Three things are striking about golf in southern Mississippi – the spectacular courses, their pristine locations, and their lack of players.
It’s been a rugged five years in the Gulf Coast Region. First came Hurricane Katrina, then the recession, then the BP oil spill. It’s been a one-two-three punch that many businesses have not survived. While the hurricane rendered golf courses temporarily unplayable, the oil spill had no direct effect, other than to render them empty.
It’s not just golf courses that have suffered.
“Restaurants, hotels, casinos, you can see it everywhere,” said Chris Champagne, pro at The Preserve Golf Club in Vancleave. “Business is down, no question.”
In peak months, 5,000 players would tee it up at The Preserve, an arresting, immaculate, Jerry Pate-design. This month, The Preserve will be lucky to fetch 3,000 rounds.
The business slump is good news for golfers looking for an uncrowded, inexpensive, leisurely-paced getaway. The Mississippi Gulf Coast Region also offers dazzling casinos, sumptuous seafood, barbecue and Cajun cuisine, and incomparable hospitality, southern style.
As a further inducement, BP has written a check for $250,000 to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Golf Association to attract players. It is part of a $3 million grant BP has provided to tourism agencies in the state.
Through November, the Mississippi Gulf Coast Golf Association is offering a Visa gift card, good for $100 at local seafood restaurants, to players who book a three-night stay.
In addition to The Preserve, there are several modern, well-conditioned courses in southern Mississippi including Grand Bear (Jack Nicklaus), Shell Landing (Davis Love III), and Fallen Oak (Tom Fazio), which is reviewed today in Pitches and Putts.
In neighboring Alabama, which has had a similar tourism slump, there are several value-laden standouts in the Gulf Region including Cypress Bend at Craft Farms (Arnold Palmer), Cotton Creek at Craft Farms (Arnold Palmer), Glenlakes (Von Hagge) and visually arresting Kiva Dunes (Jerry Pate).
Here are some other suggestions if you travel to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Region:
- The Shed – Memorable roadhouse barbecue coming in big portions. Music, ambiance, and engaging staff.
- Beau Rivage Hotel and Casino – THE place to stay and gamble in Biloxi. Big, comfortable, modern rooms that overlook the gulf, luxurious pool and spa, a multitude of shops and restaurants, and the most glamorous casino in the state.
- BR Prime – Casino fine dinging is often style over substance. But that’s not the case at the Beau Rivage’s BR Prime, where attention to detail is evident in the stellar appetizers and side dishes.
