citypark
by Ryne Berthelot
The push to bring golf back to the forefront of City
Park has cleared another hurdle, with irrigation and
drainage installation commencing, according to City
Park CEO Bob Becker. There’s a chance, Becker says,
that the new championship-level golf course may arrive
as early as 2016.
“They have until 2017,” Becker said. “But the
contractor wants to finish early, so there’s an outside
chance that the course could be completed by late
2016.”
Progress on the new golf course at City Park in
New Orleans continues on schedule. Not only are the
irrigation and drainage systems being put into place, but
the shaping of the course itself as well.
The new course will boast five different sets of tee
boxes, with the exceptional length of the course being
its signature, along with the utilization of the local flora
and fauna being another key aspect. The live oaks
seen throughout City Park will make an appearance,
lining several fairways along the course. But Becker
emphasized the course’s ability to suit the level of any
player, albeit with some growing pains along the way.
“The five tee boxes will suit players of every skill
level, but the greens will be tough for some.”
Becker has stated in the past that the goal of the new
course was not to attract the Zurich Classic like some
have estimated, but rather to grow the golf community
in New Orleans and bring revenue back into City Park.
Robert Brown, the CEO of Gulf States Section
PGA, added that the entire community would benefit
from the golf course.
https://vimeo.com/152330477
“The work the Bayou District Foundation is doing
to revitalize the golf courses will have a positive impact
on the entire community, not just golf. Golf ’s core
values include honesty, integrity, and character – these
values will become a part of the fabric of the City Park
community,” Brown said.
The staff of City Park has not only been committed
to the construction of the new course, but the existing
course as well. The course within the confines of City
Park has begun “greens rehab,” as Becker puts it.
“Players have played on secondary greens for the last
few weeks while we rebuild the normal greens,” Becker
said.
Brown thinks that the long term effects the course
will have on New Orleans will only add to the charm
and mystique of the city.
“The recreation, fellowship, and revenue that will
flow from their efforts will be felt for years to come. It
can’t open soon enough.”