Buddies Trip New Orleans - Recommendations Please

[Monsweko]

Just completed a very successful first annual buddies trip to Scottsdale, AZ (we played Legacy, Raven, Ak-Chin Southern Dunes and We-Ko-Pa Saguaro for anyone interested) and already looking forward to next year's installment, which we've decided will be in New Orleans. Everyone in the group is in their early 30s and mediocre to awful at golf (our lowest handicap is 15, and we have some true novices), so we've opted for nightlife and culture over a world-renowned golf destination for next year. We're hoping to do this trip for a long time to come, so plenty of opportunities for Pinehurst, Streamsong, Bandon, etc.

 

Getting a very early start on things (mostly just so we can keep an email thread going year-round) and have a couple of questions for those who know:

 

(1) Is April a good choice? March seems like it might be a little early with cooler temperatures and courses still filling in from the winter. We don't want to go later than April.

(2) We'll play 4 rounds, and from my initial research I've targeted TPC Louisiana, Lakewood, English Turn, Audubon (I realize this is a shorter course, but love the history, price and location) and Bayou Oaks South. Any thoughts as between them? Any others we should consider? Joseph Bartholomew or Stonebridge maybe?

 

We'll be getting an AirBnB, likely in the Garden District, and don't want to travel more than about 40 minutes each way.

 

Appreciate any local knowledge or other advice.

 

Thanks!

[mattsam]

April is great in the NOLA area, golf not so much. You will have a good time for sure, but We-Ko-Pa is a thousand times better than anything you will play on this trip. I hate to say it but going to near by Biloxi Ms would be a better trip.

But back to NOLA- TPC is about 35-40 min from the Garden District but worth a play. Rates are usually high in April but conditions are good. Audubon is a great choice. English Turn would be nice and as a 4th the new Bayou Oaks. I wouldn't put anything else above those, - maybe Oak Harbor over TPC.

[Texsport]

Best public course in Louisiana is The Bluffs On Thompsons Creek, but it's 120 miles away in St Francisville.

 

More than the golf, you should be planning the restaurants.

 

Another possible tie-in is the famous New Orleans Jazz Festival at the end of April.

 

http://www.nojazzfest.com

 

Texsport

[BLIZZAKE7]

The five courses you've chosen are your best options in that proximity. I'm a big fan of Audubon. Stay away from Joseph Bartholomew.

 

LaTour is another option if they're allowing public play, or even still open next year, I've heard they've been struggling.

 

 

Definitely get an AirBnB wither Uptown or Garden District. Also, look up Hogs for the Cause for an awesome festival the first weekend of April.

[mattsam]

 

LaTour is another option if they're allowing public play, or even still open next year, I've heard they've been struggling.

 

.

 

It's closed

[chriswsurprenant]

TPC Louisiana and English Turn are the places to go. Bayou Oaks South could be really great as well, but it's just opening to the public and few folks have been on it. I'll be on next Thursday and can report back.