Activities

Golf in New Orleans: The Large Group Guide

TPC Louisiana, Audubon, City Park, English Turn — how to book tee times for 16+ players, set up a scramble, and structure a full golf day for a NOLA group trip.

Last updated: June 2026

New Orleans is a legitimate golf city. Not a “there’s a course if you look for it” city. A city with a PGA Tour stop, multiple strong public options, and weather that makes early morning rounds exceptional for most of the year.

If golf is on the agenda for your group trip, this is not the place to half-commit. Book it properly. Structure the day around it. The golf alone can carry a full day — activity in the morning, recovery and pool in the afternoon, bar and dinner at night. That’s a perfect large-group day.

Quick Checklist

Book tee times 3–4 weeks out for TPC Louisiana on weekends — it books fast
Call courses directly for groups of 16+ — online booking rarely handles large group reservations well
For groups larger than 20, you may need to split across two tee times (shotgun or back-to-back)
Confirm cart availability for your full group count
Scramble format is the move for mixed-skill groups — keeps the pace and the fun
Arrange post-round logistics before you leave — Ubers for 16+ people don’t just appear
Tee off early (7–8 AM) from May through September — the heat is real by 11 AM
Confirm the course dress code — TPC Louisiana enforces one

The Courses

TPC Louisiana

The premier course in the region. Host of the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans every spring — a legitimate, world-class course that hosts real professional golf.

What you get: 7,500-yard Pete Dye design. Bermuda fairways, water everywhere, the kind of layout that reminds you what serious golf looks like. It’s not punishing for recreational players but it is unmistakably a championship facility.

For large groups: TPC Louisiana can accommodate group outings. This is the course to call first and get pricing directly for group rates — corporate and social group bookings are part of their business. For a group trip where the golf round is the main event, this is the move. You’ll talk about it for the next five trips.

Distance from the city: About 25 miles from the French Quarter, roughly 30–40 minutes depending on traffic. Not a walk-out-the-door situation — factor in transportation logistics.

Best time to go: March through May or October through November. Avoid August if you can; even early morning gets brutal.

Audubon Golf Course

A public course inside Audubon Park in Uptown. Bermuda grass, oak-lined fairways, legitimately beautiful setting.

What you get: 18-hole public course with a walking culture — Audubon is one of the few courses in the region where many locals choose to walk rather than cart. Friendly pace, scenic, unpretentious. Adjacent to the Audubon Zoo and the park’s running and cycling paths.

For large groups: Strong option for groups that want a more relaxed round. Easier booking than TPC Louisiana, lower price point, and the location means you’re already in one of the best neighborhoods in the city when you finish. Magazine Street, Camellia Grill, and Uptown bars are all nearby.

Best for: Groups where skill levels vary widely, groups that want the activity without the full tournament experience, groups combining golf with a morning Uptown neighborhood exploration.

City Park Golf Courses

City Park has multiple courses. The Bayou Oaks facility at City Park is one of the largest public golf facilities in the South — four courses total, ranging from a full 18-hole championship course to shorter par-3 layouts.

What you get: Maximum flexibility. If some guys want a serious round and others want something casual, City Park can accommodate both at the same time on different courses. The championship course is a strong track; the par-3 courses are good for groups with beginners or people who just want to swing clubs without committing to four hours.

For large groups: City Park’s scale makes it genuinely large-group friendly. Multiple courses, high volume capacity, ample tee time availability compared to private and semi-private facilities. Good value.

Best for: Budget-conscious groups, mixed-skill groups, groups with some first-timers who’d rather play a par-3 course, any group that wants flexibility without the premium price.

English Turn Golf & Country Club

Semi-private club in a suburban location south of the city, near Belle Chasse. Jack Nicklaus–designed course. Named for the historic bend in the Mississippi River where, legend has it, British forces were turned back.

What you get: A proper private-club experience without requiring membership for group outings. Well-maintained facility, excellent conditions, the Nicklaus design has character. Less overtly “resort golf” than TPC, more “serious private club.”

