400 Cotten Rd,
Patterson, Louisiana LA 70392
Office
+1 (985) 395 4653Pro shop
+1 (985) 395 4653Fax
+1 (985) 399 4444Website
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Ed Selser (Director of Golf)The Course:
18 holes. Open parkland. Relatively flat terrain - easy to walk.
Surroundings:
Wetlands and woodland
Designer:
Robert von Hagge, Michael Smelek & Richard Baril
29.666837
-91.294091
85 miles SW of New Orleans
Atchafalaya
The Atchafalaya at Idlewild: Located on flattish terrain on the edge of the USA's largest area of river swamp, the Atchafalaya at Idlewild is one of the newest additions to the Audubon Golf Trail. Native flora surrounds much of this excellent Von Hagge layout, with the front-nine loop pushing into a swampy forest of cypress trees (which once made this area the world's largest exporter of cypress wood).
Despite its woodland perimeter, most of the course, and especially the back-nine, is characterised by an open, almost linksy environment. Plenty of earthmounding, excellent bunkering and no shortage of water hazards create an enjoyably challenging layout.
On this quiet, former dairy farm (with a former silo built into the clubhouse), holes like the long par-4 4th, 9th and 18th holes are played to greens which dangerously hang out over the side of small lakes. A large, lakeside double-green awaits at the 9th and 18th.
Among the snaking par-5s, the 635-yard 6th and 594-yard 16th will test the length of anyone ambitious enough to play this 7500-yard layout from the back-tees. If you do opt for the tips, all the par-3s will play well over 200 yards.
Several bunker-festooned holes use a mix of grass-bunker clusters, small pot bunkers (a mere 20 of them on the 18th alone) and larger more expansive sand traps. The tee-box markers: bears, eagles, 'gators, otters and turtles, indicate something of the abundant wildlife that occupies this natural habitat, while "cypress knees" provide the 150 yard markers.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance.
Contact club for full details, discounts, packages. [Last updated: 2024].
Walking permitted at all times. Golf carts are fitted with GPS.
Excellent
The Atchafalaya at Idlewild is a member of Louisiana's Audubon Golf Trail. The Trail was established in 2001, and includes 18 of the best public-access courses in the state. [See our entry for Audubon Park (Did You Know section) for a list of the Audubon Golf Trail courses].
The golf course at Atchafalaya is located less than 3 miles from the Atchafalaya river, the name of which derives from the Native American Choctaw language, hacha (river) and falaia (long). Flowing through south central Louisiana, the Atchafalaya is a 170-mile long distributary of the Mississippi river.
The river creates the Atchafalaya Basin, the USA's largest river swamp, which contains almost a million acres of swamps, bayous and backwater lakes. The Atchfalaya river is navigable, providing a significant industrial shipping channel for the state of Louisiana, as well as the cultural heart of the Cajun Country.
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
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Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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