GROVES — Ronald Theriot makes multiple visits a week to The Patch golf course in Groves not only to wack a ball, but to catch up with friends.

Small tables make for cozy chats on sunny, spring afternoons, and the new Romero Place development going up is makes for big conversation.

“I’m here every day,” Theriot said.

“Oh yeah,” he said, when asked if he and his buddies have enjoyed the model home go up. He hopped on a cart to head over to the house and inspect progress, passing a “Best Back Yard in Groves” sign. He lives nearby, but said he can still envision waking up and merely stepping out the door to reach his hangout on the greens.

David McCoy, another Patch supporter, said the Romero Place at The Patch homes, along Monroe Street in Groves, are close to the action.

“You’d almost have to be a golfer,” he said, to appreciate living with 9 holes in the back yard.

Brad Bailey and Dwayne Romero co-own The Patch and are working toward getting the 16 homes up and running.

Bailey, also Mayor of Groves, said these homes are among several new housing options going up in conjunction with area expansion at local refineries. Workers and their families need a place to hang their hat and Bailey said Romero Place will augment the city with “nice, new homes” and the project is advandageous to the local tax base.

While longtime residents have expressed conserns with multi-family housing going up and possibly deteriorating in value when the expansions are done, higher-end homes such as these are designed for durability, Bailey said.

He called the development a win-win situation because it generates property tax revnue for the city and generates economic development for local businesses.

Since Hurricane Rita, the course has continued to improve with renovations to the club house. It’s now a saught-after site for private parties, including a rehearsal dinner, Bailey said.

To accomodate the homes, the 9-hole course moved two holes and designed two new ones, making the course “a hair more difficult,” Bailey said.