4801 General de Gaulle Drive,
New Orleans, Louisiana LA 70131
The Course:
18 holes. Open parkland. Relatively flat terrain - easy to walk.
Surroundings:
Parkland and residential
Designer:
Original design by Robert Bruce Harris (1961). Redesigned by Ron Garl (2008).
29.914727
-90.005364
6 miles SE of downtown New Orleans
Lakewood, La.
Lakewood Golf Club: After being ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, the "rebirth of this legend" has further enhanced New Orleans' growing reputation as a great golf destination (and one of the most interesting and lively cities in North America).
The rebirth and complete course redesign included two fascinating features. With many hurricane damaged trees around the now quite open course, a wood-carver was commissioned to create life-like sculptures from some of the tree trunks. It's almost worth paying a green fee just to see these carvings ( ... amazing what an artist can do with a chain-saw).
After the hurricane, the new owners (the Fire Dept Pension Fund), put out the threat of the course's extinction, while putting into the new layout several flame-shaped, fiery-red bunkers. This signature bunkering is found at the par-5 1st and par-4 18th, while a Fleur-de-Lys and a Maltese Cross also feature in the bunker design.
Fairway-flanking sandy waste areas and several small ponds will also need to be avoided, not least at the par-3 17th, surrounded by water on three sides. New tree planting will help break-up the openness of this relatively flat and open course, adding to its overall look and challenge.
Housing is only found on one section of the course perimeter of this classic and well-maintained parkland course. Lakewood Country Club may have taken a battering in the mid-2000s, but it bounced back in fine style as Lakewood Gold Club.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance.
Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2024].
Walking permitted at certain times (check with Pro Shop for information).
Limited
Well before Hurricane Katrina struck in late-August 2005, the private Lakewood Country Club was on the verge of bankruptcy. In May 2003 the property was bought by the New Orleans Firemen's Pension and Relief Fund for $6 million.
The Fund commissioned a full renovation of the course, which after enduring Hurricane Katrina along the way, eventually cost something close to $9 million. The course re-opened in 2009 as a public-access facility under its new name, Lakewood Golf Club.
No
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.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
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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