June 30, 2026 | Lafayette, LA
The Louisiana Golf Association (LGA) is proud to announce that Chuck Winstead will serve as Head Coach for Team Louisiana beginning July 1. Winstead will be tasked with leading the overall direction of Team Louisiana as well as providing support and guidance to the elite junior golfers selected to represent our state. Team Louisiana is part of the United States National Development Program (USNDP), and this year players are competing in events in order to earn their spot on the team. The top five boys and top five girls from the points list will be selected to the inaugural Team Louisiana with that announcement expected to come in the fall following all of the counting events. Next week’s Louisiana Junior Amateur Championships at Santa Maria Golf Course in Baton Rouge will be a tremendous opportunity for players to garner points and solidify their spot.
“The mission of the USNDP is to identify, train, develop, fund and support America’s most promising junior golfers,” said LGA Executive Director Logan Ray. “The LGA has been tasked with carrying out that mission at the local level in Louisiana, and we can think of no better person to lead the way than Coach Winstead. He had an illustrious coaching career at LSU and boasts a proven track record working with talented golfers, helping them develop and take the next steps in their careers. His experience, leadership skills, and passion for the game will serve us well. This shows how serious we are about Team Louisiana and development. Nurturing home-grown talent is what we are about, and this is a huge win for Louisiana golf. We want to compete and be the best that we can be, and we now have a Coach in place whose credentials are unrivaled.”
Winstead was the Head Coach for LSU for 18 seasons (2005 – 2023), and he took the program to unparalleled heights including the 2015 National Championship. The Head Coach of Team USA, Chris Zambri, is familiar with Coach Winstead, as it was Zambri’s USC Trojans that LSU defeated in that 2015 National Championship match. Winstead was named the 2014-15 SEC Coach of the Year and Golfweek National Coach of the Year. He led LSU to 40 team titles during his tenure, the most of any coach in school history. At LSU, he coached 19 All-American selections, 18 All-SEC performers with 29 all-conference honors, two Academic All-Americans and 38 individual tournament champions. In 2013, Winstead coached John Peterson to the individual title at the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater, Oklahoma. With Winstead at the helm, the Tigers competed in 15-straight NCAA Regionals from 2008-23 while claiming a spot at the NCAA Championships in eight of those seasons (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019). Winstead has coached 13 players who have played on the PGA Tour, including Sam Burns who is currently # 15 in the Official World Golf Rankings and # 7 in the Data Golf Rankings.
“Thank you to Logan and those involved for the confidence they have placed in me in naming me to this role,” said Winstead. “I grew up playing junior golf in Louisiana. I also take pride in the fact that many junior golfers from Louisiana played for me at LSU. I certainly have a passion for golf and for helping to be a part of developing the juniors in our home state, and I hope to be of service to the young men and women that are selected to represent Team Louisiana.”
Winstead’s instructional skills have been recognized by many of the leading golf publications nationally throughout his career, including the honor of being selected as a GOLF Magazine Top 100 Instructor in America. He has appeared on Golf Channel, being a featured guest on “School of Golf” with Martin Hall. Prior to LSU, Winstead was Director of Instruction at English Turn Golf & Country Club in New Orleans from 1998-2000. He was also head instructor for the Bob Toski Learning Center in Sunrise, Florida, from 1993-95. In the mid-to-late 1990s, Winstead served as Director of Instruction for Golden Bear Golf at Jack Nicklaus' Golden Bear Golf, Inc. He was part of the senior management team developing, managing and initiating the launch of Jack Nicklaus Golf Academies worldwide. The first three letters in his last name tell you all you need to know. He’s a winner and Louisiana is fortunate to have him in this new leadership position.
About USNDP: The USGA launched the USNDP in 2024 to expand, strengthen, and diversify the junior golf pipeline in America by creating critical development, competitive and talent identification opportunities within each state for elite athletes ages 13-18. Louisiana joins Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, South Dakota, Texas and Washington who will also launch their state team programs in 2026/27.
The USNDP is the United States' first national development program to provide a clear and unified pathway for the country's top players, beginning with competitive junior golf through to the pinnacles of the sport. The USNDP focuses on six key pillars: talent identification, access to competition, national teams, athlete resources, player development and relations and athlete financial support.
More information can be found here:
Team Louisiana - Louisiana Golf Association
United States National Development Program Homepage
About the Louisiana Golf Association
The Louisiana Golf Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and growing the game of golf across Louisiana. Founded in 1920, the LGA conducts state championships, provides USGA Handicap Index® services, and supports players of all ages through initiatives like the Louisiana Junior Golf Tour.
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