Louisiana

by ken macleod

Okay, so maybe there are no true beaches or mountains or even a decent hill.

Instead you have bayous inland and oil derricks out in the Gulf. But what the Lake Charles, La., area lacks in stunning beauty it more than makes up for in charm.

That, plus the world’s best food, some pretty fine golf courses and the classy L’auberge Casino Resort and you have the makings of a fun and filling golf venture.

The plush rooms and the new Barstool Sports Bar, in which you can place a bet on just about any sporting activity imaginable without leaving your seat while watching a screen the size of a small apartment complex, together make for a great base of operations. The chef at Barstool, one Lyle Broussard, prepared a never-ending series of dishes the first night, each better than the next, until we were reeling.

From there, we packed in four rounds of golf and gained at least four pounds thanks to all the Cajun delights.

Day 1, we played the home course at L’auberge. The resort is huge, with a 70,000- square foot casino, 754 rooms and suites, numerous casual and fine dining options, a great looking pool and lazy river. Of course, we seldom left the sports bar.

The golf course, Contraband Bayou, is named for the large bayou that wraps around it and was designed by Tom Fazio. The course has taken some hits from a sequence of hurricanes and somehow many of the greens wound up partly Bermuda and partly Paspalum, an aggressive seashore grass that has taken over in large swathes. It was a good warm-up round but the course has little of Fazio’s normal pizazz. The golf ad-

venture only got much better from there.

Not far away from the resort is the National Golf Club of Louisiana, a well-maintained, fun public course that plays firm and fast and will test your shot-making skills while also providing plenty of birdie opportunities. Don’t go here without leaving time to sample the Cajun fare in The Max Restaurant, where chef Michael Richard will overwhelm you with his crawfish stuffed baked potatoes, gumbo and a smorgasbord of Cajun wonders. Make sure you leave time after your round or you won’t be able to get out of the cart.

The next day, grab a Po Boy from Darrell’s (exquisite) and drive out to the new

Mallard Golf Club. Architect Jeff Blume has a lot more going on with contours, slopes and slight elevation changes than would appear from the first tee. Advertised as a “Scottish Links style” it is far from that, but it does offer plenty of options to play the ground and aerial game. Tee boxes are set at angles to canted fairways that offer rewards to the bold, but leave plenty of room for all to enjoy the game. A must when in the area. Our final round was as pro-am participants for the Korn Ferry Two of the Cajun culinary delights we encountered. Tour’s Lake Charles Championship, which gave me a good opportunity to track down a few of Oklahoma’s strong contingent of KFT regulars. Our team played with two pros, one on each nine of our round at The Country Club at the Golden Nugget, located next door to Contraband Bayou but miles ahead of it in conditioning and interest. Our first pro, Erik Barnes, was so impressive in the strong winds we played in that I immediately went back to Barstool to bet on him that week. He didn’t win, but through early June he was in the top 10 on the points list and in strong position to earn his PGA Tour card for 2022-23. Keep an eye on him. Did I say it was windy? My best shot was a full 4-iron on a par-3 from 134 yards that stopped about 15 feet right of the hole. On one par-5, Barnes flubbed his drive and had to punch his second up the fairway. He hit his third from about 180 into that same breeze with a 5-iron to 10 feet and made birdie. That club normally goes about 230 for him. Sigh. Other fun experiences in the area were trips to Crying Eagle Brewing Company in Calcasieu Parish for some great local brews and a trip to Bayou Rum Company for a lesson on the history of making rum from Louisiana sugar cane and an eye-opening tasting of all their varieties. So good and so glad I was not driving the bus after.

The way you prepare your body before your game could be the difference between a par and birdie. This summer, take hydration seriously to improve your game. Golf is a sport that requires your full mental and physical attention. It is common for people to be dehydrated without even knowing it. This affects not only your ability to think, but also your ability to perform physical activities. Staying hydrated is crucial to being able to play your best, especially in the hot summer temperatures. Here are some tips to help you stay hydrated to be at the top of your game: 1. Do not wait until you are thirsty. If you find yourself feeling thirsty, you are already dehydrated. 2. Prepare yourself for your game. 2 to 3 hours before you play by drinking 17 to 20 ounces of water. Then, about 20 to 30 minutes before your game, drink 8 ounces of water.¹ 3. Keep hydrating during your game. Drink 7 to 10 ounces of water every 10 to 20 minutes during the activity.¹ 4. Limit your caffeine and alcohol intake as this can potentially dehydrate you. 5. For a more intense game, consider a sports drink. Electrolytes from sports drinks can help you to stay hydrated. However, choose your drink wisely to avoid added sugar.¹ 6. Monitor your body as you play. Watch for signs of dehydration such as cramping, fatigue, nausea, and loss of coordination. 7. Eat certain foods for hydration. Fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, cucumbers, and strawberries are great snacks for staying hydrated before and during a game. 8. Dress for the occasion. In warm weather, wear breathable clothes. Choose lighter shades that do not absorb the heat from the sun. 9. Follow up. No more than half an hour after your game, drink 8 ounces of water. Stay healthy with proper hydration to make the most of your game. Prepare your body with fluids before you play, and watch out for signs of dehydration.

Author: Dr. Brett Braly is a board-certified fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing in spinal surgery. Dr. Braly is a leading advocate for minimally invasive techniques in spine surgery. Dr. Braly is named in the top “20 under 40” best spine surgeons by the North American Spine Society. 1. https://familydoctor.org/athletes-the-importance-of-good-hydration/