French Quarter and TPC Louisiana

December 2010
Location: New Orleans & Avondale, LA

Course:  TPC Louisiana

Golfers: Paired up with two locals. Kelsey drove the cart, I drove the fairways (at least some of the time). 

Hotel: Bienville House in the French Quarter.


Overview: 
4 days in New Orleans with Kelsey for a nice getaway close to the new years. Great food, (which will be the largest area of discussion), a little gambling, southern hospitality and as always, a round of golf at the local course. 


Golf Details:

TPC Louisiana

11 am tee time, temps were around 45-55 throughout the round with a chilly 10-15 mph wind. I tend to get the shanks anytime the temps dip below 55 so not my best round by any means. The course was in great shape for being dead of winter and even the greens were rolling true, which didn't give me any excuses for my putting display. Paired up with two locals who knew the course and provided a little guidance on certain holes. They played great, I admired the scenery. The course is a Pete Dye design and I wasn't expecting so many damn bunkers. For a bayou course, water was the least of my worries. A few decent drives ended up 5-10 yards off the fairway in coffin bunkers (which are brutal), these were about 5 feet wide by 3 feet long and I had one foot in and one foot out it seemed like on every other bunker shot. When I wasn't in the bunkers, the round was pretty enjoyable for not playing well. Would enjoy going back to play in the summer and a better approach to hitting the fairways. 



Food: 
Where do I begin, it was all great. Mr. B's for a nice dinner- BBQ shrimp for me, fresh catch of the day for Kels. The weather was pretty chilly, so the warm atmosphere and great cajun food helped to start the trip off right. For a more casual dinner, we did Crescent City Brewhouse before the casino mid trip. Really good food, more laid back than Mr. B's. Kels raved about their Oyster's on the half shell, you'll have to take her word, I shy aware from the oysters. Moving on, we had a N'awlins must, Burgers and Bloody Mary's at Port O' Call. Dimly lit hole in the wall- take a cab from the french quarter. We walked, but in hindsight, would've been better off taking a cab as it's a good walk through a few interesting neighborhoods. 

Mr. B's

Stanley's for breakfast a couple of mornings. Good Community coffee, the local kind, that wakes you up from the dark roast. Grits, eggs, and all the favorites were right on par here. Great shrimp po-boy, sorry, I can't remember the name of the place . I think you can't go wrong picking one in the french quarter though. 

Port O' Call

Favorites: 
Port O' Call Bloody Mary- I like them bold and spicy- this was one of my favorites. Abita Amber, sold in Texas, but just tastes better in LA
Hole #13, drivable par 4. Dogleg left, with a 200 yard long bunker guarding the left side. Bailout is right, pin high.


Final Thoughts:

Harrah's robbed us, $10 min tables for blackjack scarred Kelsey's first time playing. She played correctly, but couldn't catch a break.  I was out shortly after and we went to Bourbon Street to reflect. I need another shot at redemption at the TPC, hopefully sometime when it's warmer. NO is always a great trip, can't wait to go back. 

La Cantera Golf Weekend

May 2010

Location: San Antonio, TX  Temps: 80's- low 90's

Course: La Cantera- Palmer and Resort Course La Cantera Golf Resort

Golfers: Cody and I

Hotel: Westin La Cantera. Nice, but very family oriented, so lots of kids running around.


Details:

Cody and I somehow managed to play 72 holes of golf in less than 48 hours. Hopefully they still allow unlimited golf packages after we squeezed out every once of golf. 2 rounds at the Palmer Course and 2 rounds at the Resort Course. On day two on the fourth round, we faded fast on about hole 9 (63 total). The three putts and excuses started to ferment, everything from " Damn sunscreen made my hand slip off the club" and my favorite, "These greens are chicken shit!" They were completely fine the prior three rounds so I'll let you be the judge if they magically transformed to local muni grade overnight.

Food:

Resort bar had decent queso and salsa, along with a burger that was pretty good. La Fogata was recommended by all the locals, but the best part of dinner was the margaritas. Houston or Austin tend to have better Tex-Mex, but of course this is only my opinion.

Favorites:

Par 3's on the Palmer course were great. Much more elevation and better views from the tee boxes. Resort course tee shot par 4 on front 9 has a great view of Fiesta Texas (local theme park).  Slim crowds on the course which allowed us to get in four rounds in less than two full days.

Final Thoughts:

If you can play one course, chose the Palmer. More challenging, but much better views throughout the course. Finishing hole is great, on top of a large hill playing back towards the clubhouse.