On course

Mississippi Business Journal, The, May 19, 2008 by Jeter, Lynne

It's difficult to thumb through a national golf magazine without seeing Mississippi golf courses mentioned throughout the glossy pages.

"Mississippi is increasingly becoming known as the nation's best golf-and-gaming destination," said Janet Leach, director of golf for Mississippi Development Authority Tourism Division. "It's the third-largest gaming g destination in the U.S. after Vegas and Atlantic City and it has the best combination of golf courses and value to complement the dozens of casino resorts throughout the state."

In the March 8 edition of Golfweek, "America's Best Courses You Can Play" in 2008 included five acclaimed courses in Mississippi: Beau Rivage's Fallen Oak Golf Club, Grand Casino Biloxi's Grand Bear Golf Club, Pearl River Resort's Dancing Rabbit Golf Club (Azaleas and Oaks) and Shell Landing Golf Club. Three are Landing located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; two are in Neshoba County.

"The casino industry has helped bring some truly first-class golf courses to the top-notch, state," said MDA Tourism director Craig Ray, noting that Grand Casino Resort Tunica, as part of its 10th-anniversary season, is upgrading its course design at Links at Cottonwoods, voted a "Top 40 Casino Course in the U.S". by Golf Digest.

Fallen Oak also made another impressive list: "America's Best New Courses for 2007." After being sidelined by Hurricane Katrina damage, the Beau Rivage amenity opened last year on a 510-acre tract adjacent to Desoto National Forest. Patterned after its sister course, Shadow Creek at MGM Mirage in Las Vegas, the 7,480-yard course features 10 bridges over lakes, winding streams and wetlands.

Natural resources

The Preserve Golf Club in Vancleave ranked sixth in Golf Digest's "America's Best New Bargains" in the $75 and Over category. The 1,800-acre Sandhill Crane Refuge and Nature Conservancy borders The Preserve's 245 acres, while Old Fort Bayou hugs the east side of the course.

Golf Digest singled out The Dogwoods at Hugh White State Park in Grenada as "America's Best New Bargain," noting that "whoever said you get what you pay for hasn't played The Dogwoods." Cost: $39, with cart. Golf Digest added The Dogwoods represented "the highest rated course with the lowest green fee on our ... Under $75 list."

A $150-million industry in the state, golf is an invaluable drawing g card for tourism, luring golfers to the courses year-round. "We have over 150 golf courses in the state, and 100 of them are open to the public, which is a really great thing for golfers to have so many choices," said Ray.

However, according to MDA Tourism's FY07 report, there are only two references to golf. Estimated tourism employment is 898, a 4.1% increase over FY06, and estimated tourism payroll is $15.1 million, compared to $14.4 million the previous fiscal year.

"These numbers only reflect public courses," said Leach. "With private course data, you'd really see the dramatic impact golf has on state tourism."

Musical match

To parlay y the state's golfing success to its newest tourism tool, MDA Tourism has been promoting g the Mississippi Blues Trail in its golf marketing material, encouraging golfers to add the Blues Trail to their itineraries.

Last summer, Magic Sam's historical marker was unveiled in Grenada near The Dogwoods, and Howlin' Wolf's marker was established in West Point near Old Waverly Golf Club, which hosted an LPGA tour event and has been a fixture on favorites lists in golf publications.

(In its biennial ranking g of "America's Greatest Courses State by State" for 2007-08, Golf Digest gave Old Waverly the highest ranking in Mississippi.) Other blues immortals are highlighted near Mississippi's golf courses.

"When you couple the Blues Trail with the fact that Mississippi is a leading golf and entertainment destination, you begin to realize the range of unforgettable experiences from which visitors can choose," said Gov. Haley Barbour.