Southern Trace Country Club in Shreveport, La., reopened in fall 2022 after completing a two-year, $4.2 million golf course renovation and enhancement project. Golf course designer and longtime Southern Trace member Jim Lipe oversaw the renovation with Wadsworth Construction, Black Creek Construction, and Winterberry Construction. Lipe gave us an overview of the renovation project and what the response has been so far.
What is unique about Southern Trace’s golf course?
Early on in its history, in the 1980s, it was ranked the number one golf course in Louisiana. It has good bones – it’s an original Arthur Hills-designed course. It was always the best course in Shreveport, and it’s maintained that reputation. The [club] members purchased the golf course about a year before the renovations took place; that was the impetus to make the changes.
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How did you get involved with leading the renovation?
I’ve been a member of the club since the late 1980s, so I’ve been around the course for a long time. Through the years, I’ve noticed how certain holes are played and the difficulties, and I’ve kept mental notes. A few years ago, I helped Southern Trace do a bunker renovation and some cart paths improvements. I was given the opportunity to share what my vision would be for the next [phase of] renovations, and the members voted almost unanimously supporting my ideas. My vision was geared toward making the course more fun and playable. When I play golf, that’s what I want – to have a fun, playable golf course that brings me back out every day.
What all was completed during the renovation project?
Our irrigation system hadn’t been updated since the course was built, and we were spending a lot of money every year just on repairs. So, we decided to install a new, state-of-the-art irrigation system, and we decided to rebuild all 18 greens and resurface them with Mach One Bermuda grass. We also did a lot of clearing – we opened the vistas to [have better views of] the lake, redid the practice tees, and built two new practice greens. We also reshaped fairways, repaired and rerouted cart paths, reinforced retaining walls, and added some bridges to accommodate walking and cart traffic. Finally, we cut tree canopies on several holes to increase playability and enhance the ability to grow healthy turf.
What challenges did you face?
The greens had a nematode problem and some drainage issues, so we decided to rebuild the greens from the bottom up. We eliminated the gravel layer and put in 14 inches of greens mix and a blend of Comand 90/10 blend sand, which has a nematode eradication chemical.
How will this renovation benefit the course moving forward?
The members are ecstatic about the renovation. We have increased membership from 664 people to more than 750. We’re going to host the Louisiana Amateur Championship in July, so lots of people from around the state will get to see the changes we’ve made. I think Southern Trace will continue to climb the ladder as more people get to see the new course.
As a member, how do you feel seeing the results of the transformation?
We’ve had a great response, and so far, I haven’t heard a single negative comment. So, I’m very pleased with that. It can be tough when you’re dealing with friends and people you play with, so it makes me feel good that everyone seems to be happy with the outcome.
Kyra Molinaro is an award-winning writer and editor based in Richmond, Virginia. She manages donor communications in the Advancement Office at the University of Richmond.
