Lake Charles CC in Louisiana has completed a renovation of all its bunkers with golf architect Jeff Blume.

Blume has been working with the club, whose golf course dates back to 1919, for sixteen years. “Redesigning and rebuilding the bunkers has been done to return the course back to a classic, traditional style that harkens back to the golden age time period when the course was first established,” he told GCA. “The redesign more than doubled the total number of bunkers on the course without significantly increasing overall square footage. This was done by reducing the size of the bunkers, and breaking them into smaller clusters to allow them to be hand maintained.

“Along with the new construction methods and materials, the reductions in the bunker’s individual sizes has resulted in significantly more efficient and effective maintenance. It will also increase the life span of the bunkers, and eliminate entrance and exit wear patterns around their perimeters caused by mechanical rakes.”

Houston-based contractor Eagleview Golf carried out the work. The course remained open for play throughout the four month project. More work is planned. Blume said: “Next spring we will renovate some of the tee complexes, replace some existing bulkheads, and enhance some of the water features on the course. I have been fortunate to be associated with this great club for over sixteen years, and in that time have worked on the greens, tees, bunkers, fairways, drainage, practice facilities and cart paths. Our long relationship with the club has provided consistency and stability for the design and playability of the course, and has helped to keep the club at the pinnacle of the local golf market.”

Greens chairman and club historian Mike Veron told the local newspaper: “Our course is by far the oldest in this part of the state. It was important that any bunker renovation maintain the traditional look and feel of the course. Jeff Blume did a masterful job of using classic bunker shapes to preserve its character.”