Birthplace of "America’s Music" Offers Magnolia State Visitors One-of- a-Kind Attraction
(JACKSON, Mississippi) – Already known as the nation’s best golf-and- gaming destination – it’s the third-largest gaming destination in the U.S. after Vegas and Atlantic City and has the best golf courses and value to complement the dozens of casino resorts throughout the state – Mississippi is now home to the Mississippi Blues Trail.
‘The blues are a powerful part of Mississippi’s heritage and contribute to our appeal as the ‘Birthplace of America’s Music.’ 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 Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour.
Visitors can now add the Mississippi Blues Trail to their itineraries, and golf-and-gaming aficionados will find the trail is the perfect pre- or post-round complement to experience the Magnolia State given the proximity of top golf courses in the state to Blues Trail sites.
The Mississippi Blues Commission has identified more than 130 musicians and sites to be honored along the trail, of which the first
16 have been unveiled. The trail will span from northern Mississippi in the Delta Region at the gateway of Highway 61 – where blues pioneer Robert Johnson legendarily made his deal with the Devil at the crossroads – to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Next week two more notable blues legends, Magic Sam and Howlin’ Wolf,
will be honored by the state and join the Mississippi Blues Trail.
Those unveilings will take place as follows:
Magic Sam, Grenada, MS, Tuesday, August 28, 10:00 AM Howlin’ Wolf, West Point, MS, Thursday, August 30, 1:30 PM
Grenada is home to The Dogwoods Golf Course at Hugh White State Park, a brand-new Gary Roger Baird design which is quickly earning must- play accolades from golfers and media critics alike. Given its high- quality, The Dogwoods offers astoundingly low greens fees ($39 with cart, $29 with cart for seniors/60 and over) and would fetch double or triple those prices in other, denser areas of the country. (The Dogwoods is nestled in a vast state park with the Huge Lake Grenada at its center and acres upon acres of unspoiled natural terrain, flora, fauna and wildlife.)
And West Point is where Old Waverly Golf Club is found. Old Waverly Golf Club (designed by Bob Cupp and Jerry Pate) has been named a member of Golf Digest magazine’s elite "America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses" and hosted the 1999 U.S. Women’s Open won by Juli Inkster.
(A private club, Old Waverly offers stay-play-and-dine privileges to visitors who stay in one of the on-course villas or condo units.)
Other blues immortals highlighted on the Mississippi Blues Trail ( www.msbluestrail.org ) include Jimmie Rodgers (in Meridian), Robert Johnson (Greenwood), Muddy Waters (Stovall), Son House (Tunica) and Willie Dixon (Vicksburg).
A visit to the Trail sites for Son House in Tunica and Willie Dixon in Vicksburg are conveniently located near numerous casinos and resorts with affiliated golf courses, including the Hale Irwin- designed Cottonwoods Golf Club (Grand Casino Tunica amenity), Mark McCumber-designed Tunica National Golf & Tennis Club and Riverbend Links, which is adjacent to one-half dozen Vegas style casinos in Tunica.
Illustrating the natural fit between the state’s golf, gaming and Blues Trail sites, the five Mississippi golf courses cited for excellence in Golf Digest Magazine’s first-ever ranking of its "Top-40 Casino Courses" nationwide (July 2007 issue) are all located near Mississippi Blues Trail sites.
The five Mississippi casino courses singled out for distinction were:
Grand Bear (No. 7, Jack Nicklaus-designed amenity of Harrah’s Grand Casino Biloxi) Dancing Rabbit Azaleas Course (No. 11, Tom Fazio-Jerry Pate design, Pearl River Resort in Philadelphia) Dancing Rabbit Oaks Course (No. 18, Fazio-Pate design, Pearl River Resort in Philadelphia, MS) The Bridges at Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis (No. 32, the state’s only Arnold Palmer design) Links at Cottonwoods (No. 36, Hale Irwin design, Grand Casino Resort
Tunica)
A sixth and seventh pair of casino-affiliated courses on the Gulf Coast – Fallen Oak (Tom Fazio design, amenity of the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino) and The Preserve (Jerry Pate, Palace Casino) – are brand new and therefore weren’t open in time to be considered for the best-of list when it was unveiled. However, both are considered strong candidates for the next iteration of Golf Digest’s Top-40 Casino Courses list.
About Mississippi Golf
Mississippi’s 2007 Golf Guide is live and can be viewed by visiting 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
Attractions contributing to Mississippi’s growing popularity as a preferred destination are:
Great year-round weather and direct flights from major carriers World-famous southern hospitality Cuisine, music and luxurious casino resorts offering big-name entertainment Beaches, parks, wildlife trails and family-themed attractions of all types 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 visitwww.visitmississippi.org.
Contact:
Dan Shepherd, 703-891-3320
Buffalo Communications, dshepherd@billycaspergolf.com