Calvert Crossing Golf Club

Calvert Crossing Golf Club is a private golf club located in the Calvert Estates community of West Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, and is one of the best conditioned private golf courses west of Monroe. This 18-hole championship golf course was co-designed by the late Tim Zimmerebner and Jack Nicklaus protégé, John Floyd, and has been carved through the rolling hills of Calhoun. It is considered by members and visitors to offer not only a challenging round of golf but also a serene and pleasant walk in the woods.

From the back tees, Calvert Crossing plays 6.807 yards, with a course rating of 73.2 and a slope of 141. There are five sets of tees, with the Reds playing 4,856 (68.6/119). I found the Blue Tees (6,390/71.1/133) offered a great challenge and still allowed me to leave with a little bit of dignity!

The first hole at Calvert Crossing starts you off with a 548-yard par 5 which, for the average golfer, is not going to be reachable in two and for many golfers, it's going to take driver out of your hands off the tee. There's a reachable pond on the left side that comes out into the fairway and woods to the right, leaving only a thin sliver of the fairway past the water. If you're playing the course for the first time as I was, you'll find that the aforementioned pond creeps back into play in front of the green. Laying up short of the pond will leave about a 100-yard shot into a relatively flat green protected by a bunker on the right and a lot of mounding around it. Par is always a good way to start!

If you haven't played here before, you'll find the par 4, 4th hole rather interesting. Standing on the tee, it's hard to tell if the hole goes right or left. I guessed right so naturally, it went left. Something less than a driver is a good idea off the tee as the hole plays only 339 yards. Find the fairway off the tee and you'll have a short pitch shot into an elevated green protected by sand and water on the right and a lot of mounding on the left.

Stand on the 6th green and looking back towards the tee box and you'll get a good idea of the elevation changes. The hole starts from an elevated tee box with a creek running across the fairway at the bottom of the hill. For most players, the creek won't come into play. If it does, you may want to consult Head Golf Professional Stuart Martin in the pro shop and ask him how you can get more distance off the tee! A good drive will leave an uphill approach shot into the green protected on the left side by sand.

The back nine starts with a couple of risk/reward par 4s. Number 10 is a 342-yard par 4 that plays considerably downhill. It's a dogleg right and is drivable for many players and although there are woods on either side, the reward greatly outweighs the risk. General Manager and Superintendent Kevin LaFontaine's favorite hole is Number 11, another drivable par 4 that's a slight dogleg right with a deep gully in front of the green.
Number 12 is an interesting par 3 that plays from an elevated tee box to an elevated green. Your tee shot is over water to a long narrow green with a long narrow bunker on the left. We'll call this hole "Long and Narrow," it seems to fit the theme.

Number 13 may well be the most challenging par 4 on the course. It's a short dogleg left and everything off the tee moves to the right and into the woods. It's a tight driving hole so you may want to consider something less than driver off the tee, just to keep the ball in play. There's a fairway bunker about 50 yards short of the green on the left side and a deep greenside bunker on the left side. End the hole with the same ball you started with and you have accomplished something.

Before your round, warm up on Calvert Crossing's full-length driving range where you can hit every club in the bag. Stroke a few putts on the practice putting green before heading to the first tee.

The Clubhouse is the center of all things social at Calvert Crossing. Inside you'll find a fully-stocked golf pro shop, The Gathering Place, a pub-style grill room and bar, locker rooms, and a ballroom. The clubhouse is where everyone gathers for golf tournaments, family events, and themed dinner nights.

The Gathering Place is the Calvert Crossing's warm and inviting pub-style restaurant. Here you can enjoy a full breakfast menu as well as innovative salads, freshly prepared burgers, and sandwiches that will satisfy everyone. When things get back to "normal" members can get back to enjoying Calvert Crossing's fabulous Sunday Southern Buffet with an incredible array of southern favorites. At The Gathering Place, you'll find a sense of camaraderie that can't be found anywhere else.

The scenic views, rolling hills, manicured fairways, and shimmering creeks you'll find at Calvert Crossing Golf Club make the perfect backdrop for weddings and special events. They can accommodate up to 200 guests, but it is also perfect for smaller more intimate gatherings and is the perfect venue for wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, baby showers, or holiday parties. Calvert Crossing's event team can help plan your event and select a menu that compliments your style and budget. They work with some of the best vendors in the area when it comes to flowers, wedding cakes, photography, music, and more.

As a member of Calvert Crossing, you'll find a lot more to do than play a round on an exceptional golf experience. You'll have access to the club's hard surface tennis courts, the outdoor swimming facility, and unique social calendar. The Club's swimming facility is the perfect place for a leisurely swim or spending time with the family. There's an outdoor swimming pool, sunning deck, and changing area. The outdoor pool is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Calvert Crossing is managed by Honours Golf which is part of Troon Golf, the #1 golf management company in the United States. As a member of a Troon-managed facility, you'll have access to over 250 Troon-managed private clubs, resorts, and daily fee facilities around the world. No matter where you go within the Troon network, you'll be treated like family with access to all amenities and discounts on things like entertainment and car rental. It's the biggest upside of joining a Troon-managed facility. Some of the facilities within driving distance include Reunion Golf & Country Club in Madison, MS; Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club and Craft Farms in Gulf Shores, AL, and NorthRiver Yacht Club in Tuscaloosa, AL.

Calvert Crossing's goal is to be the premier family-oriented private club in the West Ouachita Parish of Louisiana. They offer a variety of membership plans for families, couples, singles, young executives, seniors, and local businesses. For more information or to become a member, give them a call at 318-397-0064 or visit them online at www.calvertgolfclub.com.