Southern California's No. 1 Source for Golf
STROKE OF THE DAY |
"Everyone has his own choking level, a level at which he fails to play his normal golf. As you get more experienced, your choking level rises." |
-Johnny Miller |
SITE
SEARCH
GOLF
CALENDAR
Travel
|
||||
|
The Big Easy has been a hard sell for tourism officials in the past 12 months as people continue to associate New Orleans with the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. While the national press recently revisited the Gulf Coast on the one-year anniversary of the disaster and pointed out that there still are areas of New Orleans that haven't recovered, many of the city's popular destinations are back in business and eager to display the Southern hospitality and party atmosphere that defines this portion of Louisiana. "We need people to come back to New Orleans and see that our spirit is still vibrant, and that many of the places they'd like to see, or have seen in the past, are anxious to welcome them back," said Alfred Groos, vice president and general manager of the Royal Sonesta Hotel in the French Quarter and a board member of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. "We suffered a major blow, but if tourists return they'll see that we're still a great place to visit." The Royal Sonesta, an elegant hotel on Bourbon Street within walking distance of a number of bars, restaurants, music clubs and cultural activities, is an excellent place for golfers to stay as a home base for a playing tour of New Orleans-area courses, including a stellar executive track and a course that will again play host to the finest players in the world. Both Audubon Park and the TPC of Louisiana are part of the state's Audubon Golf Trail, a 12-course consortium that began in 2001 to highlight the natural beauty of Louisiana, known to many as the Sportsman's Paradise. Audubon Park's location in the city's uptown Garden District is a wonderful refuge from city life. The 4,220-yard, par-62 course is spread across 81 acres of sloping and tree-lined terrain that could arguably be one of the most diverse and best-maintained executive courses in the country. The course is short, but sweet, and the walkers and joggers on park trails and the sight of buildings at Tulane University in the distance give the course a casual and cerebral feel. Remarkably, Audubon Park was barely affected by Hurricane Katrina, something that can't be said of all courses, including the TPC of Louisiana in Avondale, which opened in 2004 and was the site of the PGA Tour's Zurich Classic in 2005 before storm damage caused the tournament to be moved to English Turn last April. "Most of the damage was to trees in outlying areas and we had turf damage on some fairways because of standing water," said Pamela Vitrano-Buie, director of sales and marketing at the course. "Fortunately, only six holes needed major renovation." The Pete Dye-designed course, the newest of the country's 24 TPC facilities, reopened to the public in July and the PGA Tour announced that the Zurich Classic will return next year. While the pros play the course, which is bordered by canals and has the look of a nature preserve, at a menacing 7,520 yards, four other tee-box options from 5,121 yards to 7,010 yards make it manageable for golfers who want to play a course that is up to PGA Tour standards. "We're proud of the course and hope that the country will see that New Orleans is still a good place to come and enjoy yourself," Vitrano-Buie said. Golfers who want to stay in close proximity to New Orleans but venture out into more open spaces can play three other Audubon Trail courses within 90 miles of the city. The other seven courses in the consortium are spread throughout the state, and all have a set of criteria that must be met for inclusion, such as course condition, customer service, challenging layout, aesthetics, playability and quality practice facilities. "We looked at the great amenities Louisiana had to offer for tourism, such as the great food, the good times on Bourbon Street, the jazz, plantation homes, hunting and fishing, and the unique cultural factors associated with New Orleans and the state," said Eric Kaspar, director of the Audubon Golf Trail. "We also realized that golf is a valuable amenity for any state, and the nature of golf becomes synonymous with economic well-being. We have fabulous courses on the Audubon Golf Trail. All offer a sample of Louisiana's natural beauty, and we hope the trail becomes a good driver for spurring economic growth." One of the newest members of the Audubon Golf Trail is The Atchafalaya at Idlewild in Patterson, about 75 miles from New Orleans. The 7,533-yard course designed by Robert von Hagge on a former sugar cane field opened in September 2005 and is a spectacular example of what the Audubon Golf Trail is all about, with five lakes and 10 wetlands areas spread across the 175-acre layout. More than 500,000 cubic yards of dirt were moved to create gentle slopes and dramatic vistas, and the property is home to more than 40 species of indigenous flora. "I think Robert von Hagge did a tremendous job in designing the golf course, and we were able to incorporate all the existing vegetation out here," said Rudy Sparks, chairman of the Atchafalaya Golf Course Commission. "I really think this is going to be a phenomenal facility at the end of the day because it's going to be more than just a golf course, it's going to tell a story about this area. It's native-material landscaping at its finest." At The Island Golf and Country Club in Plaquemine, about 90 miles from New Orleans and 12 miles from Baton Rouge, sugar cane still grows in a field next to the course. The sweet layout designed by Mike Young measures 7,010 yards and includes nine lakes and 54 bunkers. The course, which opened in 1999, was named The Island because Bayou Jacob and Bayou Plaquemine surround the property, which includes a residential community. "The thing I love about this course is the solitude," Kaspar said. "Plus, with all the water, it's plenty challenging no matter what tee box you play from." Three distinct Louisiana landscapes come into play at Carter Plantation, a residential resort and golf community set on 700 acres along the Blood River in the quaint town of Springfield, about 60 miles from New Orleans. The 7,050-yard course, designed by PGA Tour star David Toms and Glenn Hicke, winds through dense stands of oak trees, cypress wetlands and upland pine forests. More than 600,000 cubic yards of dirt were moved to create striking elevation changes rarely seen in southeastern Louisiana. While the historic plantation home on the grounds isn't open to visitors or overnight guests, Carter Plantation, which opened in 2003, has 63 rooms and suites on the property for people who want to stay and play. "We were really excited to add Carter Plantation to the Audubon Golf Trail because, not only is it a great course, but people can stay here and relax after their rounds, whether it's for a night or longer," Kaspar said. "The more amenities we can add along the trail, the better it is for everyone." That outlook has become the rallying cry for Louisiana tourism, economic development and government officials seeking to repair the southeast corner of the state and its image following the attention that focused on the storms that lashed the Gulf Coast. "All the attributes that we love about the state are still here," said Kaspar, who also oversees seven other Audubon Golf Trail courses: Olde Oaks, Calvert Crossing, Cypress Bend, Oak Wing, Tamahka Trails, Gray Plantation and Black Bear. "All of our courses are high-quality and in great condition, but there's a lot here that is great to visit. It's a misnomer to think that the hurricane damage made the state inaccessible to tourists. Louisiana has a lot to offer, and if people come down here to take a look, I'm pretty sure they'd agree." n |
||||
RSS Subscribe
Digg This Article
