Ragin’ Cajuns Golf Unveils New Facility, New Home At Oakbourne

Oakbourne Country Club is one of the finest establishments in Louisiana, and now it's the home of the Ragin' Cajuns Golf team.

The Ragin' Cajuns, along with the Vermilion Links Club, announced the construction of a new state-of-the-art facility at Oakbourne on Tuesday, consisting of two buildings totaling 4,000 square feet of space. The hitting facility will have three hitting bays, cameras, and all the technology the team needs to compete at their best.

Oakbourne President Joe Giglio couldn't give all the details of the amenities yet, but he described their setup well in one simple statement.

When asked how many cameras would be in the hitting bays, Giglio responded, "If you expect six, we will have seven."

It was an emotional day for Ragin' Cajuns Golf Coach Theo Sliman. Sliman told a story about how he used to sneak on the course when he was young, hitting shots and soaking in the elegant layout. As a player, he represented the Ragin' Cajuns well, and when it came time for him to begin his coaching career, he only wanted to be in one place.

Now Sliman leads the Ragin' Cajuns as their coach, and he does more than just teach them the game. He handles tons of administrative tasks too, such as raising funds and planning travel. He received a lot of help making this project happen, from the Vermilion Links Club and even Ragin' Cajuns Softball's Stefni Lotief, and he made sure to thank all the people who gave his team a home.

Oakbourne will provide the Cajuns with locker rooms, offices, their own space to operate and access to one of the finest golf courses in the country. As Sliman said though, "It's more than a facility, it's more than a slab, it's more than a room."

Now, Sliman will have an office by the course. His players will have a locker room and facilities to practice on, sitting on the grounds of the course they play on. Oakbourne supported the program for over three decades, so it was only fitting they opened their doors and welcomed them in for a permanent stay.

Coach Sliman's parents were present, along with the major donors and members of the Vermilion Links Club that brought the project to fruition. He probably dreamed of this moment for years, and when the moment finally arrived, he captured the feeling with an eloquent and thoughtful speech.

The project is expected to take about six months to complete and cost around $800,000, but after years of waiting to find their home, that time will fly by for the Ragin' Cajuns. Sliman made sure to thank all the private donors , and now his team can thank them with their play.