The Korn Ferry Tour continues to make some moves and on Tuesday they announced a new event in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The tour announced a partnership with the Lake Charles/SWLA Convention and Visitors Bureau to bring a new tournament to the Tour’s annual schedule starting in 2020. The Lake Charles Championship will debut at The Country Club at Golden Nugget in Lake Charles, Louisiana, the week of March 23-29, 2020. The agreement is in place through 2024.
“We are excited to partner with the Lake Charles/SWLA CVB to bring Korn Ferry Tour golf to this region of Louisiana,” said Korn Ferry Tour President Alex Baldwin. “I am confident our players will enjoy a tremendous week of competition at the Golden Nugget while providing local golf fans a glimpse into the future stars of the PGA TOUR.”
This makes two events in the state of Louisiana along with the Louisiana Open presented by Mistras the week prior. Louisiana joins Tennessee, Missouri and Illinois as the only U.S. states to host two Korn Ferry Tour events annually.
“The Lake Charles/SWLA CVB is proud to join the long list of successful destinations that are part of the Korn Ferry Tour host family,” said CVB President/CEO Kyle Edmiston. “We are thankful to Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, Mayor Nic Hunter, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury and the Golden Nugget Lake Charles for helping to make this iconic event a reality. I am positive that the Korn Ferry Tour players and staff will enjoy the wonderful hospitality provided by our community.”
The Country Club at Golden Nugget opened in 2015 and was named to Golf Digest’s “Best New Courses” list, as well as being honored as the No. 2 course in Louisiana in Golfweek’s “Best of 2018” issue. The course was designed by California-based architect Todd Eckenrode and Origins Golf Designs, with the team taking full advantage of the Bayou’s native marsh surroundings. The Golden Nugget Lake Charles will serve as host hotel and casino for tournament week.