to be a fantastic and memorable year for amateur golfers in the Bayou State.

The stellar 2022 LGA championship calendar is highlighted by the 103^rd Louisiana Amateur Championship, to be conducted at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, June 9-12. Registration for the Amateur Championship will open April 1, with an entry deadline of Tuesday, May 10 at 5:00 PM. The Pete Dye designed TPC Louisiana is the home of the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic, and this will be a wonderful opportunity for amateur competitors to “play where the pros play.” TPC Louisiana, part of the TPC Network (owned, operated and licensed by the PGA TOUR) completed its highly anticipated bunker renovation project earlier this year. As a continuation to a previous course renovation in 2019, the project – which began in October 2020 – included 14 of the 18 holes being renovated, rebuilt, grassed and/or having through-the-green areas installed – shrinking the overall square footage of the bunkers from 9.9 acres to 2.7 acres. During the project, many of the bunker floors were raised and new drainage systems were installed, allowing the maintenance staff to bring the course back significantly faster after rain.

The enhancements were well received by the PGA TOUR professionals at the 2021 Zurich Classic. TPC Louisiana also hosted the 2021 LGA Four-Ball Championship in June, and the golf course drew rave reviews from LGA members. TPC’s location, just 15 miles from New Orleans, also adds to the venue’s popularity. The golf course will play to a par 72 at approximately 7,100 yards for the 103^rd Louisiana Amateur Championship, a stern but fair test. TPC Louisiana has always been a tremendous supporter of amateur golf and has hosted numerous LGA Championships. This will be the third time in its history to host the Louisiana Amateur Championship (2007 and 2012 previously). “TPC Louisiana was built to host tournament golf at the highest level and we’re honored to be hosting our 3^rd LGA State Amateur,” said TPC General Manager Luke Farabaugh. “I believe our course creates an environment that elevates the competition amongst the participants that ultimately identifies the best player in each tournament we host.  Our staff is excited to showcase our facility to the best amateurs in the State and crowing the 2022 Louisiana State Amateur Champion.”

The LGA will take the 94^th Louisiana Women’s Amateur Championship to Le Triomphe Golf & Country Club in Broussard, June 23-26. The Robert Trent Jones, Jr. designed Le Triomphe signature championship course is beloved, tried, and tested as the home of the Korn Ferry Tour’s Louisiana Open for the last 29 years. Le Triomphe is a par 72 and boasts five par 5’s and five par 3’s on a beautiful layout. It has always been a “can’t miss / must play” site when it’s on the LGA calendar. The course has its share of challenging holes, but it also has plenty of scoring opportunities that will provide the stage for an exciting weekend of match play for the best female amateur golfers in Louisiana. This marks the first time in the storied history of the club that Le Triomphe will host the LGA’s marquee women’s championship, and it comes at the ideal time. Le Triomphe recently completed a multi-million-dollar renovation. The golf course is, and will be, in excellent condition.

The LGA Board of Directors formed a Women’s Championship Committee this year with the goal of enhancing the player experience and increasing participation in all of its women’s championships moving forward. One of the significant changes to the Women’s Amateur is a shift from a Monday to Wednesday event to now Friday through Sunday, with practice rounds on Thursday. There will be a dinner for players and guests on Thursday evening at the Le Triomphe clubhouse as the LGA celebrates the women’s game and showcases the unrivaled hospitality at Le Triomphe. “Le Triomphe Golf and Country Club is excited to be part of enhancing the player experience for women’s championship golf,” said Thomas T. Wartelle, Le Triomphe’s Director of Golf.  Logan Ray added, “Our Women’s Amateur competitors are in for a treat next season. When Le Triomphe commits to something, they go above and beyond… It is inspiring to see the club’s leadership and membership buy-in to supporting the women’s game wholeheartedly.”

Three other takeaways from the schedule release are:

1. This will be a “Big Easy” Season. There is strong support of the LGA in the Greater New Orleans area, and the aforementioned 103^rd Louisiana Amateur is not the only event coming to New Orleans in 2022. In total, the LGA has created six opportunities for “home games” for those in and around the 504.

• The LGA expects a full field of 96 teams (192 players) to compete in the 39^th LGA Four-Ball Championship at the Rees Jones designed Bayou Oaks at City Park (South Course), July 16-17.
• The Jack Nicklaus designed English Turn Golf & Country Club will host the 31^st Women’s Senior Amateur and 24^th Louisiana Women’s Mid-Amateur Championships. English Turn just re-opened with brand new greens this month. Those two events are scheduled for October 15-16. The LGA is introducing a new format next year by conducting the Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Amateur Championships simultaneously from the same yardage (approx. 5,200 – 5,300 yards). That means any eligible player can win both the Senior Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championships if they are the low scorer over 36 holes. Women who are ages 25-49 will only compete in the Mid-Amateur, but all Senior Women (50 +) are automatically entered into the Mid-Amateur as well as the Senior Amateur. Both events are flighted.
• The 35^th LGA Senior Four-Ball Championship will also be conducted October 15-16 at English Turn. This should be a well-attended championship, and the weather should be ideal for golf.
• The 21^st LGA Women’s Four-Ball Championship will take place on September 14-15 at Beau Chene Country Club (Oak Course) in Mandeville.

2. Junior golf in Louisiana is trending in the right direction thanks, in large part, to East Ridge Country Club in Shreveport. East Ridge’s Head Golf Professional Cliff Bailey was instrumental in the creation and progression of the Louisiana Junior Golf Tour (LJGT), which is now heading into its fourth season. Bailey’s foresight, selflessness, and wherewithal helped bring the LGA and Gulf States PGA together on this crucial initiative that creates an avenue for juniors to compete at top facilities in Louisiana and to do so at affordable rates. As such, East Ridge Country Club will host the Boys and Girls’ Junior Amateur Championships, July 6-8, 2022. The Overall Boys division and the Girls Division will play 54 holes ($100 entry fee). East Ridge has hosted the Junior Amateur Championship three times previously (1966, 1987, and 2018).
3. There are two great Stay and Play opportunities in August of 2022. The 30^th Louisiana Mid-Amateur Championship will be at Koasati Pines at the Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, August 5-7, and the 23^rd LGA Net Amateur Championship will be conducted at Contraband Bayou Golf Club at the L’Auberge Casino Resort in Lake Charles, August 20-21. The LGA will have room blocks at the casinos and staying on site will be efficient and enjoyable.

Please note that the LGA Amateur and Mid-Amateur Qualifiers and all USGA Qualifiers will be released in December.