This golf course review of LaTour Golf Club was the result of filming a golf tip a few days ago. When I was down there that day I noticed how great the practice facilities were. I thought if this is that good the golf course must be as well and I went down there yesterday (12/22/24) to review the golf course.
I really enjoy LaTour. The people are always friendly. From the staff to the members everyone is so friendly every time I visit. The golf course has a really good layout and rarely in less-than-ideal conditions. This is one of the few golf courses I would enjoy being a member of and playing regularly. They even broke ground on a new clubhouse recently. However, if they stick with the plan they shared on social media of what looks like a storage shed, it is not a place I'd want to be a member. I speak more about this in the video and show where they are forming the foundation.
This time at LaTour Golf Club I decided to play up one tee due to the colder temperatures and the ball not flying as far. I believe it was around 51° when I got there but only warmed up to about 54° even though it was sunny. The other reason I played up one tee is the ground this time of year is usually softer and you don't get much roll on tee shots. I learned after my 3-wood tee shot on the first hole that was not the case. I played for a specific yardage into the green, based on the thought everything would be softer, and ended up 17 yards closer to the hole than I expected.
Overall: 4.5 out of 5
Tee Boxes: 3.75 out of 5
The teeing areas at LaTour are always pretty good. They are level and cut to a good height. On the par 3 holes, you can just drop a ball and it will be just as if you were in a fairway. The only slight negative is the number of unfilled divots on the par 3s. Although it is possible the tee markers have not been moved for a day or two there were a good number of divots that were unfilled and some that were deep. However, you could use the rule of moving 2-club lengths back and find an area without divots. This is more noticeable at LaTour because, unlike many other courses, they keep their tee markers within the recommended 6-yard width.
Fairways: 4.5 out of 5
The fairways were very good. I was expecting them to be soft and the grass to be cut slightly longer to protect them from the cold. The fairways were very healthy and almost as if it was the middle of the summer. They were cut tight and with the exception of a few of the approach areas, the grass was very full. The fairways also had a lot of unfilled divots in some areas. I went through 6 bottles of sand filling in many of them until I ran out on the 16th hole.
Greens: 4.5 out of 5
I was expecting the greens to be just what I experienced on the practice areas. Had I not been to LaTour just a few days ago I would have expected the greens to be dormant and very fast like many other courses or overseeded. I don't think LaTour overseeded but the greens are greener than I would have expected this time of year so I am not sure. The way the greens were rolling I'd say they did not overseed as that usually slows things down. The greens were rolling pretty quickly and very smooth.
The rough was a good height and pretty full, again another surprise for this time of year. It was deep enough the ball would sit down to where you could barely see the top of it when trying to find it. It was not as thick as it would normally be during the summer but still thick enough to cause a challenge. The bunkers were also in good condition. I am not a fan of how the edges are now but it does give it a rough around the edges links type look.
To continue about the clubhouse, the design LaTour shared on social media really did look like a storage shed. I am a firm believer that if they were to build a southern-style clubhouse that invited golfers it would transform the property as the place to live and be a member. I'm talking a clubhouse with a full pro shop, locker rooms, lounge area, and bar and grill with outdoor seating overlooking 9 and 18 greens. This would not only increase membership but also would allow the master plan of lots and home sales to move forward. I can think of 15-20 golfers who have been waiting to see what type of clubhouse was built and if more streets would ever be built. If they built a good, architecturally welcoming clubhouse, with community amenities, it would lead the way to building more streets, which in turn means more lots they can sell. I know if I was in the market for a lot to build a house I would look at LaTour based on the golf course and practice facilities if they put a really good clubhouse. Nothing fancy like at English Turn., just something simple and good like TPC has would be fine. A clubhouse where golfers would want to hang out and not jet home after their round is what is needed.
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