For large groups: Worth a call to inquire about group outings. They accommodate outside events. The location is more of a commitment from the city — factor that into your day’s structure.

Best for: Groups that prefer a quieter, more private-club atmosphere over a high-traffic public resort.

Course Comparison

Course	Type	Distance from City	Best For	Group-Friendly
TPC Louisiana	Championship, semi-private	~30 min	Bucket-list round, serious golfers	Yes — call for group rates
Audubon Golf Course	Public	In Uptown	Mixed skill, walkable, scenic	Yes — moderate volume
City Park (Bayou Oaks)	Public, multiple courses	15 min (Mid-City)	Flexibility, value, beginners	Very — highest capacity
English Turn	Semi-private	~35 min south	Private-club atmosphere	Yes — inquire directly

Booking Tee Times for 16+ Players

Online booking systems are designed for foursomes. If your group is 16 people, you’re booking four tee times — and those four times need to be consecutive or in a shotgun format. Most booking portals don’t handle this gracefully.

The right approach:

Call the pro shop directly. Tell them your group size, your date, your ideal tee time window. Ask about group tee time or group outing policies. Most courses have a process for this.
Book as a group outing if available. For groups of 20+, many courses offer a formalized group outing structure — you may get a dedicated tee window, group pricing, on-course beverage service, and a scoring system for the format.
Book consecutive tee times if a full outing isn’t available. Four foursomes with 8–10 minute spacing work fine. Your group ends up fairly spread across the course but you’re all finishing together.
Ask about shotgun starts. On slower days, some courses will put your full group on different holes simultaneously. Everyone starts at the same time, everyone finishes roughly at the same time. Better group experience, better pace.
Be honest about skill level. If you’re bringing 8 players who haven’t played in two years, tell the pro shop. They can steer you toward a more forgiving course or tee time when pace isn’t a concern.

Scramble Format: The Right Move for Mixed Groups

If your group has mixed skill levels — and most do — run a scramble. Everyone hits, the group picks the best shot and plays from there. Even the worst golfer in your group contributes something. Nobody gets left behind. The round stays fun, the pace stays reasonable.

How to run it:

Divide your group into foursomes by mixing skill levels — one strong player per team keeps it competitive
Everyone tees off; group selects the best drive and all four hit from that spot
Repeat until the ball is holed
Track total score per team — post it on a running leaderboard through the round

Side bets: Works great with a scramble. Team vs. team, low score per nine holes, closest to the pin on par 3s. Keeps everyone invested even when the round isn’t going perfectly.

Alternative formats for mixed groups:

Format	How It Works	Best When
Scramble	Best ball each shot, all play from there	Wide skill range, relaxed vibe
Best Ball	Each player plays their own ball, best score counts	More competitive, all players decent
Stableford	Points system based on score vs. par	Groups with official handicaps
Skins	Hole-by-hole purse, lowest score wins the hole	Small side bet, intense focus on individual holes

The Golf Day Structure

This is how you run it cleanly.

Morning (6:30 – 12:00)

6:30 AM — Coffee and light breakfast at the house. Do not eat a full meal before a round in summer heat.

7:00 AM — Depart for the course. This is why transportation logistics matter the night before.

7:30 AM — Arrive, check in, warm up, first tee. Early tee time beats the heat by at least an hour on warm-weather trips.

11:30 AM — Finish the round. Grab a beer in the clubhouse. Celebrate/argue about the results.

12:00 PM — Depart back to the house or lunch stop.

Post-Round: The Return to Civilization

The round is done. Half your group is sore. The other half is already talking about their highlight shot. Everyone needs food and cold beer.

Option 1: Lunch near the course. If you’re at TPC Louisiana, you’re 30 minutes south of the city — ask the pro shop for the move nearby. If you’re at Audubon or City Park, you’re already in the middle of solid neighborhoods with good options.

