Ellendale Country Club

Ellendale Country Club sits in Houma, Louisiana, a city in the bayou country of Terrebonne Parish southwest of New Orleans. The course reflects the collaborative work of Joe Finger and Max Maxwell, Texas-based architects who designed numerous layouts across the Gulf Coast region during the mid-20th century, with later involvement from Nathan Crace. Finger, who worked extensively in Louisiana and Texas from the 1950s through the 1980s, typically created courses suited to the flat, humid terrain of the coastal South, emphasizing strategic bunkering and water management on relatively level sites. The layout occupies land characteristic of south Louisiana's coastal plain—low-lying terrain with minimal elevation change, where drainage and water features become central design elements. Trees frame many holes, providing definition and wind protection in a region where subtropical vegetation grows densely. The course serves as the recreational centerpiece for a membership drawn from Houma's business and professional community, functioning as both a golf facility and social gathering place in a city where country club life remains a traditional part of the local culture. Ellendale operates within the context of Louisiana golf, where courses must contend with heat, humidity, and frequent rainfall. The design accommodates these conditions while providing a layout suitable for regular member play and occasional regional amateur competitions. The club maintains its role as one of the primary golf destinations in Terrebonne Parish, serving a community where access to the sport is more limited than in larger metropolitan areas.