Magnolia State Casino Resorts Take Five of Top 10 Spots Including the Top Three
(JACKSON, Mississippi) – The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) Division of Tourism today announces five casino courses cited for distinction from Southern Gaming Destinations Magazine as “Top 10 Casino Courses” are located in the Magnolia State – the nation’s top golf-and-gaming destination.
The Mississippi casino courses singled out for distinction are below with their rank in parentheses and the magazine’s description of each:
Dancing Rabbit Golf Club’s Azaleas and Oaks courses (No. 1 out of 10)
Pearl River Resort (Philadelphia, Miss.)
1-866-44-PEARL • dancingrabbitgolf.com
Together, Dancing Rabbit Golf Club’s courses, The Azaleas and The Oaks, roll out over 14,000 breath-taking yards. All told, more than 700 spectacular acres are dedicated solely to the game and tradition of golf. Nestled quietly among ancient pines and hardwoods, each of these par 72 masterpieces embraces the gently rolling hills and valleys indigenous to this part of the world. Meanwhile, more than two miles of spring-fed creeks and streams weave their way through the lush Bermuda and Zoysia fairways and bentgrass greens, lending both challenge and beauty to the picturesque environment. The creation of internationally renowned golf course designer Tom Fazio and PGA great Jerry Pate, each of the 36 dramatic golf holes bears their indelible mark, while still retaining the character and grandeur of the great Southern woodlands from which they were masterfully carved.
Fallen Oak Golf Club (No. 2)
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino (Biloxi)
1-877-805-4657 • FallenOak.com
When Tom Fazio agreed to create a golf course for Beau Rivage, he wanted to create an experience that rivaled Shadow Creek inLas Vegas and Augusta National in Georgia. He felt he accomplished just that. After receiving many accolades and awards including a spot in the Top 20 of Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses, Fallen Oak is a golfer’s paradise and THE sure bet of the South. The course is exclusively for guests of Beau Rivage and boasts dramatic elevation changes, more than 4,000 stately oaks, magnolias and other hard wood trees and is interspersed with ponds, streams and wetlands. The attention to detail is noticed throughout the course, from the immaculate practice facility to the remote feeling on the course as it was designed so that golfers won’t see other holes or golfers throughout the round.
Grand Bear Golf Course (No. 3)
Harrah’s Grand Casino Biloxi
1-800-946-2946 • GrandCasinoBiloxi.com
This 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course is among the South’s most spectacular. Beautiful and challenging, the course navigates through natural cypress wetlands and towering pines, with packed pine needle rough, championship greens and deep bunkers set over 650 acres of rolling land in the piney woods of the DeSoto National Forest. The Bermuda layout features five different sets of tees, a 5,000-square-foot clubhouse and is bordered by two rivers lined with sand beaches and the Mississippiwetlands.
The Preserve Golf Club (No. 5)
Palace Casino Resort (Biloxi)
1-877-674-6539 • PreserveGC.com
The Preserve Golf Club is 18 holes of “pure golf” designed by U.S. Open champion and award-winning golf course designer Jerry Pate. The course encompasses 245 pristine acres, surrounded by an additional 1,800 acres of dedicated nature preserve. The native surroundings of pitcher plant bogs, cypress swamps, long leaf pine savannah, live oak groves and native grass prairies have been integrated into the design of the 18-hole, par-71 layout. The Preserve offers five sets of tees, unprecedented course condition and superior guest service.
The Links at Cottonwoods (No. 7)
Harrah’s Grand Casino Tunica
1-800-946-4946 • HarrahsCasinoTunica.com
The Links at Cottonwoods was built to honor the rich history and tradition of the game of golf. Designed by Hale Irwin, this links-style course features amazing landscaping, three lakes and holes inspired by numerous British Open courses. The fairways are wide, offering different angles into large putting surfaces that are broken up by bold ridges, swales and mounds. The openness of the course exposes the golfers to the strong seasonal winds whipping across the Mississippi cotton fields. Voted Best Golf by the 2007 Casino Player Awards, The Links at Cottonwoods offers all the amenities you’d expect from a world-class championship golf course, including fine dining at the Clubhouse Restaurant, and a premium pro shop, where you’ll find the latest golf accessories, clothing and equipment.
“This honor bestowed upon these fine Mississippi casino courses is gratifying, particularly because there are several others in the state which arguably deserve to be included,” said Mississippi Development Authority Tourism Division Director D. Craig Ray. “We hope this acclaim for our resorts and their casino courses will entice visitors to come see for themselves why Mississippi is widely recognized as the best golf-and-gaming destination in America.”
For additional information about these courses or to schedule a visit to Mississippi, call toll-free to 866-801-8551 or go towww.visitmississippi.org and receive a free Golf Travel Guide and suggested play-and-stay itineraries.
About Mississippi Golf
Attractions contributing to Mississippi’s growing popularity as the preferred golf-and-travel destination include:
* Temperate year-round golf weather in five distinct regions (Pines, Hills, Delta, Coastal, Capital-River);
* More than 145 courses that offer all price points and design varieties;
* World-famous gourmet cuisine, Blues Trail, the mighty Mississippi River, and casino resorts offering marquee entertainers and shows;
* Family-themed attractions including parks, lakes, beaches and trails; 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
www.buffalocommunications.com
