Five golf courses ranked on the list of ‘best courses you can play’; Fallen Oak and Dancing Rabbit/Azaleas Course earn top-100 in America status
(JACKSON, Mississippi) – The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) Division of Tourism today announces that Fallen Oak (No. 27) and Dancing Rabbit Golf Club/Azaleas Course (No. 32) have been ranked on GOLF magazine’s biennial “2010 Best Courses You Can Play” in America and overall five courses in the Magnolia State were honored on the magazine’s prestigious “2010 Best Courses You Can Play” by state list.
The five honored courses – in order of in-state rank with their architects – are:
• No. 1: Fallen Oak Golf Club (Tom Fazio)
• No. 2: Dancing Rabbit Golf Club/Azaleas Course (Tom Fazio/Jerry Pate)
• No. 3: Grand Bear Golf Club (Jack Nicklaus)
• No. 4: Dancing Rabbit Golf Club/Oaks Course (Tom Fazio/Jerry Pate)
• No. 5: Shell Landing Golf Club (Davis Love III)
The GOLF Magazine best-of lists are available online and will be featured in the September 2010 print edition of the magazine.
“The state of Mississippi is proud to be recognized by GOLF Magazine and have these fine courses listed among the very best in America,” said Mary Beth Wilkerson, Tourism Director for the Mississippi Development Authority. “Our great year-round weather and variety of courses to choose from make Mississippi one of the best golf destinations in the U.S. and our hope is that these rankings encourage people to visit our state and experience all that we have to offer.”
Fallen Oak is an amenity of Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, while Dancing Rabbit is one of the many amenities at Pearl River Resort, the central Mississippi casino resort that is owned and operated by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Grand Bear is an amenity of the Grand Casino Biloxi, which is owned and operated by Harrah’s.
Fallen Oak moved up two spots in this year’s GOLF Magazine ranking to No. 27 overall out of roughly 13,500 U.S. public access courses. Located 15 miles north of the Beau Rivage on 510-acres adjacent to the DeSoto National Forest, Fallen Oak is a “sister” course to Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, both MGM Resorts International properties. The course opened in 2006 and this past spring it played host to the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic, a PGA Champions Tour event.
Dancing Rabbit’s Azaleas and Oaks courses roll out over a combined 14,000 breathtaking yards. Secluded among ancient pines and hardwoods, each of these 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 Bermuda and Zoysia fairways and Bentgrass greens, lending both challenge and beauty to the picturesque environment.
Grand Bear opened in 1999 is a Jack Nicklaus Signature design consistently rated as one of the best casino courses in the country. Set deep inside the DeSoto Forest along the red-clay banks of the Big Biloxi and Little Biloxi Rivers, the course features towering pines, natural cypress wetlands, secluded fairways, deep bunkers and impeccably manicured greens. It measures 7,204 yards from the “Grizzly Bear” tees and 4,802 from the “Teddy Bear” tees.
Shell Landing Golf Club is a Davis Love III design located in Gautier, less than one mile from the coast. All levels of golfers will enjoy the course thanks to its five sets of tees. Shell Landing offers a distinctive layout that meanders through a combination of marshes, bayous and tall pines. As the round goes along it builds in drama, climaxing with a crescendo on both the No. 9 and 18 holes.
For more information about these courses or to schedule a visit to Mississippi, go to www.visitmississippi.org or call toll-free 1-866-801-8551 to receive a free Golf Travel Guide and suggested itineraries.
PGA’s Viking Classic Returns to Mississippi This Fall
The world’s best professional golfers return to the Magnolia State for the second time this year when Annandale Golf Club in Madison, Miss. plays host once again to the PGA Tour’s Viking Classic on September 27-October 3, making it the first event of the Tour’s 2010 Fall Series. The PGA’s Champions Tour played its Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic at Fallen Oak in Biloxi this past spring.
With a purse worth $3.6 million some of the biggest names on Tour are expected to be in the field and outside the ropes a culinary giant will be in attendance as the Viking Classic is pleased to announce Chef Emeril Lagasse will headline the Viking Culinary Tent’s lineup of cooking demonstrations during the tournament.
For tickets or information on becoming a volunteer for the Viking Classic, please visit www.vikingclassic.com or call the Tournament Office at 601-898-GOLF (4653).
Mississippi Gulf Coast Launches Destination Video Reports
Videos touting Mississippi Gulf Coast tourism opportunities can be seen on the Web and on social media sites YouTube and Facebook.
Production of the video reports began in July as part of MDA’s ongoing efforts to bolster economic conditions in the state’s three coastal counties. Each video is around 60 seconds.
The videos highlight the 11 casino resorts, championship golf courses, fine restaurants and unique shops as attractive venues. Consumers can view the reports by searching “Visit MS Coast” on YouTube, searching “Visit Mississippi Coast” on Facebook, or by visiting www.visitmscoast.org.
Contact:
Gary Trask, 978.228.0314
Buffalo Communications
gtrask@billycaspergolf.com
Dan Shepherd, 703.891.3320
Buffalo Communications
dshepherd@billycaspergolf.com
www.buffalocommunications.com
