The Golf Fanatic’s Blog

6500 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70175
504-212-5290

Design: 4 stars
Difficulty: 2 stars
Maintenance: 4 stars
Value: 5 stars

I’m not going to pretend to be unbiased about this course. When I lived in New Orleans, I lived for this place. Audubon Park is the heart of Uptown New Orleans. The park is a spacious splash of green tucked between the Mississippi River and St. Charles Avenue in a densely residential area. Live oaks flourish here, while

Loyola backs the 13th green.

lagoons provide urban asylum to loads of birds, including Egrets, Blue Heron, and more. The animals that flock to the park the most, however, are humans. The paths that circle the park are usually packed with recreating residents, plus Tulane and Loyola students, and tourists, some strolling in the shade, others keeping in shape, everyone looking pretty blissed out.

The Audubon Park Golf Course has been open since 1898, but was redesigned in 2002. I never played the old design, but every golfer I’ve ever played with on the course seems to agree that the update was a huge improvement, despite some local uproar from the non-golfing community. What is here now, anyway, is a treat. The par 64 course is only 4220 yards from the back tees, but it is hardly a pitch and putt. There are twelve par-3s, four par-4s, and a pair of excellent par-5s. Four lagoons factor water into the equation on eight of the holes, and about 70 intricately carved bunkers force you to consider strategy on nearly every shot. The TifEagle greens are quick and firm. Your ball will roll true, but pay attention to the grain. On a mid-November day, the grain was leaning southwest on every green (back toward Magazine), and my playing partner and I rolled plenty of down-grain putts well past the hole.

The layout at Audubon Park Golf Course.

While there are few pushover par-3s, it is the short par-4s and the par-5s that are the most exciting holes on the course. The par-4 5th is nearly drivable (for me) and will be no more than a drive and pitch for most players. A triplet of fairway bunkers squeeze tee shots toward the lagoon on the right, but big hitters should attempt to draw a high ball over the sand and cut the corner for a shot at taking the green in one.

The par-5 9th is my favorite hole on the course. What’s not to like about a par-5 that you can come into in two with a mid-iron (assuming you didn’t drown your tee shot or find the small aiming bunker in the middle of the fairway)? The hole doglegs right around a lagoon, and while your approach may not be long, the elevated green is well bunkered in front and balls that leak right may get wet. But you’ll always approach this hole with eagle or birdie on the brain.

Everyone wants to drive the green at the short par-4 14th, but with so many nasty bunkers to conquer, why do we continue to try? Because we’re weak! A perfect drive is required to miss all that sand, unless you really try to muscle up and end up putting it into the trees instead. Glory is one thing, but taking a 6 on a hole that could be dominated with a 7-iron and wedge never ceases to sting.

The par-3 12th.

The par-5 closer is just beautiful. It is possible to get home in two, but the hole hugs a lagoon on approach, and some thoughtful bunkering tends to get in the way. Again, three plinks and you’re on, but that 3-wood will probably start whispering evil thoughts to you as you approach your second shot.

These 18 sweet holes will only set you back $30 including cart, which is a straight up bargain. However, they’ll make their money back on rental clubs if you don’t bring your sticks: $35 for the basics, and $45 for clubs that don’t s&ck.

Be sure to hang out for a drink at the laid back, plantation-style clubhouse after your round. The shady porch is southern perfect.

-Bryan Fryklund

November 24th, 2008 | Tags: Audubon Park, Tulane, Uptown New Orleans golf | Category: Golf Course Reviews | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL