Inside the course: TPC Louisiana

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A view of the 18th hole at TPC Louisiana

Apr. 21, 2009

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

Fast facts

Course Superintendent	Robb R. Arnold
Original architect	Pete Dye (2003)
Par value	72
Number of TOUR events as host venue	4 (including 2009)
Course ranking	Ranked 32 (out of 54) in difficulty on the PGA TOUR in 2008
Yardage history	7,520 (2005)
	7,341 (2007-present)
Grass	TifSport bermudagrass (tees, fairways, greens, rough)
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

2008 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. 2008: 2 eagles, 19 birdies, 276 pars, 121 bogeys, 24 double bogeys, 6 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. 2008: 9 eagles, 192 birdies, 223 pars, 22 bogeys, 2 double bogeys and 0 other.

TPC Louisiana			2008 rankings		Last 3 years
Hole	Par	Yards	Avg. Score	Rank	Avg. Score	Rank
11	4	391	3.989	9	3.929	13
2	5	548	4.69	17	4.689	17
3	3	221	3.221	3	3.144	7
4	4	482	4.192	5	4.209	3
5	4	428	3.935	12	4.002	9
6	4	476	4.366	1	4.284	1
7	5	561	4.589	18	4.660	18
8	4	372	3.81	15	3.874	14
9	3	210	3.136	7	3.170	6
10	4	390	3.942	11	3.981	11
11	5	575	4.848	14	4.788	16
12	4	486	4.268	2	4.219	2
13	4	377	3.775	16	3.807	15
14	3	192	3.036	8	3.034	8
15	4	480	4.147	6	4.194	5
16	4	348	3.9	13	3.989	10
17	3	215	3.205	4	3.197	4
18	5	589	4.946	10	4.970	12

Course origins

The 2009 Zurich Classic of New Orleans will be the third event held at TPC Louisiana since Hurricane Katrina and the fourth 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 4.083, with players recording 0 eagles, 41 birdies, 303 pars, 80 bogeys, 19 double bogeys and 5 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 Harbour Town tour)