Course Doctors owner Jim Sparks

BROUSSARD — Jim Sparks will probably never eat another pecan.

He found out early in life that his love of golf wasn’t going to translate into a playing career.

“I was so broke that I literally couldn’t buy a Coke,” he said. “Other than the one meal I got off the training table, I was living on water and pecans that I’d pick up.”

That came near the end of his shot at pro golf’s tour life.

Now, course owners and managers nationwide stand in line for his services. He still is on tour and spends most of his time on golf courses, but instead of using drivers and wedges, he uses shovels and bulldozers to ply his craft.

The homespun Sparks is owner and president of Course Doctors, the firm handling the current construction efforts at Le Triomphe Golf Club. He’s in charge of a 36-man crew that’s revitalizing the home of the Nationwide Tour’s Chitimacha Louisiana Open.

“This one’s been unique from the time we decided to take it,” Sparks said. “It’s the first time we ever bid a project without any plans or documents.”

There wasn’t time. Le Triomphe was closed May 20, and it’s scheduled to reopen Oct. 16-18. Figuring on two growing months, Sparks and his Flat Rock, N.C.-based crew have just more than two weeks to complete the major construction on the job.

“We came in here on a Monday to look and gave them bids on the Friday,” he said. “The next Wednesday, we had the contract, and we mobilized three dozen people with equipment and materials in just a couple of days.”

Since that time, his crew has excavated tons of dirt, rock and gravel from the 23 greens, bunkers and tee areas, along with significant work on many other areas of the course.

Course Doctors has projects going at other courses around the country, but because of the scope of the Le Triomphe renovation Sparks has been on site virtually from day one.

“I’ve slept in my own bed two nights since June 9,” he said, “but this is the job that needs me here. I can make decisions on site and keep the project moving forward. We’ve got one of the best crews in the country here right now and I appreciate every one of them, but I’m the one everyone looks at to make sure it gets done with quality and in budget.”

The drought conditions that plagued Acadiana over much of the last five years apparently ended with Sparks’ arrival. During the first 30 days of construction, Le Triomphe measured 34 inches of rain.

“We’re very fortunate to have accomplished what we have the first 40 days,” he said. “We’re starting at daybreak, and we’ve had to ask our crew to stop for a couple of hours at times just to rest. Then they come back and go way after dark, just to stay on schedule. My guys have a sense of what they’re up against.”

You couldn’t tell the pressure from Sparks’ easy-going demeanor. What you can tell is the pride he takes in his work.

“We’re a small company, but we’re not going to sacrifice quality,” he said. “The people here are doing what needs to be done to have a first-class course, and we’re going to make it happen.”

He’ll get to enjoy the fruits of his labors next March during the Louisiana Open.

“Mike (Maraist, Le Triomphe’s managing partner) has already invited me to come back and play in the pro-am,” Sparks said, “and I’m gonna be here.”

And he won’t have to pick up pecans for lunch that day.