Option 2: Return to the house. Order food delivered, decompress by the pool, transition to the afternoon naturally. This is often the better call for a large group — the logistics of getting 16+ people into a restaurant post-round without a reservation is its own adventure.

Option 3: Post-round bar stop. A nearby bar with outdoor seating, cold beer, and pub food. Works especially well when you’re already in Uptown after Audubon — Magazine Street and the surrounding neighborhood offers multiple options.

Post-Round Bar Stops by Course Location

Course	Direction	Good Nearby Stop
Audubon	Uptown / Magazine Street	Walk to any bar or restaurant on Magazine St
City Park	Mid-City	Head to the Mid-City bar corridor on Canal or Esplanade
TPC Louisiana	Westbank / suburban	Drive back to the city; plan a destination stop
English Turn	Belle Chasse area	Drive back to the city; plan a destination stop

For groups returning to the city from TPC Louisiana or English Turn, the post-round stop is usually wherever your evening plans are anchored. The drive back is part of the decompression.

Weather and Season Planning

Season	Golf Conditions	Notes
October – November	Excellent	Perfect temperatures, best light, not crowded
December – February	Variable	Cool to cold mornings; some great rounds, some miserable ones
March – May	Excellent	Festival season — book accommodations and tee times early
June – September	Hot and humid	Early tee times only; afternoon rounds are punishment

The sweet spot for a golf-centered group trip is October through May. If your trip is in summer and you want a round, commit to the 7 AM tee time. No exceptions.

Pro Tips

Book tee times before you book anything else. TPC Louisiana weekend tee times are the first thing that disappears when groups start planning. Lock the round, then plan everything else around it.
One person handles the golf logistics. Same rule as the trip overall — committee decisions on 16-player tee time arrangements don’t work. Designate one person, give them the authority to make the call, and trust it.
Bring cash for tips and drinks. The beverage cart is cash-only at many courses. You don’t want to be that group.
Don’t over-plan the afternoon. A morning round of golf for 16 people is plenty for one day. Leave the afternoon open for pool, recovery, and organic hangout. You’ll be more tired than you think.
The scramble saves the round. If one guy in your group hasn’t played in two years, the scramble format means he’s never an anchor and he’s always having fun. Don’t let one person’s skill level drag the vibe.
Plan the tee time for the earliest reasonable window. This is not negotiable in summer, and in other seasons it gives you a full afternoon. Nobody regrets finishing the round at noon.
Get shoes right. Dress code at TPC Louisiana and English Turn is real — soft spikes required, no denim, collared shirts. City Park and Audubon are much more relaxed. Confirm before you pack.

Where to Stay for a Golf Group Trip

The post-round home base is where the golf trip lives between the tee box and the bar. You want a pool, a kitchen for breakfast prep, and enough space that 16–20 people aren’t on top of each other.

Castleday Retreats — Three private villas in the Bywater, each sleeping up to 30. Private pools, full kitchens, completely private. The Cocodrie has the best outdoor setup — pool, outdoor seating, the kind of space where post-round beers turn into a full evening. The Herald has the largest common areas for a group that wants to spread out and debrief. For a large golf group that wants to cook breakfast before the round and come back to a real space after, Castleday is purpose-built for this.

The Syd — Multiple villas in the Lower Garden District, each sleeping up to 22. Shared heated pool, hot tub, sauna, outdoor kitchen. One block from the St. Charles Streetcar, which means easy access to Audubon if you want to skip Ubers. The shared amenities make The Syd feel more like a resort compound than a rental — good for groups where the social gathering is as important as the round itself.

Both are better than scattered hotel rooms in every respect that matters for a golf group: there’s a kitchen for early breakfast, a pool for the afternoon, and one central place to gather that doesn’t require tipping a bartender.

Plan Your Golf Trip

Castleday Retreats — Private villas in the Bywater, up to 30 guests, private pools
The Syd — Lower Garden District, up to 22 guests, shared pool and hot tub