Preserving paradise: This 87-year-old woman helped save City Park Golf Course

Lillie Petit Gallagher tells her story while sitting next to her front window's view of Baton Rouge's BREC City Park Golf Course.

The 87-year-old has many stories about the golf course — but one of her favorites came from her late husband, George.

A year or so before the couple married in 1961, George was an engineer from Chicago working at what is now the Exxon Corp. when he decided to try his hand at golf.

At the time, she was working on her master's degree at LSU. 

"Gov. (Robert) Kennon lived in this house after his term as governor," Gallagher began.

That is, he lived in the house that she's been living in since 1972 — the one from which she tells this story.

"The Kennons had a great big German shepherd, and at that time there was no leash law," Gallagher continues. "So, George was playing golf at City Park Golf Course one day — this was before we were married — and he wasn't a very good golfer. He sliced the ball, and it ended up in the Kennon's front yard. He looked over at where his ball was, and he could see it, but he also saw the big German shepherd. So, he decided he didn't need that ball."

Maybe her husband was right. The golf ball easily could be replaced. Years later, however, after moving into Kennon's former residence, Gallagher came to realize that the golf course on which her husband played, along with so many others, could not be replaced.

So began an unusual preservation project that's still going to this day.

Gallagher took steps through the years to protect the golf course from being repurposed as a parking lot for a multipurpose events center, then later plans for a Tivoli-style entertainment park that was discussed in the months after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and 2006.

"So, they wanted to do, like Joni Mitchell said in her song, pave paradise and put up a parking lot," she said. 

In 2003, Gallagher also would help found Friends of City Park, whose main mission is preservation of the golf course. This led to being one of only 20 golf courses listed on the National Register for Historic Places, also in 2003, along with a state historic marker commemorating it as the community's first municipal golf course.

The course's history is significant, having been designed and built in 1926 by Tom Bendelow, known as the "Dean of American Golf."

The Scottish-American architect designed courses throughout the country in the early 20th century using a "naturalist's approach," which incorporating the natural features of the chosen site to maximum advantage.

Bendelow clearly applied his method to Baton Rouge's 40-acre course, which is known for its mature trees, lake vistas, a small bayou and an elevated terrain that varies by as much as 25 feet — a significant elevation in the low country of Louisiana.

Bendelow's course designs are credited for bringing the game of golf to the general public, even to not-so-good players such as Gallagher's husband.

In May, the Friends group, along representatives of the state, city parish and BREC dedicated a permanent bench in Gallagher's name on the golf course.

The commemoration came as a surprise. Why? Because Gallagher had never sought personal recognition. Her work to maintain the grounds as a golf course solely was for the grounds.

Gallagher has never played golf, but she is a preservationist and loves history. She recognized the significance of the golf course from the beginning.

Even more important, she recognized how golf helps those who play. 

"A lot of people like to play at City Park because of its elevation," Gallagher said. "This one is built on the geological fault that runs through Baton Rouge, and it's great for teaching. Whether you are a skilled player or not, you can play on this course. And I always say that golf is a healthful sport that can be played almost from the cradle to the grave."

She also sees golf as an accessible game for youth in underserved communities and hopes that one day classes could be taught at City Park Golf Course.

"One of the things we would like to do is offer a 'first tee' program or junior golf program for youth," Gallagher said. "There are 21 schools around here, and the students aren't going to drive out to J.S. Clark Golf Course, because it's too far. The kids can ride their bikes or walk here and get involved in a program — and golf can open doors."

Gallagher said golf is like "the key to the boardroom — a lot of deals are made on the golf course, and if kids grow up and don't know how to play it, they're sort of left out of the mix."

The best part is players, of whatever age or status, can have a great day on the golf course regardless of ability.

Perhaps, their slice could lead to a ball on a lawn guarded by a German shepherd next door. It's a scene that will continue as long as City Park Golf Course and other public golf courses are available to one and all.