Floodlit six-hole course
The privately owned Country Club of Louisiana near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has opened The Rook, a floodlit six-hole short course designed by golf architect Bill Bergin. An opening celebration took place on 17 September 2026, with play for members beginning on 18 September. It is not a new public course: access remains subject to the private club's membership and guest rules.
All six holes are par threes and measure approximately 50–90 yards (46–82 metres). The design incorporates elevation changes, movement around the greens and a range of short-game options. The course can accommodate family golf, junior instruction, informal club competitions and quick rounds. Lighting and sound systems allow play after sunset, extending usable hours during the shorter days of autumn.
The first step in a larger project
The Rook is the first major completed golf element of the CCL Forward improvement programme. The club says the new short course previews turf, green and bunker features that will also inform the forthcoming renovation of its 18-hole championship layout. The project includes a driving range, chipping green, short-game facilities and a turf nursery. Completion varies by facility: The Rook and driving range are listed as open, while some practice areas were still shown as forthcoming in the published update.
What is planned for November
The next stage is a comprehensive renovation of the existing 18-hole course originally designed by Jack Nicklaus, as well as its practice putting green. The club expects to close the first nine holes for work in November 2026 and is targeting completion around October 2027, subject to weather and construction conditions. As of 1 November, the announced timetable is not evidence that the November stage has begun or finished. The already-open short course should not be confused with the championship renovation still ahead.
