The Riverbend Namesake
English Turn draws its name from the dramatic Mississippi River curve south of New Orleans, the site of an early colonial standoff—giving every round a layer of Louisiana lore.
Golf Course Review & Scouting Report
English Turn Golf & Country Club
New Orleans, Louisiana
Established
1988
Architect
Jack Nicklaus (primary); Gus Grantham, Rick Robbins, Thomas Pearson (associate design/build)
Access
Private
Par
Par 72
Length
5,376 – 7,078 yds
The verdict
Water-laced, Championship New Orleans Track
English Turn delivers tournament-tested championship golf with a Nicklaus touch. Its relentless water hazards, storied PGA Tour pedigree, and bold finishing stretch make it a compelling challenge, though it’s primarily a regional/private experience rather than a national bucket-list draw.
Course DNA
Difficulty
80
Scenery74
Conditioning72
Shot Variety75
Walkability63
Green Complexity71
Wow Factor73
Design Quality76
At a glance
Quick facts
Water In Play
17 of 18 holes
Most Famous Hole
Island-green par-5 15th
Past PGA Tour Host
16 years continuous, plus 2006 return
Tee Options
Gold, Blue, White, Red
Spectator Mounds
Designed for Tour galleries
Clubhouse Setting
Historic Mississippi River bend
Origin
Built for New Orleans’ PGA event
Member Focus
Primary access is private with guest privilege
The design
The architecture
English Turn is championship golf built by Jack Nicklaus with the Tour in mind—engineered for galleries, nervy approaches, and scores defined by shotmaking under pressure. Each hole is shaped to accentuate angles and decisions, forcing you to confront water time and again but with artful options for boldness or safety. From its famous island-green 15th to the muscle-bound finish, it’s a tournament-specific routing with bold visuals, plenty of risk/reward, and a real sense of occasion when you step onto the tee.
Nicklaus’s vision was a championship venue for the New Orleans PGA Tour stop: risk everywhere, drama on the finish, and plenty of spectator-friendly mounds for tournament energy.
Defining features
- Seventeen holes with water influencing play
- Distinct island-green par-5 (15th)
- Strategic bunkering and fairway shaping
- Spectator mounds integrating with routing
- Championship-length par 72 card
- Big, undulating greens rewarded for center-of-green play
Hole by hole
Signature holes
Hole 2
Gambler’s Opening Par 5
PAR
5
YARDAGE
539
This reachable par 5 invites early aggression but tempts disaster: a well-placed tee shot leaves a big decision to lay up short of water or go for the green in two. Wind and angle management set up birdie—or a big number—for anyone who strays.
Play it smart
Favor the left center off the tee; conservative play leaves a simple third, but aggressive hitters are baited to attack with water lurking short and right.
Where it bites
Water tightens the landing and approach; poor layup decision brings big numbers swiftly.
Course management
Shots to think about
Approach to water-guarded greens
Favor safe side and play for the center; birdie putts beat double attempts.
Tee shot on risk/reward par 5s
Don't let island temptation overrule discipline—lay up if the number isn't perfect.
Late holes under wind
Club up and trust the committed line; wind exaggerates mistakes, especially on 17 and 18.
Navigating forced carries
Consider laying back to a full yardage—partial swings bring hazards more into play.
Tournament pin positions
Play for the fat of the green; aggressive lines are rarely rewarded at Tour speeds.
Slippery downhill putts
A tap-in second putt is gold—lag confidently, don't flirt with a comeback three-putt.
On the day
What to expect
Conditions
Well-kept, mostly lush fairways with firm, fast greens—expect good but not Tour-level perfection year-round.
Pace
Calm, members-driven pace; tee times rarely stack up with outside public pressure, but tournaments and events can slow the flow on big weekends.
Vibe
Polished, private-club atmosphere with a sense of championship occasion and plenty of southern hospitality.
Dress code
Collared shirts and traditional golf attire required; avoid denim, workout, or cut-off clothing.
Before you tee off
Your game plan
01
Dial in Wedge Distance
Many par 5s and short 4s reward precise wedge play to guard against water and tough pins.
02
Blend Aggression and Restraint
You’ll need both risk-taking on scoring holes and discipline to avoid a disaster score.
03
Study the Wind
Open, flat landscape means wind is always in play—practice club selection and flight control.
04
Bring Extra Balls
With water on 17 holes, everyone loses at least one—plan accordingly for a full 18.
The lore
How it came to be
- 1988
Course opens, designed by Jack Nicklaus for championship play
- 1989
First PGA Tour event hosted (USF&G Classic)
- 2006
Hosts Zurich Classic one last time after Hurricane Katrina
- 2019
Club transitions to new management
- 2025
Troon takes over management operations
Stories & legends
What makes it special
PGA Tour Drama Returns
In 2006, English Turn came to the rescue when TPC Louisiana was sidelined by Hurricane Katrina, regaining the Zurich Classic spotlight for one last Tour encore and cementing its place in event lore.
Surrounded By Water
Golfers face water on all but one hole, a relentless strategic demand masterminded by Nicklaus—meaning tension crackles on nearly every shot, especially with the wind swirling across the open New Orleans flats.
Gallery Mounds and Tour Magic
The course isn’t just tournament-ready in challenge—it’s built with gallery berms and sightlines for thousands, so every player can imagine big-stage drama around each green.
For the group chat
Fun facts
1
Named for a fateful bend in the Mississippi linked to colonial lore
2
Once hosted back-to-back PGA Tour winners who played the same closing stretch
3
Gallery berms are integrated into the routing—built for crowds
4
A par 5 (15th) with a true island green rarely seen in championship layouts
5
Water in play on a remarkable 17 of 18 holes
Build the trip
If your golf trip stretches to New Orleans
CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip
TPC Louisiana
Public
Modern Tour host and big-risk, high-reward drama with bold design.
Audubon Park Golf Course
Public / Municipal
Convenient city-center routing; excellent for a relaxed city round.
Bayou Oaks at City Park
Public / Municipal
Versatile, accessible 36-hole option for all skill levels.
Stonebridge Golf Club of New Orleans
Public
Solid play with local flavor and generous fairways.
Timberlane Country Club
Semi-Private
Traditional club track just west of the city; worth a look for variety.
Garden District or Uptown for food/culture; Algiers/West Bank for fast course access
Course DNA
If You Like English Turn Golf & Country Club
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Strong DNA Match8.2
Musgrove Mill Golf Club
Clinton, South CarolinaDifficulty
Why it matches: What links these two? Brings a comparable level of challenge — a familiar feeling, expressed in Musgrove Mill Golf Club's own setting.
Strong DNA Match7.2
The Preserve at Jordan Lake
Chapel Hill, North CarolinaDifficulty
Why it matches: There is real overlap here. The Preserve at Jordan Lake asks for the same disciplined decision-making, making it a compelling counterpart to English Turn Golf & Country Club.
Strong DNA Match9.1
The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island
Kiawah Island, South CarolinaWhy it matches: There is real overlap here. The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character, making it a compelling counterpart to English Turn Golf & Country Club.
Community Sentiment
See something inaccurate in this listing?