While there’s unlimited ways to package a trip through the Audubon Golf Trail, the best way to tackle every course is to split the map in half, tackling the north section in one trip, followed by a jaunt through the south region.
NORTHERN LOUISIANA
Black Bear Golf Course
Recently slotted 7th on Golf Digest’s America’s Best New Public Courses, Black Bear rests atop an expansive 300 acres of the Macon Ridge, with the Bogzag and Cypress Creeks bisecting the property and offering significant wetlands features. The Audubon name is synonymous with nature and beauty and Black Bear is representative of that theme, rolling along and crossing the creeks, with passes through the heavily treed creek bottoms. The Bechtol-Russell designed has varied beautiful topography and does a wonderful job of balancing tree-lined and open holes.
 Cypress
Bend Resort
Texans like to claim this magical place as their own, which rests along 186,000-acre Toledo
Bend
Lake and accompanied by the Cypress Bend Golf Resort and Conference
Center. A great place to combine fishing and golf, Cypress Bend features ten holes along the water and six shots that cross hidden coves and inlets of this great bass lake. Plan a weekend enjoying the lake and spa facilities, and don’t forget to plan your round to enjoy the sunset over the stunning 17th hole.
 OakWing Golf Club
A 2002 Jim Lipe links-style design that routes through the gorgeous England Air Force Base near Alexandria, this 7,043 yard treat combines the natural beauty of Louisiana bayous, lakes and towering tree-lined fairways with the challenge of rolling hills and undulating greens. Note how Lipe’s route forces risk-reward features on almost every hole.
Olde Oaks Golf Club
Hal Sutton’s first signature course graces 340 acres of pristine rolling hills near Shreveport and is comprised of three different nines with three different challenges. Wildlife abounds, as you’ll experience a great variety of golf throughout a 27-hole day, making the clubhouse grill a great place to unwind before hitting the casinos in Shreveport.
 Tamahka Trails Golf Club
Located near the Paragon Resort and Casino, Tamahka Trails Golf Club offers the chance to balance casino action with golf on a unique Steve Smyers design. Patterned after Scotland’s legendary courses and utilizing 230 acres of beautiful terrain, Smyers incorporated elaborate bunkering features along with the more traditional parkland hardwoods and water features to create a very challenging golf experience.
SOUTHERN LOUISIANA
 The Island
Carved out of a sugar plantation, The Island features only fifty four bunkers but compliments the lack of sand with nine lakes as well as Bayou Plaquemine and Bayou Jacob. Every hole except one brings water into play on this extremely natural and beautiful layout – representative of a certified Audubon golf course sanctuary. The Island Bar & Grill is becoming famous for exceptional Louisiana cuisine.
Audubon
Park Executive Golf Course
Located in historic uptown New Orleans, Audubon
Park, which originally opened for play in 1898, is spread across 81 tree-lined acres on St. Charles Avenue and is the country’s only course accessible by streetcar. This newly renovated course has some flair, as evidenced by being awarded 4.5 of 5 stars on Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play” rankings, and is a unique addition to the trail playing only to a par 62 and just over 4,000 yards. Fittingly, the world-famous Audubon Zoo is right across the street.
TPC Louisiana
Working 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. Compared to a private nature preserve, Pete Dye laid out a 7,600 yard monster highlighted by 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
The Atchafalaya Golf Course at Idlewild
Surrounded by the rich wildlife and incredible beauty found only in the heart of the Atchafalaya Basin, Robert von Hagge’s (Doral, LaCosta and TPC at the Woodlands) design features five lakes and ten 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.
 The Wetlands is Lafayette's
The newest member of the Audubon Golf Trail, this Frank Burandt-designed course not only showcases the region's many lakes and wetland areas, it also features abundant flora, native grasses and wildflowers. Wind can be a major factor on this links-style track, which includes water on eleven of eighteen holes, sixty two bunkers, and native grass areas that add to the challenging nature of the course. Note holes #9 and #18, which feature a double green that ends at the clubhouse for dramatic finishes.
Gray Plantation (southern)
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.” Sixty acres of lakes come into play on twelve holes, which are located along the Calcasieu
River and include 94 bunkers and towering pines at most every turn. Don’t forget to appreciate each and every moment of the spectacular par 3s, two of which feature island greens. Adding to the charm is Gray’s raised plantation house surrounded by scenic marshland.
 Carter Plantation (southern)
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 spectacular 18-hole, 7,050-yard, par-72 course plays through three distinct Louisiana landscapes--live oaks, cypress wetlands, and upland pine forests. In true Audubon spirit, great effort was made to preserve the plantation's native wildlife habitats. With outstanding banquet facilities, a first-class restaurant, and outstanding service at every turn, Carter Plantation is a worthy member of the Audubon Golf Trail.
To speak with an Audubon Golf Trail Vacation Planner or to reserve tee times, please call toll-free 1-866-AGT-IN-LA, or visit
www.AudubonGolf.com.
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