rodrigueachievesLGA
distinguishedserviceaward
New Orleans’ Mike Rodrigue has been
named recipient of the Louisiana Golf
Association’s Distinguished Service Award
for 2017. The award was initiated in 1984
by the LGA to honor individuals who have
contributed to the betterment of the game
in Louisiana.
Rodrigue, whose name most people
associate with the restaurant business, is the
owner of Acme Oyster House restaurants
across the southern U.S.
While his
career in the restaurant business has been
tremendously successful, his love for the
game of golf and all it embodies is where
his real passion lies.
Mike was introduced to the game by his
Dad in 1960, spending hours upon hours
at New Orleans’ City Park driving range
on Marconi Drive. His first round was
played on the #3 course at City Park in
1963, and many other rounds were played
at the original four courses at City Park
throughout the decade of the ‘60s. His
experience as a four year letterman in golf
(team captain his senior year) at Jesuit High
School led to a spot on the golf team at
Tulane University, where he was coached
by Jim Hart, Director of Golf at Lakewood
40
Country Club. The Tulane linksters were
regulars at Lakewood, the then-site of the
PGA Tour’s New Orleans Classic, where
Mike volunteered his time during the
annual tournament. During his college
days, he worked at Audubon Golf Course
in the golf shop for 2000 DSA recipient
Frank Mackel on weekends.
In 1980, Rodrigue was nominated for
membership to the Classic Foundation
(forerunner to the Fore!Kids Foundation)
by Coach Hart and Mackel, where he
has worked tirelessly for over 35 years on
behalf of that organizations’ mission…..to
raise funds for children’s charities through
golf-related events. He served as Chairman
of the Board of the Fore!Kids Foundation
from 1998 to 2006.
In 2006 he joined with two other
individuals to found the Bayou District
Foundation (BDF), an organization modeled
after the East Lake Community in Atlanta.
With seed money provided from the
Fore!Kids Foundation, BDF has become a
$300 million, mixed income, holistic model
community in New Orleans borne out of
the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina. Just as
East Lake Golf Club is a centerpiece of the
East Lake Community in Atlanta, the Bayou
Oaks Golf Complex is the sustainable piece
of the BDF community in New Orleans.
Rodrigue continues to serve on the Board
of the Bayou District Foundation and
actively serves the Fore!Kids Foundation.
In addition, he is immediate past Chairman
of the Board of the First Tee of Greater
New Orleans, having served on that Board
since 2006, and has also served on the Board
of Directors of ‘Boys Hope Girls Hope,’
since 1983. He has served as organizing
chairman and committeeman for charity
golf tournaments and events too numerous
to mention.