Oakbourne Country Club Timeline
1955
William T. Bass comes up with the idea of building a club. Bass then pitches the idea to his 3 friends (Ben Freeman, George Thomas, Woody Gratehouse) who he just finished playing golf with at Municipal Golf Course. November 23, 1955 – Oakbourne Country Club was officially organized and then on December 12, 1955, the Oakbourne Country Club was incorporated.
1956
Golfers Jay and Lionel Hebert lure nationally known golf architect Louis Sibbett “Dick” Wilson to design the golf course. Wilson spent 3 weeks in Lafayette and left three different designs for the new golf course. The committee selected one of his designs and began construction with Bass supervising.
Robert L. Stephan was hired as architect for the club house and swimming pool and on November 8, 1956, the club official opened. Bill Bass was officially elected first President of the club and by November 30, they had sold 483 memberships.
1957
Lionel Hebert, local resident and member, wins the 1957 PGA Championship at Miami Valley Golf Club in Dayton, OH. This was the last year it was held as a Match Play tournament.
1958
Lafayette Open Golf Tournament – Jay Hebert was on the PGA tournament committee at the time and recommend that Oakbourne CC be selected to host a tournament. Jay and Lionel Hebert chaired the tournament at Oakbourne CC, and Jay Hebert won the inaugural event with Luca Barbato winning the low amateur.
1959
Senator John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie visit Oakbourne CC as guest of Mr. and Mrs. Frem F. Boustany, Sr. Senator Kennedy addressed three hundred business and civic leaders and Jacqueline made a brief address in French to her French-speaking audience.
1960
Jay Hebert, older brother of Lionel, wins the 1960 PGA Championship at Firestone Country Club in Akron, OH. They are still the only 2 brothers to ever win the same major.
The Lafayette Open is renamed to The Cajun Classic and a Pro-Am was added to the event. Lionel Hebert won the event that year.
1958 - 1968 Cajun Classic
1958 – Jay Hebert wins the inaugural event that he co-chaired with Lionel.
1959 – Bill Casper wins over Arnold Palmer, Bob Toski and Doug Sanders.
1960 – Lionel Hebert wins the event to match his brother. Both brothers won the PGA Championship and Cajun Classic.
1961 - Doug Sanders wins the Cajun Classic
1962 - John Barnun wins the Cajun Classic along with becoming the first person to win a PGA event using a Ping Putter. He also became the oldest first-time winner at the age of 51.
1963 – Rex Baxter, Jr wins the tournament, but it is overshadowed by Jack Nicklaus making his debut and President John F. Kennedy being assassinated in Dallas.
1964 – Miller Barber wins the tournament, but the headlines were Jack Nicklaus finishing in second place and Arnold Palmer in fourth place. With that second-place finish, Nicklaus overtook Palmer as the PGA top money winner by $81.13
1965 – Babe Hiskey wins over Jack Nicklaus, who then goes straight to a goose hunt in Pecan Island.
1966 – Jackie Cupit beats Chi Chi Rodriquez in a sudden-death playoff.
1967 – Marty Fleckman makes history as first player to win a tournament in his first start.
1968 – Ron Cerrudo wins the final Cajun Classic over Charlie Sifford and Bobby Mitchell.
1985
Oakbourne hires Houston firm of Finger, Dye and Associates to renovate the golf course and Dixie Turf company out of Georgia for the construction. All greens were sprigged with Titfon Dwarf Bermuda and fairways are planted with 419 Bermuda. Some of the changes included: Hole 4 (new tee box), Hole 5 (new tee box and green), Hole 9 (new tee box), Hole 14 (became a par 4), Hole 15 (became a par 3) and Hole 18 (new green).
1997
Jay Hebert dies at 74 years old at Methodist Hospital in Houston.
2000
Lionel Hebert dies at 72 years old in Lafayette.