at Sugarland Country Club, a nine-hole
facility.
Feeling the need to step up to
an 18-hole course, he accepted the
opportunity in 1978 to become the head
golf professional and superintendent at
Pine Hills.
“All I did every morning was figure
out how to be the best golfer I could be,”
said Selser. “I loved to play and still do.”
The following year, he became the
Riverland Country Club head golf pro
and superintendent.
“Back in those years, you could qualify
to play at different tournaments,” said
Selser.
“We played at Hattiesburg, then
Tallahassee. We played practice rounds
with guys we would see on TV.”
In 1979, he won the PGA of America
Louisiana Chapter Championship.
Starting in 1981, he made 15 cuts
while on PGA Tour over seven years.
This started his winning streak when
he won 4 Louisiana PGA Chapter
championships and four Gulf States
Section championships.
During this time of success, a friend
named Cary Roussel said he would
sponsor Selser, sending him money for
monthly home and travel expenses to
help his wife and two children.
“It was a big step for me, and my wife
was not by herself at home,” said Selser.
It was their agreement that Roussel
would get half of the winnings from
his competitions. Selser was away from
home, putting a strain on the family, as
his wife was carrying a heavy load. This
prompted him taking the position of
head pro at Bayou Barriere in January
1984.
He worked there for a few years until
he transferred to Timberlane Country
Club. In June 1987, he found Premier
Club on the Westbank. He settled there
for 19 years until he took his current
position at Atchafalaya.
This is where he met Sparks, who
wasted no time hiring Selser when he
applied to be the director of golf.
“He is always willing to listen to new
ideas,” said Sparks. “I think he is a great
person and a very good instructor. He
loves the game of golf and is a true
ambassador for the game.”
Sparks is only one of many that look
up to this golf guru.
“He is still a great teacher,” said
Baham. “He is the perfect gentleman,
genuine and just an All-American guy.”
In North America, the largest swamp
is the Atchafalaya basin.
“It is a wonderful place,” said Selser.
“This facility is a great golf course, and
we get lots of compliments on variety of
holes and layout. It has been an honor
to be here. It is a terrific place and lots
of people are still discovering it.”
At the Atchafalaya Golf Course,
there are specials on green tees and lots
of golf tournaments.
“If you have tournament or golf
event, we would love to host it,” said
Selser. “It could be a great getaway for
the weekend, and there are plenty hotels
in the area.”
For more information on the course,
visit http://atchafalayagolf.com/.
director of golf
Atchafalaya GC
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