Belle Terre Country Club open to entire community

Published 12:19 am Wednesday, May 9, 2018

LAPLACE — Elegant event space, casual lunchtime dining and the only authentic Pete Dye golf course in Louisiana are open to the public at Belle Terre Country Club in LaPlace, no membership required.

Only the swimming pool requires membership, according to owner Semi Wadhwa. Other amenities are open and waiting for guests.

A ribbon cutting tentatively scheduled for June will celebrate facility renovations, Wadhwa said.

New bathrooms and a redone bar add glitz to Belle Terre Country Club, which has served St. John the Baptist Parish from 111 Fairway Drive since the 1970s, while small event rooms and bridal suite additions create more space for celebrations.

Earlier this year, the facility won the 2018 Couple’s Choice Award from WeddingWire and received the 2018 Best of Weddings designation from the Knot based off of positive customer reviews.

Joe Ollar lines up a putt on the only Pete Dye-designed golf course in the state of Louisiana.

The 6,849-yard golf course also received landscaping updates, according to Wadhwa. She said signature hole No. 5, “The Swamp,” is the most iconic segment of the course.

Belle Terre Country Club is also hosting a “Taste of Tourism” seminar from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today in honor of National Economic Development Week.

The facility recently opened its doors to local business United Front Transportation Services’ Jazz Fest shuttle event, and Wadhwa said Belle Terre Country Club has been the site of numerous fundraisers, election forums and River Region Chamber of Commerce events.

“We’re looking to host more events, get the community involved and make it a real hangout,” Wadhwa said.

Wadhwa is most passionate about bringing customers’ visions to life through event planning, following a “Your Day, Your Way” mantra for every wedding, baby shower and birthday.

Rose McClung stands at the renovated bar, which serves as the perfect lunchtime spot.

“We help outsource vendors to facilitate the planning process,” Wadhwa said. “We have connections for DJs, cakes and more.”

Belle Terre’s central location makes the country club a great place to congregate.

“We’re like a truck stop, right at the foot of I-10 exit 206 and easily accessible from all four directions,” Wadhwa said. “It makes us an ideal location to invite people spread out in different areas between New Orleans and Baton Rouge.”

The bridal suite, new to Belle Terre Country Club, has received outstanding reviews on The Knot and WeddingWire.

Resident chef Willie Mae Sullivan said the community has responded well to the renovations and atmosphere. Whether someone comes from the course or straight from work, lunch specials are always a huge hit, Sullivan said.

The “Who Dat” burger, specialty wraps and fried fish are the most popular, she said.

Lunch is available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, while the golf course opens from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. For more information, call 985-652-5000.