Rider sells out Pine Shadows interest

Published 1:30 pm Sunday, June 4, 2017

The last connection to Pine Shadows made a move away from the former local golf course a week ago when Ron Rider sold his share in the property to the other shareholders.The course halted operations in February 2014, bringing an end to 58 years of service to Southwest Louisiana.At the time, Rider, who had taken over the club in 1986 with brother Mike, said lack of play and revenue caused the shutdown.The property has been up for sale ever since.Rider said he was also putting his house up for sale and two lots adjacent to the former golf course.Pine Shadows began as Kayouchee Coulee in 1957.The story goes that Gray Little, then the pro at the Lake Charles Country Club, and local businessman Mordello Vincent, had been looking for property on which to built an 18-hole course.The two took a flight on a small plane over the Lake Charles area and found the perfect spot just off what would later become Interstate 10. It was about 250 acres of rice and strawberry fields that was bordered by Kayouchee Coulee and English Bayou.Ralph Sicks was the first pro at Kayouchee Coulee/Pine Shadows, coming over from Orange, Texas, to oversee the construction of the course. He retired in the early 1980s and was followed as course professional by Ernie Little, Don Meadows, Michael Ortego and Todd Boudreaux.It was first thought that someone would take over the property and continue it as a golf course, but that doesn’t appear to be likely now.lBrooke Tyree, who will begin her senior season at Sulphur High in the fall, was the top local performer in last week’s American Junior Golf Association tournament at Gray Plantation. The tournament featured top junior golfers from throughout the nation and several countries.Tyree, who ranks among the top 50 players in the nation in her class, shot rounds of 68-69-74 for a 211. After her first eight holes on the final day she held a one-shot lead over eventual champion Katie Yoo (65-68-71—204) of Orlando, Florida.Also in the girl’s division, Daphney Tilton tied for 17th with 73-76-83—232 and Brooke Duzan tied for 23rd place with scores of 80-78-79—237.Eric Brown was the top local performer as he tied for 13th place with a 218 score (74-70-74). Nicholas Arcement of Thibodaux took the title with 72-68-65—208.Logan Kuehn tied for 17th place with 77-73-69—219 and Nick Guillory tied for 42nd with 80-83-70—233.lSouthwest Louisiana will be represented with 10 entries in this week’s 98th annual Louisiana Amateur Championship, to be played Thursday through Sunday at the Country Club of Louisiana in Baton Rouge.Entered are Bo Stewart, Robby Going, Hank Shaheen, Sutton Farmer, Gage Primeaux, Nick Sonnier, Marcus Bougard, Reid Giardina, Jevon Perry and Channing Kile.A year ago Shaheen was the top local performer with a second-place effort.Our area has produced one state champion, Alan Morgan in 2001. In 2008, Stewart was runner-up while Tommy Elkins took second place in 1966.lThe summer’s Southwest Louisiana Junior Golf Association’s tournament schedule began last week with Drew Ainsworth the lead scorer. In an event played at Mallard Cove, Ainsworth shot 79 for the top spot with Freety Parker taking second with an 82 and Timothy Nguyen third with 83.Six more events are planned for the summer and the dates and places for them are: Thursday (Frasch Park, Sulphur), June 20 (Koasati Pines, Kinder), July 14 (Lake Charles CC), July 17 (Gray Plantation), July 26 (The National) and Aug. 8 (Mallard Cove).Upcoming:Friday — Roxie Stewart Memorial, Lake Charles Country Club.June 23-25 — Lake Charles men’s city championship, Mallard Cove.Louis Bonnette has written about local golf for the American Press since 1971. His column appears each Sunday. Contact him at 274-5689 or lbonnette@mcneese.edu