Inside the course: TPC Louisiana

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A view of the 18th hole at TPC Louisiana

Apr. 19, 2010

The TOUR heads to The Big Easy for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Learn more about this week's host, TPC Louisiana.

Expert's Overview

Ed Brill, Head Instructor at Port Royal Golf Club in Hilton Head Island, S.C., analyzes TPC Louisiana:

Congratulations to Jim Furyk for his win at Harbour Town in a quite bizarre finish. Brian Davis is a classy guy for calling the penalty on himself. It was doubtful that he was going to keep the playoff going, however, as Davis himself said in the press conference after the tournament but he couldn't have lived with himself if he hadn't called the penalty.

Off we go to TPC Louisiana for the Zurich Classic and what a difference a week makes when it comes to the golf courses. Although both courses share the same architect -- Pete Dye -- TPC Louisiana will challenge the players in a different way than Harbour Town.

First off, TPC Louisiana is quite longer than Harbour Town; even post-Katrina, when the course was shortened some 200 yards. The greens are certainly much bigger, which makes them easier to hit but provides more of challenge when trying to avoid the dreaded three putts. TPC Louisiana is also much more open than the narrow corridors of Harbour Town. This will allow the players to reach back a bit more off the tee, which is always exciting to watch.

Steve Stricker comes into the event this week as the highest-ranked player in the field. That bodes well for him, as Furyk won last week as the highest ranked player.

How about a few educated guesses as to who else might play well this week? You always have to like the hometown boys, so David Toms gets a nod here. Bryce Molder seems ready to notch that first win and Charles Howell III had a good showing at Hilton Head. One dark horse pick could be John Rollins -- we haven't heard a lot from him lately and, if he gets that putter going this week, I like his chances too.

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Fast facts

Course Superintendent	Robb R. Arnold
Original architect	Pete Dye (2003)
Par value	72
Number of TOUR events as host venue	5 (including 2010)
Course ranking	Ranked 25 (out of 51) in difficulty on the PGA TOUR in 2009
Yardage history	7,520 (2005)
	7,341 (2007-present)
Grass	TifSport bermudagrass (tees, fairways, rough); Mini verde bermudagrass (greens)
Tournament Stimpmeter	11 ft
Sand bunkers	71
Water hazards	5
Course tour	Click here

Course record

Player
Kyle Reifers

Year
2007

Round
1st

Finish
T24

Holes-in-one

There have been 4 aces recorded at TPC Louisiana

Player	Hole	Year
Darron Stiles	17	2005
Daniel Chopra	17	2007
Matt Kuchar	3	2007
Tim Clark	9	2008

2009 Rankings

Most Difficult Hole

	The par-4 476-yard sixth The third long par-4 in the front side's "triangle of doom" requires a long, straight drive that avoids a hazard on the left. The second shot is a 90-degree dogleg to the left, and players will hit anything from fairway woods to long irons depending on the wind conditions. Katrina amputated a good number of trees on this hole so the wind is an even bigger factor. 2009: 0 eagles, 30 birdies, 313 pars, 90 bogeys, 18 double bogeys, 4 others.
Easiest hole
	The par-5 561-yard seventh A fairly long par-5 requires a well-placed drive, avoiding the massive fairway bunker on the right and some pot bunkers on the left. A lay-up is prudent play as the fairway widens out to the right. Longer hitters must avoid the pot bunker to the left if they are trying to hit a smallish green in two. 2009: 5 eagles, 226 birdies, 202 pars, 20 bogeys, 2 double bogeys and 0 other.

TPC Louisiana			2009 rankings		Last 4 years
Hole	Par	Yards	Avg. Score	Rank	Avg. Score	Rank
1	4	399	3.971	11	3.940	13
2	5	548	4.791	15	4.714	17
3	3	221	3.178	5	3.153	7
4	4	482	4.2	4	4.207	4
5	4	438	4.011	9	4.004	9
6	4	476	4.242	1	4.274	1
7	5	561	4.534	18	4.629	18
8	4	372	3.826	14	3.862	14
9	3	207	3.154	6	3.166	6
10	4	390	3.943	12	3.971	11
11	5	575	4.789	16	4.789	16
12	4	492	4.226	3	4.221	2
13	4	377	3.78	17	3.800	15
14	3	216	3.029	8	3.033	8
15	4	490	4.108	7	4.173	5
16	4	355	3.976	10	3.985	10
17	3	215	3.24	2	3.207	3
18	5	585	4.914	13	4.956	12

Course origins

The 2010 Zurich Classic of New Orleans will be the fourth event held at TPC Louisiana since Hurricane Katrina and the fifth event at TPC Louisiana since 2005. The course suffered severe damage during Katrina, but the hurricane did allow for several changes to be made on the course. The new areas debuted during the 2007 Zurich Classic. This is the 51st anniversary of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and the fourth home of this storied PGA TOUR event.
The course is 7,520 yards long and a stern test for PGA TOUR players and guests. The course is designed to give players a good shot, but to also challenge their shot-making ability. The rough is not severe but there is plenty of trouble if players stray from the fairways. --Source: Golf Course Superintendents Assocation of America

Tournament course history

Course	Location	Years
City Park GC	New Orleans, La.	1938-1962
Lakewood CC	New Orleans, La.	1963-1988
English Turn G&CC	New Orleans, La.	1989-2004, 2006
TPC Louisiana	Avondale, La.	2005, 2007-present

This week's Kodak Challenge hole

HOLE: The par-3, 215-yard 17th at TPC Louisiana
LAST YEAR: The 17th played to a stroke average of 3.240, with players recording 0 eagles, 33 birdies, 304 pars, 94 bogeys, 24 double bogeys and 0 others
DESCRIPTION: After Hurricane Katrina, architect Pete Dye made some changes to TPC Louisiana. On the 17th hole, bunkers to the left were eliminated and replaced by bulkheading. The pot bunker on the right, however, remained the same. Par will be a great score on the newly-reshaped green. (Click here for tour)