
Santa Maria Course
Santa Maria Golf Club


About this course
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.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in LA
Quick facts
- Location
- Baton Rouge, LA, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1987
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Robert Trent Jones Sr.
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,969 yards
- Difficulty
- 73.4/132
- Course Vaults score
- 6.9
Getting there
The journey to Santa Maria Golf Club begins at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR), a straightforward twenty-minute drive from the club's location in the rolling terrain just outside the city proper. For those arriving by private aviation, Baton Rouge Executive Airport (BTR) offers convenient access to the region's most discerning travelers. The drive itself traces a gentle transition from the urban corridor into Louisiana's distinctive landscape - moss-draped oaks and manicured grounds emerging as you leave the Mississippi River basin behind, the air growing quieter and more intimate as you approach the club's gates. Santa Maria Golf Club's arrival embodies the understated elegance of Louisiana's golfing heritage, where Southern hospitality meets the refined discretion of a truly private sanctuary.

FAQ
Common questions about Santa Maria
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Santa Maria has a Course Vaults score of 6.9 out of 10 based on 11 logged golfers.
Santa Maria was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr..
Yes. Santa Maria is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Santa Maria is 72.
Santa Maria plays 6,969 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Santa Maria is 132.



