(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.)
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)
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
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)
Video Overview
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
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 to
www.visitmississippi.org and receive a free Golf Travel Guide and
suggested play-and-stay itineraries.
