Arthur’s Bar Tribute
The club’s lively bar and grill, named Arthur’s, pays daily homage to its original course architect. It’s a subtle nod and gathering spot that makes design heritage part of the post-round experience.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
Southern Trace Country Club
Shreveport, Louisiana
Established
1988
Architect
Arthur Hills (original), Jim Lipe (renovation)
Access
Private
Par
Par 72
Length
5,249 – 7,061 yds
The verdict
Premier Louisiana Parkland Experience
Southern Trace delivers a championship-caliber test over rolling pine-studded terrain, with an Arthur Hills design renowned for conditioning and challenge. It’s an elite regional club with serious tournament history and the muscle to wow any private golf aficionado.
Course DNA
Difficulty
85
Scenery76
Conditioning88
Shot Variety77
Walkability63
Green Complexity79
Wow Factor70
Design Quality75
Don't miss
Stop by Arthur’s Bar and Grill for a celebratory drink after your round—every detail here pays tribute to the course’s history and original designer.
At a glance
Quick facts
Original architect
Arthur Hills
Major renovation
Jim Lipe, 2020
Tallest tree in play
Towering oaks left of 17th fairway
Clubhouse bar
Named Arthur’s after designer Hills
Course grasses
Bermuda fairways/tees, bentgrass greens
Major tournaments
Web.com Southern Open (1990–2002)
Shortest par 3
Hole 4, 163 yards
Practice facilities
Recently expanded short-game area
The design
The architecture
Southern Trace marries Arthur Hills’ modern risk-reward sensibilities with the character of rolling Louisiana pine barrens and open glades. The routing is driven by the site’s natural landforms, skipping from pines to oaks, and rewarding position play with riskier angles for the bold. After Jim Lipe’s thoughtful renovation, the course now boasts tournament-tier greens, meticulously maintained corridors, and a short-game practice enclave shaped for real on-course prep.
Arthur Hills’ original vision remains sharp: a playable-yet-demanding parkland test, now refreshed by Jim Lipe’s measured tweaks to challenge and reward.
Defining features
- Expertly contoured, pure-rolling bentgrass greens
- Strategically bunkered fairways and layup zones
- Blending of open meadows with framed woodland corridors
- Long, demanding par 4s and classic risk-reward par 5s
- Mature oaks and pines shaping approach shots
- Distinctive modern parkland routing
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 1
Big Pine Gateway
PAR
5
YARDAGE
550
Your round opens with a broad-shouldered par 5 weaving through a corridor of mature pines—demanding a confident start and a steady head. The hole’s generous landing zone tempts longer hitters, but the real game starts on the approach: a tiered green set narrow against a guarded slope.
Play it smart
Safest play is a measured tee shot left center to avoid bunkers, with smart layup positioning key for any look at birdie.
Where it bites
Miss left off the tee or go long on approach and you’ll tangle with deep rough and tough up-and-downs from sloping surrounds.
Course management
Shots to think about
Approaching par 5s in two
Double-check distance and wind before attacking—the meadows expose shots to swirling gusts and penalize misjudged runs.
Escaping the pine valleys
If you’ve missed into the trees, take your medicine and pitch back to the fairway; greed seldom pays in these corridors.
Pin-high on tiered greens
Don’t short-side yourself; work on controlling spin to hold the proper level, as contours will feed misses away.
Decision holes with bunkers in play
On risk-reward holes, err on the side of overclub rather than laying up into a tight bunker crosscut.
Narrow finishing holes
Focus on accuracy off the tee on 9 and 18 where tree lines squeeze landing zones—the best play is a controlled long iron or hybrid.
Wet or soft conditions after rain
Remember this course drains well, but low spots in meadows may play longer than usual after big storms.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Expect pure-rolling greens, crisp fairways, and lush surrounds—it’s the private club standard across all 18.
Vibe
Buttoned-up, welcoming-private club; focused on the member experience and course enjoyment.
Dress code
Traditional private club attire—collared shirts, golf-appropriate slacks or shorts required.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Brush up on distance control
Firm, contoured greens require precise approach shots—practice your wedges beforehand.
02
Study hole locations
Flag positions can radically change the character and risk on several greens, especially the long par 4s.
03
Pack for any weather
Rolling terrain is open in spots—bring layers for wind and sun, and always have raingear in a Shreveport summer.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1984
Conceived by developer William Harry Johnson Ramsey
- 1988
Course officially opens, designed by Arthur Hills
- 1990
First Web.com Southern Open hosted
- 2002
Final Web.com Southern Open staged
- 2020
Comprehensive Jim Lipe renovation and new short-game area
- 2023
Louisiana Pro-Pro Championship held at the club
Stories & legends
What makes it special
From Meadows to Pine Valleys
Arthur Hills harnessed rolling terrain that alternates between sun-drenched meadows and looming pine corridors—with every stretch offering at least one angle or stance to keep veterans guessing.
Tour-Tested Greens
Hosting the Web.com Tour for over a decade, Southern Trace’s greens developed a reputation among pros for lightning pace and subtle contours. Local lore says more than one hopeful’s card was wrecked by a misread here.
Practice Like a Pro
The newly expanded short-game area, designed by Jim Lipe, mirrors the course’s rigorous green complexes—letting members sharpen skills in league with the tournament conditioning found on the main 18.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
The clubhouse bar is named for original designer Arthur Hills.
2
Hosted the Web.com Tour’s Southern Open for 13 consecutive years.
3
Developer William Harry Johnson Ramsey toured clubs for years before launching Southern Trace.
4
The pines and oaks on property are legacy trees predating the course.
5
Jim Lipe’s recent renovation reshaped greens and expanded the short-game area.
Build the trip
If you’re making a Shreveport golf trip out of it
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
Querbes Park Golf Course
Municipal
Classic city-owned layout; best public track in town and a great value warm-up round.
The Golf Club at StoneBridge
Semi-Private
Modern routing with fun risk-reward, good for pairing with Southern Trace on the same trip.
The Oaks of Louisiana
Private
Upscale, member-focused club with a mature, tree-lined course for local flavor.
Olde Oaks Golf Club
Public
27-hole public complex across the river, ideal for variety and group golf days.
Base yourself in south Shreveport near Southern Trace Parkway for the quickest access, or opt for downtown for nightlife and off-course options.
Course DNA
If You Like Southern Trace Country Club
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.2
The Merit Club
Libertyville, IllinoisConditioning
Why it matches: If Southern Trace Country Club is your kind of course, The Merit Club is worth a look because it puts the same premium on presentation.
Strong DNA Match8.2
Flint Hills National Golf Club
Andover, KansasConditioning
Why it matches: Flint Hills National Golf Club is a natural next stop after Southern Trace Country Club: it offers similarly polished playing surfaces.
Strong DNA Match8.3
Boone Valley Golf Club
Augusta, MissouriConditioning
Why it matches: What links these two? Puts the same premium on presentation — a familiar feeling, expressed in Boone Valley Golf Club's own setting.
The architect's other work
More from Arthur Hills
Inverness Club
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Barton Hills Country Club
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Rose Creek Golf Club
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Coldstream Country Club
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The Moors Golf Club
Portage, MichiganFast greens and smart shotmaking at Portage’s private gem
Arthur Hills at the Highlands
Harbor Springs, MichiganBig-play resort golf in northern Michigan
Community Sentiment
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