“Mississippi’s ‘Golf Coast’ is the kind of place I like, it’s the kind of people I like and it’s got the food I like,” says David Eger, MS Gulf Resort Classic champion
Biloxi, MS: While David Eger fired a 3-under-par 69 on Sunday and edged Tommy Armour III by one stroke at the inaugural Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic to win, the real winner wasn’t David Eger even though he picked up the $240,000 check. The real winner is that the golf world rediscovered why this part of the Northern Gulf of Mexico was called the “Golf Coast” as early as 1927. Thomas Bendelow, who designed some of the earliest courses in America and Olympia Fields in Chicago, built two courses here in 1902. The area had 7 courses in 1927, more than most destinations in the country at that time, and was nicknamed the “Golf Coast.” It hosted the PGA Tour in the 40’s with Sam Snead winning a play-off in the 1945 Gulfport Open over Byron Nelson. Nelson won 11 straight after that loss, a record that still stands today. With the addition of courses by Nicklaus, Palmer, Love, McCumber and then Fazio and Pate the past few years – it’s become the “Golf Coast” on steroids. The enthusiasm and love affair the area has for golf was pouring out this week with players like Bob Tway saying, “The fans here kept thanking me for coming here, I told them thank you for having us. I came here for the Habitat for Humanity event at Shell Landing starting in 2006 – so I knew the area loved golf and that they would be excited since I experienced it first hand, so I was looking forward to coming” says Tway. The eventual champion said it best, “Mississippi’s ‘Golf Coast’ is the kind of place I like, it’s the kind of people I like and it’s got the food I like,” said David Eger, “I want to be the first to commit to be here next year.”
This event was a success long before the first ball was struck on Friday. Players were heard raving about the Monday off site Pro-Am at Grand Bear before they even got to the award winning Fazio Layout, Fallen Oak, where the classic was played. PGA Tour Players/Officials were impressed with the golf history, the quality of the golf, the world class casino resorts, and the legendary hospitality. The Tuesday night Pro-Am Gala with its Cirque Du Soleil theme right out of Las Vegas with a large dose of southern hospitality was a huge hit. “If I knew this area was this much fun, we would have come here earlier,” said Mike Stevens, PGA Champions Tour President. Players were amazed at how they have never been here, but already were acting as walking advertisements for this Riviera of the South along 60 miles of Gulf Coast and dotted with great golf, casino resorts and full of southern hospitality. “I came here for the media day and loved the golf course and the great casino resorts,” says Loren Roberts, “I really like this part of the country,” says Roberts. Jody Mudd said it’s the first course he ever played in Mississippi. “I think great things of Mississippi golf now after my first visit,” says Mudd. Nick Price told his Pro-am partners on Thursday, “When the word gets out on how great this area is and how good the event is you will have an even stronger field next year,” said Price. That is hard to believe since it had a strong field this year, only lacking Couples and Watson who are both probably marking this on their calendars for next year’s classic.
The Mississippi “Golf Coast” has courses by Palmer, Nicklaus, Love, Pate, McCumber and Fazio with 60 miles of Gulf of Mexico coastline. When you add the 11 Casino Resorts and the incredible seafood and cuisine with the Southern Hospitality – you have a destination with a little something for everyone. “I know of no destination in the country that has such a unique set of amenities as the Mississippi Coast – the golf quality of the Carolinas, the attractions of Las Vegas, the weather of Florida and the food of New Orleans – it’s a awesome combination and I am glad the contestants and visitors to the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic saw it first hand,” says Kevin Drum, Executive Director of the MS Gulf Coast Golf Association, “I think it’s clear to everyone why we have been called the ‘Golf Coast’ for nearly a century”
For more information go to www.GolfCoast.com or for a FREE Golf Package Quote at over 40 hotels, casino resorts or condos go to www.GolfCoast.com/plan-your-trip. For Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic info and complete transcripts and video go to www.golfcoast.com/champions/.
Contact:
Kevin Drum
Executive Director
MS Gulf Coast Golf Association
228-374-GOLF ext 5
Kevin@GolfCoast.com