Former Golf: Weber family ruling area golf scene – Smith a Winner – Bill Bass Open

Dan McDonald, The Advertiser, July 17, 2014

Lafayette City Golf champion Thad Weber putts on the 11th green at Les Vieux Chenes on the Sunday round of last year’s event at Les Vieux Chenes. (Photo: Dan McDonald/Special to the Advertiser )

The Lafayette City Golf Championships dates back to 1928, just about the time that Lafayette Municipal – now Jay and Lionel Municipal – first opened its doors. In that time, no family has dominated the event as have the Weber clan over the past couple of decades.

Thad Weber is the defending champion, having won his second city title last year in a shootout battle with final-group partners David "Magic" Duhon and brother Todd Weber. Thad’s two city titles span a 15-year period, with him winning his first such championship in 1998.

Todd himself has five city titles with those coming in a 14-year stretch, and brother Ted has also broken into the winner’s circle in the event.

They’ll all be in the spotlight in less than a month, but a lot of other players figure to be in the thick of the battle come Aug. 16-17 when the Lafayette Parks and Recreation Department hosts the annual two-day tournament.

The event alternates between the three city-run courses, with this year’s event scheduled for Saturday play at The Wetlands and the final round on Sunday at Hebert Municipal. The event will again have ladies’ and seniors’ flights (age 62 and over), and the regular men’s divisions will be divided into as many flights as needed depending on entries.

All but the Championship flight will have both gross and net winners.

Last year, over 70 players took part in the combined divisions, a far cry from where the City Championships stood a couple of decades ago. For many years, one of the few true medal-play, play-your-own-ball competitive events in the area was on life-support.

What should be one of the top events in the area wasn’t even being held on a regular basis, until the pros and staffs at the city’s three municipal courses teamed up to give the event a rebirth.

Now, there’s a solid core of players that look forward to the late-summer tournament each year.

"The city needed this tournament, and the players needed it," said David Gary, head professional at The Wetlands. "There was so much history tied up in it … you look at the winners so far back, and you see so many names that have been Lafayette’s top golf figures for so many years."

Mike Guidry, manager at Hebert Municipal, reassembled that list several years ago, and it’s prominently displayed in the Hebert clubhouse … which is fitting, since that course hosted the event on its own for nearly a half-century, dating all the way back to only a few years after World War I.

Gary, Guidry and Les Vieux Chenes head professional Todd Robertson have been the driving forces since that time, with the full support of Lafayette Parks and Recreation and director Gerald Boudreaux.

"It’s a good event for us to have in the way it generates interest in golf in the area," Boudreaux said. "But it also allows us to showcase our golf courses a little, especially to people who may not play on our courses on a regular basis."

Les Vieux Chenes opened in the ’60s and The Wetlands was added to the local golf community a decade ago, the multi-million price tag having been more than justified by the use of the facility over the past 10 years. In addition, both LVC and Hebert have undergone major renovations over the past several years, to the tune of over a million dollars each, and play at both facilities – and income – has increased due to those improvements.

"Both of the facilities we’re using are in good shape," Guidry said, "so they should be ready to accept the finest players in the area."

For a few years, the City Championships was held over three days and all three courses were utilized, but tournament organizers realized that participation was much greater when it was restricted to only two days and set up the current rotation.

Entry fee for the two days is $150 which includes lunch both days. All players must have a verified handicap with Louisiana Golf Association membership recommended to get an accurate handicap. Entry forms are available at all three municipal courses, and organizers are encouraging players to sign up early.

"We’re going to do our best to match up players and assign tee times to suit everyone’s playing ability," Guidry said, "and we’re expecting another good turnout, so the earlier that players sign up, the better it will be for everyone."

More information is available from Gary at 291-7150, Guidry at 291-5557 or Robertson at 837-1159.

BILL BASS OPEN: Since UL’s football season is right around the corner – 52 days until the season opener Aug. 30 against Southern at Cajun Field – it’s time to set aside Friday, Oct. 31 for something other than Halloween.

The Bill Bass Open, UL’s annual Homecoming tournament that serves as a fundraiser for the Ragin’ Cajun golf team and the Bill Bass Endowed Scholarship, is set for that Friday at Les Vieux Chenes, one day before the Nov. 1 Homecoming game against South Alabama.

The tournament will once again have 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. shotgun starts to allow all golfers and Cajun fans the opportunity to participate, and handicaps will again be used to allow an equal opportunity for all teams. Approximately 40 four-person scramble teams took part in last year’s tournament and another large field is expected for this year.

Entry fee is again $125 for individuals or $500 for teams, and entry brochures will be available in the near future at all area courses and golf outlets. Online entries will also be available in the near future, and more information about the Bill Bass Open is available at 857-8754.

("Making the Turn" appears each Wednesday in the Daily Advertiser. Clubs, courses and individuals with information about local golf events may email Dan McDonald, editorial director at Golfballs.com, at danmcdonald@cox.net, FAX to (337) 857-8763 or call (337) 857-8754 and leave a message with phone number.)