Mandeville, Louisiana
Beau Chêne’s Magnolia Course is a thoroughly local classic, delivering Joe Lee’s approachable shot values and the character of south Louisiana’s river-country landscape. Players will enjoy tree-lined fairways, quick greens, and a walk through the region’s storied live oaks, though they won’t find tournament crowds or bucket-list buzz. A steady, community-rooted round where the true stars are conditioning and the deep, quiet shade of the oaks.
Take a moment to appreciate the ancient live oak between Magnolia’s 12th and 13th holes—a local icon and shade oasis on steamy days.
Joe Lee’s Magnolia Course at Beau Chêne is classic Gulf Coast parkland golf—broad corridors shaped by stands of live oaks, winding water hazards, and subtly contoured greens. Lee’s routing uses every natural swale and bend in the landscape, rewarding positioning over brute force and offering risk-reward choices on both par 5s and shorter par 4s. The course’s character is rooted in its oak-shaded tranquility and steady architectural hand: fair but penal to wayward drives, with firm, deceptive putting surfaces.
Joe Lee crafted a course that blends into the oak-draped landscape without excess, focusing on steady challenge and aesthetic balance for all skill levels.
A strategic par 5 where a smart tee shot and well-chosen layup angle offer a real scoring chance. Water on the right and bunkers flanking the layup zone ensure that every shot demands thought, not just muscle.
Favor the left side off the tee to open up options for a layup or daring second shot; only go for the green if you can comfortably clear hazards.
Miss the landing zone and you’ll be fighting water and tough rough for par.
Well-maintained parkland, quick Bermuda greens, occasional rough bunkers.
Generally steady; expect club-level four-hour rounds on Magnolia.
Welcoming, quiet private-club culture with strong local roots.
Private club standards – collared shirts, golf attire required.
Fast, firm greens demand approach shots that land softly and stop quickly—practice distance control beforehand.
Slopes can be subtle but severe at speed; spend extra time on the practice green to get a feel for the grain.
Many holes reward a shorter tee shot in the fairway over an aggressive, risky play—focus on placement over power.
Morgan Earnest and Lester Kabacoff acquire land for club and community.
Oak Course opens, designed by Joe Lee.
First Magnolia Course nine opens.
Magnolia Course completed to 18 holes.
Oak Course ranked #1 in Louisiana by Golf Digest.
The club’s name, meaning ‘beautiful oak,’ is no accident—over 80 ancient live oaks frame the fairways and lend Beau Chêne its signature south Louisiana grandeur. These trees, survivors from the site’s pre-club days, are living witnesses to the club’s decades of play.
Built as the centerpiece of a visionary recreational community, Beau Chêne’s courses were intended not just as fairways, but as green arteries giving life and identity to the neighborhood. The golf and the oaks make it the true ‘beating heart’ of Mandeville’s Northshore.
Golfers are frequently surprised by Magnolia’s green speeds—the club regularly rolls them firm and fast, meaning local knowledge and a deft touch are key. Some call reading the subtle breaks ‘the toughest part of the whole round’.
While Beau Chêne hasn’t hosted the PGA Tour, its own member events—the Geaux Cup and the playful Superintendent's Revenge—are legendary for inventive setups and club camaraderie. For regulars, those are the real majors.
The name 'Beau Chêne' means 'beautiful oak,' honoring the stately live oaks dotting the property.
The Magnolia Course opened in two phases between 1982 and 1985, following the Oak Course’s 1975 debut.
Over 80 mature live oaks line the fairways, some reputed to be nearly a century old.
Magnolia’s greens routinely run at 10–11 on the stimpmeter—faster than many regional publics.
Club tournaments like the Superintendent’s Revenge are renowned for their creative, devilish setups.
Top tournament-caliber layout with widespread public access and a genuine PGA Tour pedigree.
Straightforward booking, municipal rates, and enjoyable layouts in New Orleans proper.
A favorite for value and quality among Louisiana’s public course offerings, just over an hour away.
Resort accommodations pair with an acclaimed Arnold Palmer design for a destination-like feel.
Championship-caliber New Orleans course if you can arrange access through connections or events.
Mandeville/Covington for proximity; New Orleans for city dining and nightlife.
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Audubon Country Club's own setting.
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. Cape Fear Country Club a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to Beau Chêne Country Club.
Why it matches: What links these two? A comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character — a familiar feeling, expressed in Rutland Country Club's own setting.
Chicago’s king of public championship tests
Atlanta’s legacy of tournament-caliber, private club golf.
A classic Joe Lee layout with unique South Florida elevation
Classic early-Florida golf with historical pedigree
Classic Joe Lee design, modern flair remains
Disney’s classic tour-style championship with a magical twist
Community Sentiment
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