Though investors had hoped to have Grand Ridge Golf Club in Willowdale up and running on June 1, the grand opening celebration will now kick off with a tournament on July 30.
Pete Gilbert, the president of the new club, said that a group of volunteers has made incredible progress on the course since last November.
“Folks that have seen the course have told us that it looks better than it has in years,” he said. “The progress hasn’t been as fast as we wanted, but we see the light at the end of the tunnel and the recent rain has been a tremendous help.”
In fact, because of the recent drought Gilbert and the rest of the mostly volunteer workforce had to irrigate the course using water from the nearby swamp and canals that connect to Lake Cataouatche. A 3/8-of-a-mile pipe was placed in service to transport the water to the course.
Gilbert said that much of the work has been concentrated on the greens, which have required intense repair.
“That has been our main focus and we have put a lot of sod and plugs in spots where there wasn’t grass,” he said. “It has required intense fertilization to get rid of all the dead spots that occurred in a freeze several years ago.”
Gilbert said that the fairways are also coming along well and that machines have been used to smooth them out, especially the 13th hole.
“We also took out almost 100 dead and dying trees and we had about 90 old stumps on the course that we have ground down,” he said. “Between the trees and the old stumps we have done a lot to improve the fairways and everybody is really impressed.”
The club has also announced their new membership options for when the course opens on July 30. A family membership, which costs $150 a month, includes green fees and golf carts.
“This is an incredible price for membership in a course of this quality,” Gilbert said.
Another option, for non-golfers, costs only $35 a month.
“That option means that people can come out during designated recreation times to walk, ride bikes or jog on the path,” Gilbert said. “With that membership, people can also come out and fish in certain ponds, play on the playground equipment and enjoy our picnic areas.
“It’s just a great way for folks to enjoy the green space even if they aren’t golfers.”
The ribbon cutting for the new golf club will begin at 8 a.m. on July 30, followed by a free tournament for those who go ahead and sign up as golf members.
Others who would like to play a round of golf on the restored course can play beginning at 1 p.m. at the special price of $25.
This discounted price will be in place Saturday and Sunday, Gilbert said.
During the grand opening celebration, lunch will be served at the club at noon and music and entertainment will be provided from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Children’s activities will also take place during that time.
After the tournament, there will be an open house party from 6:30 – 10:30 p.m., featuring live entertainment and hors d’oeuvres.
“During the whole weekend, everybody from the community is welcome,” Gilbert said. “We will have live entertainment, food and beverages to have to a good time.
“We want to kick this thing off with a bang.”
Information about the club’s various membership options will also be made available throughout the weekend.
Grand Ridge, which was formally known as Willowdale Country Club, was purchased by a group of local investors who say they are doing their best to save the important recreation and green space on the West Bank of St. Charles Parish.
Only the clubhouse and golf course will be open on July 30 and there are currently no plans to open the pool, though Gilbert said that might be a possibility sometime down the road.
The investor group has also hired a new green’s superintendent, Steve Willingham, who previously served as first assistant at a TPC course in south Florida. Greg Core was recently hired to serve as golf pro and to manage clubhouse operations.
“Greg is also an excellent golf instructor for both adults and children,’ Gilbert said. “We are glad to have him.”
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