NEW ORLEANS —An amendment introduced on Tuesday at the State Capitol would effectively bar the relocation of the Zurich Classic PGA tournament to City Park as a condition for state funding of a new City Park golf course. It is not known who introduced the amendment to HB2, which came in the waning days of the 2014 legislative session, though the move clearly favors interests in Jefferson Parish, where the tournament is currently staged.

If passed, HB2 would provide more than $9 million that would be used to rehabilitate the golf facilities at City Park. But the amendment would make it extremely difficult for the new golf complex to attract the biggest golf event in the New Orleans area.

The amendment reads, in part: "Due to the State's current investment in TPC Louisiana and the financial support it provides to the PGA TOUR event currently played at said facility, the funding of the City Park Golf Complex Improvements project... is conditioned upon said PGA TOUR event not being played at New Orleans City Park Golf Complex without prior agreement of the Commissioner of Administration and the Jefferson Parish Council."

When contacted Tuesday afternoon, a City Hall spokesman said the Landrieu Administration was just becoming aware of the development.

City Council President Stacy Head said she was "clearly opposed" to the language that was added to the bill.

“I am stunned that a Senator from the Greater New Orleans Region would take such a pointedly aggressive approach to harm City Park, which is one of the most important parks to our region," she said. "This could result in a major blow to the Greater New Orleans Region should the PGA, if ever dissatisfied with the TPC, need to move the tournament to another high-quality course.”

The Bayou District Foundation, a non-profit group that will manage the City Park golf complex, is aware of the amendment but did not wish to comment.

State Rep. Nick Lorusso, whose district includes City Park, told the WDSU I-Team he was addressing the matter in Baton Rouge.

The TPC of Louisiana, in Avondale, has hosted the Zurich Classic each spring since 2007, though the event has taken place at several courses in the metro area over the years.

Officials overseeing the City Park project hope to build a championship-caliber course -- one which could prove enticing to the PGA.

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