Backspin Volume 3, Issue 1 | Page 29

contrabandbayou Another Tom Fazio–designed course, Contraband Bayou® Golf Club at L’Auberge Casino Resort takes advantage of the lowland marsh features of the natural Louisiana environment to enhance a unique 7,077 yard, par-71 championship golf course. A combination of aquatic and natural vegetation on the edges of eight spectacular lakes challenges golfers of all skill levels, Contraband, located in Lake Charles, is the only public Fazio course in Louisiana. Golfweek Magazine voted Contraband Bayou one of the Best Places to Play in Louisiana in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and Best Casino Courses of 2010 - 2015; the readers of Southern Gaming Magazine named it Best Course 2013 in the midsouth region; in June 2011, and in 2013, Casino Player Magazine and Southern Gaming Magazine both named Contraband Bayou Best Golf Course. During the summer of 2010 L’Auberge Lake Charles embarked on a major revamp of the greens at Contraband Bayou, replacing them with Champion Ultradwarf Bermuda grass, a much heartier turf and a better putting surface. The course layout was also restructured, moving Hole #1 directly in front of the clubhouse to improve flow of play. The course highlights eight spectacular lakes that facilitate drainage and act as an irrigation reservoir. Players are challenged at 7,077 yards from the back; 6,531 from the middle back; 6,015 from middle front; and 5,091 yards from the forward tees. The one year construction project started in September 2003, including 400,000 cubic yards of dirt moved to build the course. There are approximately seven miles of sub-surface drainage and with Championship Bermuda grass on the greens. Contraband Bayou® Golf Club is part of L’Auberge Casino Resort, a luxury resort on 242 acres of land overlooking Contraband Bayou in Lake Charles, Louisiana. 27