State of the week: Louisiana

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Where are we? The Pelican State. Louisiana -- the state that's shaped like the first letter of his name -- sits on the Gulf Coast nestled between Texas and Mississippi. It's the Southern state with a little something extra -- Cajun spice. With counties known as "parishes" and streets known as "rues," it doesn't take a visitor long to realize that this state is a little different from its Southern counterparts. Louisiana has a reputation for fun times and delicious food, so you'll be glad to know the golf's not ad either if you're planning a trip there.

Louisiana history: In 1682, the land now known as Louisiana was part of the Mississippi Valley, claimed for France by Robert de la Salle. The great city of New Orleans was not settled, however, until 1721 and then became the state capital. The Pelican State's modern capital of Baton Rouge was settled just a few months later. Louisiana -- along with many of the other early-discovered territories -- fell into a tussle between the French, the Spanish and the British and was eventually sold by the French as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, when it finally became U.S. land. Naturally, the state became part of the Civil War and seceded from the Union in 1861, the sixth state to do so. After the war, Louisiana was readmitted into the Union in 1868. These days, though, the Ragin' Cajun state is more famous for the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which ravaged the coastal area of the state from Texas well into Mississippi, leaving close to 2,000 people dead.

TPC Louisiana is the home of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and has that distinct bayou feel around the water hazards. (Durrance/PGA TOUR)

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Louisiana on the course: The Pelican State is the proud home of one PGA TOUR event, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, which is contested at the striking TPC Louisiana golf course just across the river from the Crescent City in Avondale, La. Designed by Pete Dye with consultation from TOUR players Steve Elkington and Kelly Gibson, TPC Louisiana plays over a par-72 7,300 yards of bayou beauty. The course sprawls across 250 acres of what was once flat marshland and is surrounded by three drainage canals to keep the course in tip-top shape given that its geographical location puts it below sea level and, therefore, leaves it vulnerable to flooding. With the look of a nature reserve under the shadows of swaying Cypress Trees, TPC Louisiana draws from the character of its state to offer golfers supreme conditions in a challenging setting. And it's no enemy to strangers -- it has been the site of many first-time TOUR wins, including this year's Argentinean Andres Romero.

Louisiana off the course: While Louisiana's biggest attraction and tourist draw is undoubtedly the city of New Orleans, travelers planning a trip should know that the southern/southwestern region of the state should not be cast aside. The bayou country for which Louisiana is famous stretches across the coastline well into Texas and begs to be explored. Whether you're into solitary camping and discovery or like the organization of swamp tours and river guides, it's really worth your time. Don't just be on the lookout for alligators, either. While we all enjoy a good gator spotting, realize that the bayous are crawling with wildlife that doesn't make itself too hard to find. Unfortunately, mosquitoes are a part of that all-encompassing term, so don't forget the bug spray. In a place as humid as this, you're bound to get caught in the occasional swarm.

Louisiana resort: For a little change of pace from the wild outdoors of Louisiana's bayou country, you have to book a night (or more if you can afford the price tag) at the Crescent City's Ritz-Carlton New Orleans. A four-and-a-half-star hotel in the French Quarter, the Ritz Carlton is everything its name suggests. Only one block from the famous Rue Bourbon and adjacent to the Canal Street streetcar line, this resort provides easy access to the highlights of New Orleans' downtown area. As for the hotel itself, it has traditional French Quarter-style gardens in its courtyard, a pool, a spa, over 500 rooms and four restaurants all furnished in classic European décor. It's quite the getaway.

Louisiana eats: One of my all-time favorites, Cajun food gives any other dish a run for its money. Pick any mom 'n' pop place in Louisiana, and you're almost always sure to find topnotch Cajun grub from the simplest of po'boy sandwiches to the most secret of family jambalaya recipes. Eat Cajun food every day, and you won't run out of things to try. Seafood gumbo and crawfish etoufée are one my must-eat list, and if you are the adventurous type, order deep-fried gator bites as an appetizer. Oh and don't forget about the red beans and rice. Dee-licious. If you're looking for a restaurant recommendation, head to state capital Baton Rouge and grab a seat at Poor Boy Lloyd's -- it has hands-down the best fried catfish that will ever cross your lips.

Louisiana culture: Louisiana's unique combination of French and Caribbean culture means that on one street corner, wandering tourists might find a grand and spectacularly architected Catholic church, while on the next, they might run into a dark and mysterious voodoo center. And where better to learn more about voodoo than New Orleans? There are a couple of information centers as well as a museum in the city where you can discover the meanings behind ancient voodoo rituals and magic products

David Toms played on the 2007 Presidents Cup team, which won the event at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Canada last fall. (Halleran/Getty Images)

Louisiana golfer: Twelve-time TOUR winner including the 2001 PGA Championship, David Toms, calls the Pelican State home. From Monroe, La., (which is in the northern part of the state somewhat close to the Arkansas border), Toms played golf at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. In 2003, he created the David Toms charity foundation, which later raised over $1 million for Hurricane Katrina victims. Toms finished inside the top 30 in FedExCup points for 2007 despite not having won any tournaments last year. His most recent win was at the 2006 Sony Open in Hawaii. When he won his first (and only so far) major at the PGA Championship in 2001, now three-time major winner Phil Mickelson was the runner up. Toms has also played well in the other majors: He tied for sixth at the '98 Masters, tied for eighth at the '03 Masters and finished ninth at the '07 Masters; in 2000, he tied for fourth at the British Open and he has two ties for fifth at the U.S. Open in 2003 and 2007.