Course Review - TPC Louisiana & Blackstone Golf Club

New Masters champion Bubba Watson prepares to defend the title he won last year at TPC Louisiana, in Avondale on the West bank of the Mississippi. Located just southwest of New Orleans, the golf course was designed by iconic architect Pete Dye with Major winner Steve Elkington and New Orleans native Kelly Gibson as player consultants.

TPC Louisiana opened for play in 2004 and hosted the Zurich Classic of New Orleans the following year. In 2006 the whole surrounding area was devastated by Hurricane Katrina causing the event to move to English Turn Golf & Country Club before returning to TPC Louisiana in 2007 where it has been ever since.

The landscape of the course features lush wetlands and native Cypress trees, and the manner in which it seamlessly and naturally blends into the surrounding terrain is highlighted by its status as member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary programme. The typical TPC stadium design brings spectators up close to the action and provides a great platform for the professionals to display their exceptional skills. The round starts with a gentle 355m par 4 followed by a reachable par 5 that will give up eagles and many birdies. The three finishing holes are pure risk and reward – a 310m par 4 that will tempt the big hitters, a sometimes brutal par 3 where avoiding bogey can be tough, and the sweeping par 5 18th with water along the entire right side, and a towering bunker awaiting errant tee shots on the left.

The European Tour moves across to South Korea for the final event in a three-stop Far East swing as Blackstone Golf Club in Icheon hosts the 5th playing of the Ballantine's Championship. Just south of the capital, Seoul, Blackstone was designed by California-based JMP Golf Design Group and is laid out in three loops, the North, East and West, with the North and West nines coming together to make the championship layout.

The 6650m par 72 woodland course stretches through quiet forest glens, along lakes and creeks, and offers stunning ridgeline views. Players will be tempted to go for the green at the 6th, a 340m downhill par 4, and also at the slightly shorter 14th, with a grandstand finish waiting at the reachable and scenic par 5 18th.

A Golf Weather
Editorial.