Bayou Oaks at City Park - South Course

New City Park Golf Course Will Open To The Public April 21, Officials Announce

Courtesy of Jeff Duncan
The Times-Picayune

The new Bayou Oaks Golf Course in City Park is scheduled to open to the public on April 21. (Ian Cotita, Cavu Media)

In a matter of weeks, local golfers won't have to trek to the West Bank to enjoy championship-caliber golf.

Bayou Oaks Golf Course in City Park will open to the public on April 21, park and Bayou District Foundation officials announced Monday.

The 18-hole championship course, designed by heralded golf course architects Rees Jones, Inc. in association with Torre Design Consortium, is part of a two-year, $26 million construction project that features a 13,000-square-foot clubhouse, pro shop, maintenance facilities and 120-seat dining room.

The 7,300-yard, par-72 course was designed to accommodate players of all levels from amateur to professional and will feature 46 bunkers and multiple tee locations.

Greens fees will range from $59 to $99 a round for Louisiana residents, depending on the day and time. In-state residents may book a tee time seven days in advance. Out-of-state residents can book a tee time 90 days in advance.

Two annual pass options will also be available starting May 1 and include a seven-day pass for $3,000 and a four-day pass (Monday - Thursday only) for $2,000, respectively.

"Together with our Bayou District Foundation partners, New Orleans City Park now offers a beautiful and challenging golf course that will accommodate players of all skill levels," Bob Becker, CEO of New Orleans City Park said in a release.

City Park's golf tradition dates to 1902. From 1938 to 1962, the course played host to the New Orleans Open. Hall of Fame golfers Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus have all competed in various tournaments at New Orleans City Park.

Architects routed the course to follow the line of play from City's Park's old West and East golf courses. Some holes were re-engineered to preserve existing lagoons and live oak trees. Sand and an extensive drainage system were installed to ensure quick accessibility of the grounds following hard rains.

"It has been a long wait, but we think the final product is well worth it," Becker said.

The project was funded by the State of Louisiana, FEMA, New Orleans City Par and the Bayou District Foundation, which will operate the golf course.

A share of the revenue from Bayou Oaks will support the Bayou District Foundation's education initiatives at Columbia Parc, a mixed-income community of 685 households less than five blocks from the 3rd hole at Bayou Oaks.

The Bayou District Foundation funded the construction of the new clubhouse and golf maintenance facility at Bayou Oaks as well as key improvements to parking lots and the driving range. Bayou District Foundation has donated the clubhouse and maintenance facility to New Orleans City Park.

"The best result of public/private partnerships is when everybody wins," Bayou District Foundation Chairman Gerard W. Barousse, Jr. said. "Our Foundation's proportional stream of revenue will be dedicated to sustaining our mission to support quality education and holistic community redevelopment in nearby Columbia Parc in the Bayou District. Additionally, people throughout our city and state will win as the golf course adds yet another superb quality of life amenity and hospitality industry attraction in our community."

The new golf course's long-awaited, often-delayed construction was met with resistance in some corners.

The old City Park golf course flooded during Hurricane Katrina, causing its closure. The park's north course reopened in 2008. The old layout of east and west courses between Harrison and Filmore Avenues was an open space for most of the past decade and became a popular spot for dog walking, jogging and bird watching.

Opponents of the new project were concerned the golf course would rob the park of public green space.

A group called the City Park for Everyone Coalition was formed in 2015 and held protest marches. One activist famously staged a tree sit-in for 11 days to protest the course construction.

Even with the opening of the new course, officials say the park will have 38 percent less acreage devoted to golf than it did before Katrina.

"I'm excited on so many different levels," City Park board president Steve Pettus said. The new championship-level course is absolutely beautiful, and we're happy to have it accompany our north course, which is still open and is a great value. Since Katrina, we have reduced the golf footprint in the park by 192 acres, and now offer wonderful amenities such as Big Lake and the Festival Grounds."