The 2019 Zurich Classic of New Orleans: Inside the Course (TPC Louisiana Review)

The last time a two-man format was used in an official PGA Tour event, "internet" wasn't even a word yet, Sergio Garcia was in diapers, and the PGA Tour changed its name to the "TPA Tour," for Tournament Players Association (fortunately it reverted back the following year). 

 

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans has been an annual Tour event since 1958.  And this year for the third consecutive playing, the event will ditch traditional stroke play and borrow from the flourishing format used in the Ryder Cup and President Cup. 

Players will form 80 two-man teams, and play two days of foursomes (first and third rounds), and two days of four-ball (second and fourth rounds).  At the conclusion of the second round, a cut will be made at the low 35 teams. 

TPC Louisiana is the third Pete Dye course players have seen in the last five weeks (TPC Sawgrass, Harbour Town).  And like every Dye design, patience on this 7,425 yard, par-72 track is a virtue.  The course plays hard and fast, but narrow fairways and smaller greens protect against long hitters dominating here.  If players are aggressive and miss off the tee, the course will bite them like the swamp gators that call TPC Louisiana home. 

 

Players will also have to contend with bunkers.  Lots of them.  More than 100 bunkers (71 of which are deep pot bunkers and one that’s larger than a football field) will turn careless approach shots into near-impossible up-and-downs. There's also plenty of water, mounding, waste areas, and cypress and oak trees to make things even more disorienting. 

Bogey Alert 
The dogleg left 492-yard, par-4, 12th hole is traditionally the most difficult par-4 on TPC Louisiana.  Birdies are extremely rare, while bogeys come in bunches.  Aggressive players off the tee will have to carry their ball 314 yards to avoid the large bunker that runs along the left side.  If they do this successfully they'll have the best angle into the green. 

 

Others who are less assertive will stay in the right fairway from the tee, but then face a much harder approach shot over a bunker than runs along the entire right side.  Two small pot bunkers also protect the right side of the green. 

Birdie Watch 
The 221-yard, par-3, 14th hole is the only par-3 on the course that doesn't feature water, and can play as short as 167 yards with different tee complexes. 

 

The hole is framed by a large bunker in front, and four pot bunkers that protect the left and right.  The green features tricky undulations and wind can be a challenge, but if you find the right spot this is a green-light birdie chance. 

Signature Hole 
TPC Louisiana’s signature hole is the closing dogleg right, par-5, 585-yard, 18th hole, and is the most difficult par-5 last on the course. Water runs along the entire right side and three pot bunkers protect the left fairway where most drives will land. 

 

Longer hitters who can catch a slope on the right side will gain extra yards and tempt players to reach the green in two..  However, a series of three unholy bunkers in front of the green can change fortunes quickly.  It's a great risk-reward finishing hole with the potential to determine who the champions are.