Having the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame golf tournament in Alexandria is nothing new. It just hasn’t happened in six years.
In a couple of weeks, a couple dozen state sports stars will come from around Louisiana and beyond for a festive evening event and a scramble golf tournament the following day.
The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Spring Celebrity Golf Classic is Tuesday, May 14 at Oakwing Golf Club in Alexandria. There’s a Pairings Party at Oakwing on Monday evening, May 13. To participate, visit LaSportsHall.com to register using a credit card.
It’s been since 2018 that Oakwing has been the host for the LSHOF golf event. Then, it was held as part of the annual June induction weekend. Since, the LSHOF Foundation, led by Menard High graduate and former LSU baseball pitcher Ronnie Rantz, has staged separate Golf Classic events in the fall and spring.
During the summer Induction Celebration June 20-22, Cenla is still included on the itinerary in two months with the BOM Bowling Bash. It’s set for Friday, June 21 at Four Seasons Bowling Center. For details and participation opportunities including great food, festivities and kegling with the Class of 2024 are available now through LaSportsHall.com.
But first, the Spring Golf Classic is more than just 18 holes of great fun on a course in peak condition.
The event has been staged over the past few years at the University Club in Baton Rouge, at the Golden Nugget in Lake Charles, and at Squire Creek outside of Ruston.
The Monday evening, May 13 Pairings Party runs from 6-9 p.m. inside, and outside, at the Oakwing clubhouse. It includes experiences and sports and music memorabilia available in a silent auction, with a festive and casual vibe with a DJ, food stations, an open bar for beer, wine and soft drinks, with a cash bar for call drinks.
All golfers will get two tickets to the party, and those who are not playing can also take part in Monday evening’s festivities by purchasing tickets online.
Oakwing’s 128-yard No. 10 par-3, cozied up to the back patio, will host Closest to the Hole and Hole in One contests for $10,000. A $25,000 Putting Contest will begin and culminate the following afternoon.
On May 14th, golfers go off in a shotgun start at 10 a.m., with registration opening at 8:30 when breakfast is available and the range opens. Also, the golf contests ramp back up.
The golf scramble format: Three-man teams paired with a celebrity or four golfers with no celebrity. This is a fundraiser for the LSHOF Foundation’s efforts hosting the annual induction festivities as well as improving the amazing museum at 800 Front Street in Natchitoches, so there is a cost: $1,200 per team, or individuals can get in the game at $350 per player. Each foursome gets eight tickets to the Pairings Party; individual entries receive two Pairings Party tickets.
Tee sponsorships are available.
What’s for dinner Monday night? Says Rantz, who knows good food when he sees it: “We’ll have typical Cajun Monday night dishes – red beans, rice and sausage; fried catfish; chicken drumettes, Natchitoches meat pies.
“On Tuesday, out on the course will be eight food stations, four on each side, along with complimentary beer, water, sports drinks and soft drinks. The food vendors will be some of Cenla’s best and others traveling from Baton Rouge and Natchitoches and Cajun country,” he says.
For those who are not internet savvy, call the Hall of Fame Foundation office at 318-238-4255 for info.