Oakbourne Country Club

Overview: Oakbourne Country Club in Lafayette is a classic Louisiana parkland course built around mature trees, water and the subtle demands of its green complexes. Dick Wilson’s original design gives the course a clear strategic structure, with accuracy and thoughtful positioning more important than merely hitting the ball as far as possible. Fairways move through an established landscape, and the approach shots are shaped by bunkers, water and the contours around the greens. At 6,898 yards from the back markers, Oakbourne is long enough to test a good player without losing the traditional scale and rhythm that make an older private-club course enjoyable.

History: Oakbourne was organised and incorporated in 1955, and Dick Wilson designed the original course the following year. The club officially opened on November 8, 1956. Oakbourne soon became a prominent tournament venue: the Cajun Classic was played there from 1958 through 1968, and the course welcomed notable Louisiana golfers including the Hebert brothers. In 1985, Joe Finger and Ken Dye carried out a substantial renovation, adding another important layer to the design while retaining Wilson’s underlying layout. The club’s history therefore combines a mid-century Wilson foundation with a later, documented restoration and refinement.

Did You Know? Oakbourne hosted the Cajun Classic for eleven editions between 1958 and 1968. The event helped put Lafayette’s course on the competitive map early in its life and connected the club with a notable period of professional golf in Louisiana.