UL homecoming week includes Bass Open at Acadian Hills Country Club

Dan McDonald, Daily Advertiser, Oct. 2, 2011

Coupled in with the excitement of three straight mid-season home games for UL’s Ragin’ Cajun football team and the excitement of Homecoming activities beginning in just a matter of days, there’s an upcoming opportunity to combine support for the university, the athletic program and the local community all at once in less than two weeks.

The annual Bill Bass Open is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 14, at Acadian Hills, as a part of Homecoming activities. The tournament, a tradition for decades, is staged by the UL Alumni Association and a group of local university and golf supporters to provide a chance for friends, alumni and former athletes to gather prior to Saturday’s football game.

And it’s only fitting that the tournament bears Bill Bass’ name. Many individuals have selflessly given of themselves and gone the extra mile in support of the school over the past century, and at the same time many have been involved in growing, advancing and promoting the game of golf. But there probably hasn’t been one other person who combined the two as did Bill Bass.

Homecoming was special to him, and not just because he left the insurance business in 1965 and served as the school’s first-ever full-time alumni director for 13 years. That was one of several areas of involvement with the school, where he was a two-sport letterman in football and boxing from 1938-40.

He also served two different stints in two different decades as UL golf coach and helped lay the foundation for Cajun golf that continues to the present day. By that time, he was one of the state’s most recognizable golf figures, having helped supervise the construction and was involved in development of what remains one of the South’s top courses at Oakbourne Country Club. Later, he designed and was one of the driving forces in the opening of Acadian Hills in 1962 — one of the reasons that Acadian now hosts the Bill Bass Open.

Bass continued to be involved with the school and with golf until his passing in 1987, and it was shortly afterward that the Alumni Association began a scholarship fund and began planning a tournament in his honor. Son Bob Bass, still one of the main coordinators of the annual tournament, also served as UL golf coach for nearly two decades and was named the top coach in the Sun Belt Conference’s inaugural 30-year celebration.

The tournament recently underwent revitalization and drew a capacity 132-player field in 2009, when coupled with a formal reunion of all former Cajun golfers. Another crowd of over 100 players took part in last year’s tournament and a large crowd is expected once again for this year’s event, but there are still many available spots for the 12:30 p.m. shotgun start for that Friday afternoon four-person scramble.

The event is open to everyone, not just alumni and not just regular golfers. The emphasis in this event is more fun and fellowship than scores, and making connections and acquaintances with many former Cajun athletes and long-time followers. As a special treat, members of this year’s UL golf team will be on the course all afternoon to provide help with shots on selected holes free of charge (contributions, of course, are welcome and appreciated, especially for shots that help your team).

Players may make up their own four-person teams, since handicaps will be used to balance the field, or may enter as individuals and will be paired up with fellow golfers and Cajun supporters.

Registration and a wonderful lunch from Pete’s Family Sports Grill begin at 11 a.m. and complimentary range balls will be available. The tax-deductible $125 entry fee per person ($500 per team) includes all fees, a souvenir golf shirt and Homecoming T-shirt, high-quality golf towels and balls, other tee gifts and refreshments across the course. Prizes include special UL items not available to the general public.

Along with Pete’s, tournament benefactors include Lowry’s Printing and signs, Schilling Distributing, Acadiana Bottling and Golfballs.com. All funds raised go to the Bill Bass Scholarship Fund, to the Cajun golf program and to the Alumni Association to help defray Homecoming expenses.

Entry forms are available at most golf courses in the area, at the Golfballs.com Retail Outlet and the Golf Connection shops, and at both the UL Alumni Center and the UL Athletic Department. Forms are also available on line at www.ragincajuns.com, and forms may be mailed to McD Media, 112 Piedmont Lane, Lafayette, LA 70506. More information is available by calling (337) 857-8754 and leaving a message. Any Cajun and golf supporters who cannot play in the event may make contributions to the scholarship fund through the entry form

Athletic Network Footnote: For complete Homecoming information, please click on www.louisianaalumni.org  Thank you.