Southern Trace Country Club in Shreveport, Louisiana recently completed a two-year, $4.2 million golf course renovation and enhancement project. The project focused on irrigation and drainage system upgrades, green complex enhancements and the addition of a new short game practice area.
Golf course designer and Southern Trace member Jim Lipe oversaw the course renovation, with Wadsworth Construction, Black Creek Construction and Winterberry Construction performing the work.
The renovation project included rebuilding all 18 greens and resurfacing with Mach One Bermudagrass; adding and eliminating tee boxes; reshaping fairways; and installing a new state-of-the-art irrigation system. Cart paths were repaired and rerouted, and retaining walls were reinforced, pressure washed and stained. Bridges were also added on holes 5 and 15 to accommodate walking and cart traffic. In addition, the Southern Trace agronomy team completed large drainage projects, and cut tree canopies on several holes to increase playability and enhance the ability to grow healthy turf.
“I’m very pleased with what we’ve accomplished here,” Lipe said. “As a longtime Southern Trace member, I was able to identify areas on the golf course that needed to be changed or updated, and address those during this renovation. We have a wonderful superintendent, Graham Kornmeyer, who brought a lot of expertise and experience to this project.”
The club’s new short game practice area was designed by Lipe and includes nearly four acres of turf, two greens with a combined 13,000 square feet, and four sand traps offering a variety of shots that allow members and guests the opportunity to practice and hone their skills before heading out to the course.
“With the golf course renovation, we essentially have a brand-new golf course with a new irrigation system and new greens,” said Alexander Mijalis, VP of the club’s board of directors. “We have modernized the architectural features by a renowned golf course architect. It’s an exciting time for the membership of Southern Trace Country Club.”
Established in 1988, Southern Trace features a beautiful Arthur Hills-designed golf course that plays through open meadows and a dense oak forest. The 7,015-yard golf course has a proud history of hosting high-level professional and amateur tournaments, including the Southern Open from 1990 to 2002, multiple state amateur championships and the AJGA David Toms Junior Invitational.
Troon Privé, the private club operating division of Troon, manages golf, club and food & beverage operations, as well golf course agronomy and membership marketing.