There have been only a few tournaments at
the course, and they were open only to family
and friends. One such tournament was the
weekend of Jeff and Michelle McMorris’s
wedding. It was for groomsmen, family friends
and out-of-town guests. Most of the time, there
are a maximum of two carts on this private golf
course.
The Krumpi Hills Golf Course includes four types of pine trees:
spruce, longleaf, slash and white pines. All of the pines (except
the white pines, which were gifts) and the oak trees were dug and
replanted from the nearby woods. The Leyland cypress trees were
purchased from family friends at Jenkins Farm and Nursery in Amite.
The course also includes 2,000 feet of waterpipe to water the greens.
“We had to take water to those trees when he first planted them,”
Jeff said. He said they hauled heavy barrels out to the property to
ensure the trees lived and matured.
Originally, there were two sand traps, and now there are six.
Gaston wants to build a water hazard as well. Plans are always in the
works for further improvement of a course that is solely for the use
of his family.
Located right next door to Covey Rise, Gaston thought about
charging people to play, but that idea was quickly squelched when
he thought of having to monitor the property at all times and also
provide more maintenance on his beloved golf course.
Lanaux’s neices and nephews on his wife’s side named Krumpi
Hills, by accident. When they were young, they couldn’t say country,
so they would say they were going to the “krumpi,” which is why the
property is now known as Krumpi Hills, of course. The property had
been in Gaston’s wife Melanie’s family for years before it was sold in
1984, and they used to spend their summers there. Gaston said they
have always loved it there.
Gaston bought it back in 1994. He says he was glad to give it back
to his wife but that he loves it just as much. The rollings hills and vast
area to plant trees and spend time with family are perfect for the
Lanauxs, who have spent their entire lives in the area.
Over the years, the “dynamic
duo,” as Gaston’s other daughter
Melanie (named for her mother)
calls Gaston and Jeff, also has
added real estate to the course,
taking it from a former 3,851 yards Pictured here is one of the tee markers
to approximately 4,300 yards. They at Krumpi Hills Golf Course. Gaston
even made their own score cards.
There are 12 par-4s, five par-3s Lanuax teases Jeff McMorris that it was
supposed to be his job to get the tee
and a par 5.
“You have to use every club in markers.
the bag,” said Gaston. “It’s unique
with three greens and eight tee boxes. It’s a challenging course.”
His son Gaston IV lives and works in Dallas. “He brings his clubs
every time he visits,” says Gaston, proud that every member of his
family enjoys Krumpi Hills.
Gaston has a lodge on the property that serves as a vacation home
for guests and family members. He and wife Melanie built a new,
more modern home near the lodge but kept the older home, made
with wood cut from the property. He glows when he speaks about
times his family has spent together at Krumpi Hills.
While his three children are raising their own young families,
Gaston plays with his neighbor Morris Husser who is 82 years young.
Gaston says he was a zero handicap before he put down his clubs
to raise his family many years ago, and Jeff’s eyes roll at the comment.
The friendly disagreements will probably remain, as will the family
gatherings at the Krumpi Hills Golf Course, which boasts a true
Jack-Nic-a-Loss design.
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