NEW ORLEANS -- A quick look at the 13 golf courses that compose the Audubon Golf Trail in Louisiana.1. Olde Oaks (near Shreveport)Hal Sutton, a Shreveport native, closely collaborated in the design of this course, which features 27 holes, each with its own namesake characteristics -- The Oaks, The Cypress and The Meadows.Five sets of tees and generous fairways allow any level of golfer to truly enjoy their round. Almost every species of wildlife that is native to this area can be found at this course.Green fee/cart is $44 plus tax weekdays (M-Th.) and $49 on weekends. Twilight and senior discounts available.2. The Island: Plaquemine, La.This par-72 course, measuring more than 7,000 yards from the championship tees, was carved out of a sugar plantation. In fact, sugar cane still grows in the field next to The Island.Despite having 54 bunkers, water comes into play more than sand.There are nine lakes on this challenging course, as well as Bayou Plaquemine and Bayou Jacob. Only one hole doesn't bring water into play.Green fee/cart is $55 plus tax weekdays (M-Th) and $65 on weekends. Twilight and senior discounts available.3. Cypress Bend ResortThis course on the Texas-Louisiana border features 10 holes along Toledo Bend Lake and six with shots across hidden coves and inlets. Surrounding hardwood forests, undulating greens and dramatic elevation changes add to Cypress Bend's challenge and beauty. Green fee/cart is $55 plus tax weekdays (M-Th.) and $70 on weekends. Twilight and senior discounts available.4. Tamahka Trails: Marksville, La.This course is located at the Paragon Resort and Casino, operated by the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe.Architect Steve Smyers coupled his "new school" design with a passionate appreciation of Scotland's legendary courses. Its numerous and often massive bunkers evoke a lunar landscape - and always require strategy.Green fee/cart is $49 plus tax weekdays (M-Th.) and $59 on weekends. Twilight and senior discounts available.5. Gray Plantation; Lake Charles, La.In 2005, Golf Digest named Gray Plantation 75th out of 100 of America's greatest public courses. In addition, in September 2004, GOLF Magazine ranked it as one of the "top three among 50 best U.S. courses for $50 or less." It is artfully landscaped with 60 acres of lakes coming into play on 12 holes of veteran course architect Rocky Roquemore's Calcasieu River course which includes 94 bunkers and towering pines at most every turn. Particularly impressive are the club's four dynamic par 3s, two of which feature island greens.Green fee/cart is $50 plus tax weekdays (M-Th.) and $65 on weekends. Twilight and senior discounts available.6. Calvert Crossing: West Monroe, La.Nestled in the charming town of Calhoun, in between Monroe and Ruston, Calvert Crossing features undulating greens, narrow tree-lined fairways, and water on 10 holes. Calvert Crossing is known as a "shot maker's golf course." The regulars suggest you select your clubs wisely. Green fee/cart is $62 plus tax weekdays (M-Th.) and $67 on weekends. Twilight and senior discounts available.7. TPC Louisiana: New OrleansWorking in conjunction with PGA Tour players, Steve Elkington and Louisiana native Kelly Gibson, master architect Pete Dye created a 7,600-yard, par-72 championship course that sits low on the property and utilizes natural vegetation, including numerous cypress trees. Many compare it to a private nature preserve. The course offers four sets of tees, and even though the championship course stretches to 7,600 yards from the championship tees, Dye is pleased about a collection of short but challenging par-4 holes that complement the longer ones. Located just 15 minutes from the French Quarter, TPC Louisiana is home of Louisiana's only PGA event, the Zurich Classic. Green fee/cart is $160 plus tax. Twilight discounts available. No senior rates.8. Carter Plantation: Springfield, La.This signature design by PGA champion and LSU alumni David Toms was named among the "Top 10 You Can Play" by Golf Magazine in 2003. The 7,050-yard, par-72 course plays through three distinct Louisiana landscapes--live oaks, cypress wetlands, and upland pine forests. Great effort has been made to preserve the plantation's native wildlife habitats. Water comes into play on 11 holes.Green fee/cart is $75 plus tax weekdays (M-Th.) and $95 on weekends. Twilight discounts available. No senior rates.9. Oak Wing: Alexandria, La.Oak Wing Golf Club, which opened in September 2002, offers a unique Jim Lipe design interwoven throughout its England Air Force Base location. This 7,043 yard links-style course blends the natural beauty of Louisiana bayous, lakes and towering tree-lined fairways with the challenge of rolling hills and undulating greens. Green fee/cart is $46 plus tax weekdays (M-Th.) and $56 on weekends. Twilight and senior discounts available.10. Audubon Park: New OrleansThis is a fun par-62 course, featuring 12 par-3, four par-4 and two par-5 holes on a 4,220-yard layout in historic uptown New Orleans. It is spread across 81 tree-lined acres on St. Charles Avenue and is the country's only course accessible by streetcar.Recently awarded 4.5 of 5 stars on Golf Digest's "Best Places to Play" rankings, the course is set among 100- year-old oak trees. Golf has been played at Audubon since 1898. World-famous Audubon Zoo is right across the street. Green fee/cart is $30 plus tax weekdays (M-F) and $40 on weekends. Twilight discounts available. No senior rates.11. The Atchafalaya at Idlewild: Patterson, La.This course is surrounded by the rich wildlife and incredible beauty found only in the heart of the Atchafalaya Basin. Designed by Robert von Hagge, the 7,533-yard course contains five lakes and 10 native wetland areas that encompass nearly 40 acres of this 175-acre layout. More than a half million yards of native soil were used to develop dramatic elevations, creating breathtaking vistas. Hagge is well known for his innovative courses including Doral, LaCosta and TPC at the Woodlands. Green fee/cart is $55 plus tax weekdays (M-Th.) and $65 on weekends. Twilight and senior discounts available.12. Black Bear: Delhi, La.This course is located on approximately 300 acres atop the Macon Ridge. The Bogzag and Cypress Creeks bisect the property and offer significant wetlands features. The routing of the course generally follows, then crosses the creeks and offers passes through the heavily treed creek bottoms. The result is a course that will have varied topography and weave from tree-lined holes to open holes.Green fee/cart is $37 plus tax weekdays (M-F) and $49 on weekends. Twilight and senior discounts available.13. The Wetlands: Lafayette, La.The course not only showcases the region's many lakes and wetland areas, it also features abundant flora, native grasses and wildflowers. Wind is a factor in playing on this golf course's and holes 9 and 18 feature a double green that ends at the clubhouse for dramatic finishes.The Wetlands Golf Course is a links style course in that there are few trees. However, 11 of the 18 holes are affected by water hazards. There are 62 bunkers throughout the golf course and native grass areas that add to the severity of the golf course.Green fee/cart is $41 plus tax weekdays (M-F; closed on Tuesday) and $46 on weekends. Twilight and senior discounts available.E-mail Nick Gholson at gholsonn(at)timesrecordnews.com
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