Santa Maria Golf Club

Santa Maria Golf Club occupies a wooded site in Baton Rouge, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and opened in the mid-1960s. The course reflects Jones's characteristic approach from that era: strategic bunkering, large greens with pronounced contours, and an emphasis on both length and accuracy. The layout moves through mature pine and hardwood forest typical of southern Louisiana, with several holes playing along or across natural drainage corridors that add both visual definition and hazard interest to the routing. The terrain features modest elevation changes by Louisiana standards, and Jones uses this undulation to create variety in stance and approach angles. Water comes into play on multiple holes, often positioned to challenge longer hitters or to guard green complexes on scoring opportunities. The bunkering is bold and geometric in Jones's signature style, framing landing areas and greenside approaches with clear visual lines. Several par threes require carries over water or ravines, while the par fives offer risk-reward decisions for players choosing whether to attack in two. Santa Maria operates as a private club and has served as a venue for regional amateur competitions over the decades. The membership draws from Baton Rouge's professional and business community, and the club maintains traditional Southern hospitality in its clubhouse operations. The course remains a solid example of Jones's work in the Deep South, where his design principles adapted to the flat-to-gently-rolling, heavily wooded landscapes common to the region.