Bayou de Siard at Bayou de Siard Golf Course

Bayou de Siard occupies land along its namesake waterway in Monroe, Louisiana, representing the work of Perry Maxwell and his son Press Maxwell. The Maxwells, based in Oklahoma, designed courses throughout the South and Southwest during the mid-twentieth century, bringing their characteristic routing sensibility and strategic design principles to a variety of landscapes. The course reflects their approach to working with natural terrain, incorporating the bayou and surrounding wetlands into the layout.

The routing navigates relatively flat terrain typical of northeastern Louisiana, with the bayou itself serving as both a visual element and a strategic hazard on several holes. Water comes into play throughout the round, requiring golfers to account for both forced carries and lateral hazards. The design emphasizes placement over distance, with Maxwell's preference for creating options rather than dictating a single line of play evident in the hole corridors and green complexes.

Monroe's golfing community has supported the course for decades, providing a public facility that maintains the Maxwell design philosophy in a region where their work is less common than in Oklahoma and Texas. The course serves both local players and visitors exploring Louisiana golf beyond the more heavily promoted courses in other parts of the state. The bayou setting gives the layout a distinct Louisiana character, with native vegetation and the slow-moving water defining the atmosphere and playing corridors.