800 Panelists Rated Hundreds of Courses in Order to Identify Excellence
(JACKSON, Mississippi) – The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) Division of Tourism today announces that 10 golf courses in the Magnolia State have been cited for excellence in Golf Digest Magazine’s biennial ranking of the "America’s Greatest Courses State by State 2007-08."
The courses are:
No. 1 – Old Waverly (West Point), designed by Bob Cupp and Jerry Pate, hosted U.S Women’s Open won by Juli Inkster and U.S.G.A. 2006 Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship
No. 2 – Dancing Rabbit, Azaleas Course (Philadelphia), designed by Tom Fazio and Jerry Pate, amenity of the Pearl River Resort annually hosts a Hooters Tour event
No. 3 – Canebrake (Hattiesburg), designed by Jerry Pate, features a variety of hole types no two of which are redundant
No. 4 – Hattiesburg Country Club, has hosted many prominent, nationally recognized events
No. 5 – Annandale Country Club (Jackson), hosts the state’s annual PGA Tour stop, the Viking Classic
No. 6 – Grand Bear (Saucier), designed by Jack Nicklaus, an amenity of Harrah’s Grand Casino Biloxi
No. 7 – Dancing Rabbit, Oaks Course (Philadelphia), designed by Tom Fazio and Jerry Pate
No. 8 – Shell Landing (Gautier), designed by Davis Love III, unspoiled natural beauty and environmental sensitivity are hallmarks of the modern design
No. 9 – Laurel Country Club (Laurel), classical era design with fast, challenging, elevated greens
No. 10 – Colonial Country Club (Jackson), rolling terrain and some water hazards are elements which golfers must contend with at this venerable layout in the state’s Capital-River region
Golf Digest’s biennial best-in-state rankings are determined by the magazine’s course rating panelists, a group of more than 800 low-handicap golfers who rated thousands of U.S. courses on a 10-point scale in various criteria. These updated state-by-state rankings appear in the April 2007 issue of Golf Digest which is currently on newsstands.
"Mississippi is delighted to have our courses recognized for their excellence by Golf Digest Magazine," says Mississippi Development Authority Tourism Division Director D. Craig Ray. "We hope this will motivate golfers to visit our great state and discover why Mississippi is rapidly becoming known as one of the best golf destinations."
About Mississippi Golf
Mississippi’s 2007 Golf Guide is live and can be viewed by visiting http://www.visitmississippi.org/golf/ and clicking on the ONLINE GOLF GUIDE icon.
The state’s 2007 Golf Guide lists information about courses, accommodations and package information, including breaking down the info into Mississippi’s five diverse topographical and cultural regions:
The Delta – birthplace of the Blues and comprised of Northwestern flatlands
The Hills – home of gently rolling, Northeastern landscapes
The Pines – located in the Central-East part of the state and blanketed with quiet forests
The Capital/River – with its winding waterways and rich history in the state’s Central-Southwest
The Coastal – located in the South and featuring the Gulf of Mexico’s sparkling water and beaches
Mississippi’s is the nation’s greatest golf-and-gaming tourism destination thanks to the more than two dozen resort casinos throughout the state, many with acclaimed golf clubs as amenities.
Several more resorts, casinos and new courses opened in 2006 and others are slated to debut in 2007.
These include:
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi (Summer 2007 scheduled opening)
The Preserve Golf Club, a Jerry Pate design and amenity of the Palace Casino
Fallen Oak, a Tom Fazio design and amenity of Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
The Dogwoods at Hugh White State Park (Gary Roger Baird design), one of three top-notch courses found in state parks (Mallard Point and Quail Hollow are others)
Attractions contributing to Mississippi’s growing popularity as a preferred golf-and-travel destination are:
Great year-round weather and direct flights from major carriers
More than 150 courses offering all price points and design varieties in five distinct regions
New and existing courses designed by top golf course architects that garner national recognition
World-famous cuisine, blues music and luxurious casino resorts offering big-name entertainment
Family-themed attractions of all types
Widespread acclaim from the annual PGA Tour golf tournament held in Jackson
History, heritage and architecture, including Antebellum Era mansions turned award-winning B&B venues.
In addition to being annually acclaimed for its great golf courses and other tourism attractions, Mississippi has collected a slew of distinctions recently. For instance, ZAGAT Survey, Golf Digest, Golfweek and Golf magazines have previously rated Mississippi courses as some of the best in the nation.
For more information about Mississippi golf, gaming and other tourism opportunities call 1-866-801-8551 or visit www.visitmississippi.org.
Contact:
Dan Shepherd, 703-891-3320
Buffalo Communications, dshepherd@billycaspergolf.com
