TPC Louisiana Review
The TPC Louisiana is a Pete Dye creation designed with consultation from PGA Tour professionals Steve Elkington and Kelly Gibson. The course was originally the sort of flat swampland common to the Mississippi River Delta region, and Dye used considerable amounts of dirt and sweat to reshape the course. The course now contains lakes, ponds, mounds, strategically placed waste areas and notably over 103 bunkers of both the sand and pot variety. Despite Dye’s complete reimagining of this wetland environment, the course is very visually pleasing and feels like a stroll through a state park. Cypress and pine trees accentuate the course and spotting wildlife is a common occurrence.
The TPC Louisiana is best known as the host of the PGA Tour event Zurich Classic of New Orleans, which it has hosted since 2005. The course itself is a long 7,520-yards from the tips for Tour players and 7,400 yards for the rest of us mortals, providing a legendary challenge. The goal of any golfer facing TPC Louisiana is often damage-limitation. Greenside bunkers are often set back from the green making rescue shots especially difficult. As such, there is a lot of high risk/reward options and knowing your limitations will lead to more success than aggressive shotmaking. A great example is the par-4 15th hole featuring a 150 yard sand bunker with six grass islands tempting golfers to have a go. And if sand isn’t enough of a challenge, the course also features water on many holes. The signature 18th hole is a dogleg right that features water on its entire right side, again asking golfers how much the are willing to risk to set up a putt for birdie or par. This is a thinking man’s course that demands precision from any set of tees since you simply can’t avoid the water and bunkering. However, the amazing condition of the course, beautiful scenery and consistent challenge will entertain any golfer visiting the Big Easy.
TPC Louisiana
11001 Lapalco Blvd.
Avondale, LA 70094
(504) 436-8721