Latest Acclaim for Magnolia State which Features Five Distinct Golf Regions, World-Class Gaming, Year-Round ‘Golf Weather’ and Inimitable Southern Hospitality
(JACKSON, Mississippi) – The Mississippi Development Authority today announces that three state golf clubs – Fallen Oak, Dancing Rabbit and Grand Bear – have been accorded elite status from GOLF Magazine and its “Top 100 Courses You Can Play 2008-2009” list.
The Top 100 list is derived from ratings submitted by a team of GOLF Magazine best-of panelists who scour the country to evaluate the best public-access courses, of which there are roughly 14,000. The biennial list is included in the September 2008 edition of the magazine, which will be available on newsstands beginning Aug. 11.
Making its debut on the acclaimed list, Fallen Oak Golf Club (No. 29) is an amenity of the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi and designed by Golf Course Architect Tom Fazio. Located 15 miles north of the Beau Rivage on a 510-acre tract, Fallen Oak runs adjacent to the DeSoto National Forest. Fallen Oak is a “sister” course to Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, both are MGM Mirage Resorts properties.
Fallen Oak opened in November 2006 and it measures 7,480 yards from the tips. The course is characterized by lush, rolling landscape covered in oak and pine ridges, magnolias, pecan groves, large lakes, winding streams and wetlands. It features 10 bridges and concealed cart paths to protect the terrain’s natural features.
Dancing Rabbit, the 36-hole masterpiece co-designed by Fazio and Jerry Pate and owned/operated by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, came in at No. 32, maintaining the spot it garnered two years ago in the 2005-2006 list.
The Azaleas and Oaks courses at Dancing Rabbit are one of many amenities of the Pearl River Resort in Philadephia, Miss. The courses are defined by immaculate conditions and inspired routing, rolling out over a combined 14,000 yards. Secluded among ancient pines and hardwoods, each of the par 72 masterpieces embraces the gently rolling hills and valleys indigenous to the region. Over two miles of spring-fed creeks and streams weave their way through the lush setting, lending both challenge and beauty to the picturesque environment.
Grand Bear, the scintillating Jack Nicklaus design in Saucier on the Gulf Coast, was rated No. 92 by GOLF. One of the many amenities of the Harrah’s-owned Grand Casino Biloxi, Grand Bear repeats on the list from 2006-07, an impressive feat considering 11 newcomers debuted on this year’s version.
The scenic, always well-conditioned course has consistently been lauded since opening for its extreme playability, strategic routing and unspoiled setting amid the dense pines of Desoto National Forest.
“Mississippi is extremely pleased that Grand Bear, Fallen Oak and Dancing Rabbit have received this national honor,” says D. Craig Ray, Director of the Mississippi Development Authority Tourism Division. “They are representative of the excellent golf found in our great state.”
For more information about these courses or to schedule a visit to Mississippi, call toll-free to 866-801-8551 or go to www.visitmississippi.org and receive a free Golf Travel Guide.
For information about Grand Bear call 1.888.5.BILOXI, or visit www.harrahs.com/golf/GrandBear/.
Fallen Oak is available exclusively for guests of Beau Rivage. To information about the golf club call 1.877.805.4657 or visit www.beaurivage.com.
For information about Dancing Rabbit call 1.888.DRABBIT, 601-663-0011 or visit www.dancingrabbitgolf.com.
About Mississippi Golf
* Attractions contributing to Mississippi’s growing popularity as the preferred golf-and-travel destination include:
* Great year-round weather and direct flights from major carriers;
* More than 150 courses that offer 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 gourmet cuisine, Birthplace of the Blues and the Blues Trail, and luxurious casino resorts offering marquee entertainment and many other amenities;
* Family-themed attractions;
* Widespread acclaim from the annual Viking Classic PGA Tour golf tournament held near the state capital in Jackson; and,
* History and architecture, including stunning Antebellum Era mansions turned award-winning B&B venues.
Contact:
Dan Shepherd, 703.891.3320, Buffalo Communications, dshepherd@billycaspergolf.com
