Ranked with the Best: Gray Plantation Named one of Greatest 100 Public Courses in the Nation by Golf Digest
It's an honor most golf courses will never achieve -- being ranked among the best in the nation, included in a list of world-famous courses like Pebble Beach, Torrey Pines, and Bay Hill, just to name a few.
Gray Plantation has been selected as one of America's 100 Greatest Public Courses. The rankings are part of Golf Digest's biennial America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses package and will appear in the May 2005 issue of Golf Digest, which arrives on newsstands in mid-April.
Golf Digest has conducted America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses rankings since 1996, making it the oldest and most respected ranking in the game. Among the 12,000 courses considered for Golf Digest's various rankings were played and evaluated by members of the magazine’s exclusive course evaluation panel. The panel is comprised of more than 800 men and women from every state, who are club professionals, course superintendents or low-handicap amateur volunteers. All panelists travel and play courses at their own expense and on their own timetables.
“This is an incredible honor for us,” says Neel DeRouen, Director of Golf at Gray Plantation. “To be included in a list with the greatest golf courses in the country is just amazing. We are very proud of our course, and the credit for this honor goes to the Stream family for envisioning what could be created here, to course architect Rocky Roquemore for making that vision a reality, and to our staff for their hard work in maintaining our standard of quality on and off the course.”
"Gray Plantation Golf Course, one of the charter members of the Audubon Golf Trail, is well deserving of this outstanding recognition," said Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu, who oversees the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism which includes the Audubon Golf Trail. "This honor reinforces the message we send to visitors nationally and internationally -- that Louisiana offers unique and unparalleled experiences; it is unlike any place in the world."
DeRouen says he’s often heard panelists comment on the natural beauty and uniqueness of the course at Gray Plantation. “There’s a “wow factor” when people play here. They are very impressed with the quality of the course and pleasantly surprised with the challenges of play here.”
Course architect Roquemore, who has designed over 100 top golf courses around the world, says it is a huge honor for any course to be included on this most prestigious list. “I guess the Lake Area’s best kept secret is finally out. Even more remarkable is that this was awarded to a course that is not considered a hub for transportation. The reputation of ‘The Gray’ has made it a destination place for officials who rank in spite of its remote location.”
Courses are judged on various criteria, including aesthetics, conditioning, shot values, design variety, memorability, ambiance and walkability. After the panelists submit their evaluations, Golf Digest averages the scores of the categories and totaled the averages to determine the overall rankings. A course must be at least two years old to be considered for ranking.
DeRouen says the new ranking will help Gray Plantation attract players from not just the region, but from throughout the country. “This has put our course and Southwest Louisiana on the national map for golf destinations.”
Quick facts about Gray Plantation:
- 18-hole, 7,200-yard championship links golf course
- Part of the Audubon Golf Trail for the Louisiana Department of Tourism
- Designed by internationally respected golf course architect William "Rocky" Roquemore
- Neel DeRouen, the Director of Golf at Gray Plantation, has 21 years of experience as a golf instructor and was rated the 5th best golf instructor in the state of Louisiana byGolf Digest, and recently voted Teacher of the Year for the Gulf States section of the PGA.
- Gray Plantation has received numerous awards and rankings from national publications and organizations. For a complete listing, visit: www.graywoodllc.com
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Dark Named Assistant Golf Pro
Jason Beau Dark is the new Assistant Golf Pro at Gray Plantation golf course. Dark graduated from McNeese State University where he played on the golf team for four years. In 2006, he served as the Team Captain and was selected to the All Conference Team...
It wasn't in the game plan but McNeese State's Cowboys perservered here Tuesday to win the Moe O'Brien Memorial golf tournament and notch their second straight victory of the fall season. The Cowboys shot a team total of 299 on Tuesday at Gray Plantation. It
was only the sixth best score in the final round but their 17 shot
cushion from the opening day of play enabled them to take an 11 shot
victory. Their final total was 880 with Stephen F. Austin taking second
place at 891.
...
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