Famous golf courses you can book on GolfNow: TPC Louisiana in New Orleans
New Orleans has been a longstanding professional golf tournament host dating back to 1938 – that predates the PGA Tour! It’s with good reason. N’awlins is one of the country’s most festive cities. In between tee times you can enjoy fine cajun cuisine and soak in all the sights and sounds and libations of the French Quarter. Booking an early morning tee time at TPC Louisiana in New Orleans might give added motivation to go easy on the shenanigans on Bourbon Street the night before.
What makes New Orleans even better for golf is that TPC Louisiana, now the host of the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic, is publicly accessible and bookable on GolfNow. The course was designed by Pete Dye with local player consultant Kelly Gibson and opened in 2004. It also received an extensive facelift in 2019 so it’s playing as good as ever and the many five-star GolfPass reviews reflect that.
The course is located about 20 minutes outside the French Quarter and set within a quiet and scenic lowcountry setting. It’s at such a low elevation that the bunkers have a cool, built-up look to them. The PGA Tour plays the routing at up to 7,400 yards, but my goodness, play one of the four forward tees that go up to 5,100 yards. Remember, balls don’t fly too far on the sticky bayou.
Maybe the best thing about TPC Louisiana is all the risk-reward elements involved in the course design, including several short par 4s like the 8th. Big swingers can go for the green, but there are plenty of bunkers in the way. The 18th hole is one of the most exciting finishing holes on the PGA Tour schedule. Who doesn’t love a reachable par 5 to close out a round? But be warned, water lines the right-hand side and bunkers sprinkle the fairway and green surrounds. These days, the Zurich Classic is now a unique team event on the PGA Tour schedule. Book a foursome, partner up and play aggressive! No mention of TPC Louisiana is complete without a mention of the club’s resident “pro emeritus,” Tripod, the three-legged gator who likes to cruise the grounds’ various ponds, especially by the 9th and 18th holes. Please, respect his home and keep your distance if you see him or his neighbors.
TPC Louisiana has made the state Golfers’ Choice list five years running and was 18th in Off-Course Amenities nationally in 2018. Or as reviewer ‘TheWhizz77’ put it in his five-star review written in March, 2020: “Really beautiful course, demands all shots, fantastic pace of play and conditions. Watch out for the 4th hole!!”Show up early and stay late when you book a TPC Louisiana tee time. The practice facility is TPC-grade excellent with a short game area and all-grass range. The clubhouse restaurant has fine cajun staples as well.
Don’t sleep on the previous PGA Tour host course in New Orleans, either. English Turn Golf & Country Club is a semi-private Jack Nicklaus design that opened in the mid-1980s and hosted the event from 1989 to 2004. Jack laid out a unique routing encircled by a lagoon which helps provide more separation from the course and residences. The climax is the par-5 15th hole which has an island green. Smoke a big drive and you’ll be tempted to go for broke and reach it in two. English Turn amenities are magnificent, including one of the largest clubhouses you’ll ever see. Stick around after for a Po’Boy in the restaurant.
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GolfPass Check out our Ultimate Itinerary to New Orleans on GolfPass, featuring my five-day itinerary for golf, dining and more. Watch here.
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