J. EDMUND BARNES

PHOTO: Steve Schmitt stands in front of the seventh hole at the Ormond Country Club. (Staff photo by J. Edmund Barnes) DESTREHAN – Steve Schmitt was a newly minted graduate of Nicholls State University 14 years ago. He had played on the golf team and come to the realization he would never play at the touring level. But he wanted to be a professional golfer. So he sent out a number of resumes to various clubs offering his services to them as a club pro. Ormond Country Club in Destrehan took him up on that offer, and he has been working there ever since. A happy series of circumstances have kept Schmitt in the area. A resident of Metairie and a graduate of John Curtis High School, Schmitt said he was in the right place at the right time. “The best part of being a pro is interacting with the members and public in general. You’re not in an office every day, you’re outside, which is where I like to be,” he said. Schmitt got into golf when he was 6 years old. “I went out to play with my two grandfathers. I’ve played ever since.” Schmitt went through the New Orleans Golf Academy’s junior program and played all through high school and college. “I’m a big proponent of playing in the N.O.G.A. It gives kids the opportunity to play competitively,” said Schmitt. As for playing competitively, Schmitt said he plays in tournaments as much as possible. Playing in various pro and pro/am tournaments helps Schmitt promote Ormond Country Club. It also helps “keep my game reasonable,” according to Schmitt. As for the golf course at Ormond, “It’s in as good of shape as it’s ever been.” Schmitt said the club had put $500,000 worth of improvements into the course in the past two years. The half million dollars went into rebuilding all of the tee boxes and fairways, as well as upgrading the irrigation system. “As far as I’m concerned, (a fully automatic irrigation system) is essential to maintaining a good golf course. With the drought (the fairways) get dry and burnt. The irrigation systems are fully automatic – we run it all night long and there’s no inconvenience to the members.” Schmitt described the course at Ormond as “not an extremely tough golf course,” but one with its challenges. There is water on 17 of the 18 holes. “The water makes it a challenge for a high handicapper, while the greens are small and elevated, making it a challenge for a low handicapper.” The toughest hole for Schmitt is the 18th. The drive is what stands out – the course dog legs right and obstacles abound at the turn. “If you hit through the fairway, you’re behind trees. If you don’t pass the dog leg you’re in a bunker. If you hit a good drive, then you’re 150 yards from the hole.” To Schmitt, the course at Ormond is fun to play for all levels of golfers because you have to hit a lot of different shots. “Layups, par fives in two. That’s what makes it a challenge.”