New Orleans is a city of soft edges—melting pralines, humidity that clings to your skin like a wet blanket, and jazz that bleeds into the streets. But if you head about fifteen miles southeast of the French Quarter, across the Mississippi River into a bend known as the "English Turn," you find something jarringly sharp. Jack Nicklaus did that on purpose. When he designed the course for English Turn golf in New Orleans, he wasn't looking to create a swampy walk in the park. He created a tactical nightmare draped in Augusta-style aesthetics.
It’s a weird place, honestly.
You drive through a gated community that feels almost suburban-pristine, and then you’re staring at a par-72 championship layout that hosted the PGA Tour’s Freeport-McMoRan Classic (later the HP Classic) for 16 years. It’s got that signature Nicklaus "Golden Bear" DNA: intimidating water hazards, massive waste bunkers, and tiered greens that can make a grown man cry if he lands on the wrong level.
The Jack Nicklaus Tax: Why This Course Stays Hard
Most people think of New Orleans golf as flat. It usually is. But English Turn isn't just a pancake with some grass on it. Nicklaus moved a staggering amount of earth to create elevation changes that shouldn't exist in a delta.
The water is the real story here. It’s everywhere.
On nearly every hole, you’re forced to make a decision. Do you play it safe and leave a long iron in, or do you flirt with the edge of a lagoon to get a better angle? Most golfers choose the latter and end up reaching for a reload. It’s classic risk-reward architecture, but the "reward" side of the ledger feels a bit stingy sometimes.
Take the 15th hole. It’s a par 5, but it’s not a "gimme" birdie. It’s an island green. Not like the 17th at TPC Sawgrass—this one is massive—but it still creates that specific type of panic in your chest when you’re standing over a 210-yard approach shot with nothing but ripples and gators between you and the cup.
What Most People Get Wrong About Playing Here
There is a common misconception that because English Turn is a "resort-style" private club, it’s going to be a wide-open bomber's paradise.
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Actually, no.
If you spray the ball here, you’re dead. The rough is thick, the sand is deep, and the wind coming off the river is unpredictable. You’ll see guys come out here thinking they can overpower the course because they saw Davis Love III or Vijay Singh tear it up in the 90s. What they forget is that those guys were hitting the ball with surgical precision.
The greens are the true gatekeepers. They are large, yes, but they’re segmented. If you’re on the wrong tier, you aren't just looking at a two-putt; you’re looking at a defensive maneuver just to stay on the green.
A Quick Reality Check on the Conditions
Don't expect "fast and firm" during a New Orleans summer. The humidity makes everything heavy. The ball doesn't travel as far in that thick air. You have to club up. Then there's the drainage. To be fair, English Turn has some of the best drainage in the region—they had to, given the location—but after a classic 4:00 PM Louisiana downpour, the bunkers can get packed.
Is it still a premier destination? Absolutely. But it’s a grind.
The PGA Tour Legacy and the "New" New Orleans Golf Scene
For over a decade, this was the epicenter of professional golf in Louisiana. From 1989 to 2004, the world’s best walked these fairways. You can still feel that history. There’s a certain weight to playing a course where Ben Crenshaw or Greg Norman once scrambled for par.
However, things shifted when the Zurich Classic moved to TPC Louisiana in Avondale.
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Some locals will tell you that the move was the best thing for the tournament but a hit to the prestige of English Turn. I disagree. The move allowed English Turn to lean back into its identity as a high-end private club that offers a more exclusive experience than the public-access TPC.
- The Clubhouse: It’s a 43,000-square-foot behemoth. It feels like old-money Louisiana.
- The Practice Facility: Genuinely one of the best in the South.
- The Vibe: Less "corporate outing," more "serious golfer’s retreat."
If you’re looking for a casual round where you can drink six beers and not care about your score, you might want to head elsewhere. This place demands respect.
Navigating the Signature Holes Without Losing Your Mind
If you're playing English Turn golf in New Orleans for the first time, you have to survive the closing stretch.
The 18th hole is a monster. It’s a par 4 that hugs a lake the entire way down the left side. It’s 471 yards from the back tees. Let that sink in. Into a headwind, that’s a driver and a long iron or even a wood for most mortals. The fairway is narrow, and the green is protected by—you guessed it—more water and sand. It’s consistently ranked as one of the hardest finishing holes in the state.
Then there's the 8th hole. It’s a par 3 with a "waste bunker" that is essentially a beach. It’s a visual trick. Nicklaus wants you to look at the sand and the water and forget how to swing a golf club.
Pro Tip: Aim for the center of the green. Always. Forget the pins. The pins are traps.
What about the "Semi-Private" Status?
This is where it gets a little confusing for visitors. English Turn is a private club, but they do offer various ways for non-members to get on the grass. Sometimes it’s through stay-and-play packages with local hotels; other times it’s through specific charity tournaments or reciprocal agreements.
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It’s worth the effort to find a way in.
The course has undergone various renovations to keep the turf quality up to standard, especially after the beating the region took during major hurricanes over the last two decades. The greens were converted to TifEagle Bermuda, which handles the heat much better than the old surfaces. They roll true, but they are deviously fast if the superintendent is having a "tough" day.
Why It Matters Today
In a world where golf courses are being built with massive fairways and no rough to speed up play, English Turn is a bit of a throwback. It’s a reminder that golf is supposed to be a test. It’s a strategic puzzle.
It’s also one of the few places in New Orleans where you can feel completely removed from the city. No sirens, no streetcars, just the sound of a hawk circling the marsh and the splash of your ball hitting the water because you thought you could clear that bunker.
Actionable Insights for Your Round
To actually enjoy your time at English Turn, you need a plan.
- Check the Wind: If the wind is blowing from the South, the back nine becomes a completely different animal. Adjust your expectations.
- Short Game is King: You will miss greens. Everyone does. Your ability to chip from tight lies off the Bermuda fringe will determine if you break 90 or 100.
- Hydrate: This sounds like "mom" advice, but the back nine at English Turn in July is a kiln. There is very little shade.
- Trust the Yardage: Because the course is so flat, depth perception is tricky. Use a rangefinder. Don't eyeball it.
The Bottom Line on English Turn Golf in New Orleans
English Turn isn't the "fun, easy" New Orleans. It’s the "focused, championship" New Orleans. It’s a Jack Nicklaus masterclass that hasn't lost its teeth since the 80s. Whether you’re chasing the ghost of a PGA pro or just trying to keep the same ball for 18 holes, it remains the standard for high-end golf in the Crescent City.
How to Prepare for Your Visit
Before heading out, call the pro shop to verify the current "dress code" and any maintenance schedules (like aeration). If you're coming from out of town, give yourself an extra 20 minutes for the drive—the bridge traffic across the Mississippi can be a nightmare during peak hours. Pack extra balls, leave the ego in the parking lot, and make sure your sand game is dialed in. You're going to need it.
For those looking to book, checking local golf brokers or asking your hotel concierge about "member-for-a-day" privileges is usually the most effective route for non-members. Once you’re on the property, take a moment in the clubhouse to look at the trophy cases. There is a lot of history in those halls, and it sets the right tone for the round ahead.
The final step is simple: pick the right tees. Don't play the tips unless you're carrying a scratch handicap. The "Golden Bear" tees are 7,074 yards of pure stress. Move up, enjoy the views, and try to keep it out of the drink.