English Turn Golf & Country Club

English Turn Golf & Country Club: Located close to a historic bend in the Mississippi River, the high-end residential development of English Turn is home to one of Louisiana's finest championship golf courses - this immaculately maintained Jack Nicklaus design is laid out on relatively flat, open terrain, with mansion-sized housing kept at a safe distance around the perimeter, separated by a canal that encircles the course - the layout comprises two excellent nine-hole loops played on either side of a luxurious, plantation-style clubhouse - water here is in plentiful supply and typically lines one side of most holes - should you miss the gently mounded, good-width fairways, a wonderful array of bunkering and expansive sandy waste areas also lie in wait - although you'll not see the Mississippi itself, this challenging course will keep you fully occupied - among a raft of excellently crafted holes, the closing pair could cause you most trouble, especially if attempted from the back-tees - the par-3 17th is played diagonally across water to a well bunkered green; the long par-4 18th requires a testing drive over a small, hole-skirting lake to find the safety of the fairway - across the lake, an older-style dwelling may give the impression that English Turn was once a plantation home, but in truth only Louisiana swamp existed here before the prestigious development arrived in the late 1980s - although originally a strictly private facility, some outside visitor play is now possible at this excellent course.