English Turn

Review and Rating of English Turn Golf Course – New Orleans

As soon as you arrive at English Turn's spectacular 43,000 square foot clubhouse  which recalls the grace and grandeur of one of Louisiana's legendary plantation homes, you know you're in for a special treat.  English Turn is an outstanding Jack Nicklaus designed course that presents a challenging round of golf to all skill levels.  Nicklaus created 18 unique holes, each of which have their own personality and set of challenges – meandering lakes come into play of every hole, giant sand and waste bunkers guard the fairways and greens, grass depressions and mounds line the sculptured fairways, and tiered and contoured small manicured greens put a premium on the approach shots and putting. 

Don't let all of that scare you – the fairways are generous, the bunkers can be avoided, and you'll stay dry if you focus on course management and staying in the fairway.  The conditions from tee to cup are near perfect, the course is very well maintained and manicured, and the scenery (big southern mansions, water, trees, fountains, and landscaping) is stunning.  Doesn't get much better than all that!

In addition, English Turn Golf Club is home to some really fun holes, some that we liked included:

• #2 is a 539 yard par five that turns left around a long sprawling sand bunker and the lake and it offers a great risk reward shot to try and carry more of the lake and bunker to shorten the hole – you'll also need to avoid several mounds and 8 more bunkers on the way to the green
• #11 is a 534 yard par 5 with another risk reward shot to try and carry more of the lake and monstrous bunker (with six oval grass islands) and then the fairway is pinched with that bunker on the left plus 8 more on the way to a small 22 yard oblong raised green
• #15 is a 540 yard par 5 with a cluster of 4 bunkers and the lake on the right pinching your landing zone and the approach shot is to an island green with two bunkers, one of which horseshoes around the back and some of the sides of the green – the good news is it will stop your ball from going in the lake
• #18 is unbelievable – the #1 handicap 471 yard par 4 has water along the left and a long bunker from 200 yards out to and around the left side of the green plus 5 more bunkers on the right side of the fairway waiting for your drive and 3 more surrounding the back side of the green

Two meandering lakes line one side of all of the fairways and across the lake are some huge beautiful homes.  The fairways are wide and forgiving and loaded with bunkers, grass mounding, and lots of contour.  Miss the fairway and you're in a rough that was thick and challenging when we played.  If you spray the ball you're wet on one side or in trees, natural areas, or OB on the other side of the fairway.  When we played the English Turn fairways were near perfect, well manicured, and landscaped with a wide variety of fauna.

The greens at English Turn are all shapes and sizes, very small (22 to 36 yards deep), and well guarded.  They were in excellent condition, soft and held the ball well, and ran true and at a great speed of 10 to 11.  Slope, contour, and tiers can cause lots of break.

The 95  bunkers are everywhere and range from 200 or more yard long skinny monsters to small pot bunkers.  The lips are manageable, the sand is soft and fluffy, and they are well manicured.

If you are in New Orleans, you need to take the time to play this outstanding course.