Gulf Coast Observer - Index

Gulf Coast Observer - MississippiGulfCoastObserver - Index

Mississippi Gulf Coast--Only around 14 years before
the a group of golfers in New York built, what
most people agree, was the first golf club in the
United States, the Mississippi Gulf Coast was turning
to golf to attract Mid-Westerners to this growing
resort area. It was around 1902 or 1903 that
Keller's Green in Biloxi was believed to be the areas
first foray into golf. Around 1908 this field of grass
on the Back Bay was being considered to be turned
into Biloxi Golf Club but, at around the same time
Gulfport's founding father began to build the Great
The Bridges Golf Club
711 Hollywood Blvd Bay St Louis, MS 39520
Toll-Free: (866) 758-2591 Phone: (228) 463-4047
The Bridges Golf Club is the first resort course in the
world granted the Audubon Silver Signature Status by
Audubon International! Golf Digest ranks the Bridges
among the Top 40 Casinos courses in the July 2007 Issue.
The 600-acre property offers a beautiful 18-hole,
72-par golf course. The original Palmer design is located
in a unique setting on 160 acres. The course was
named for the 21 wooden bridges that span almost one
mile over 17 lakes and 14 acres of marsh, wetlands,
and luscious fairways! While challenging when
played from the championship tees, choose any one
of four sets of tees to suit your game!
Dogwood Hills Golf Course
17476 Dogwood Hills Drive Biloxi, MS 39532
Phone: (228) 392-9805
The 18-hole "Dogwood Hills" course at the Dogwood
Hills Golf Club facility was designed by Brent
Williams and features 6,008 yards of golf from the
longest tees for a par of 72. The course rating is 69
and it has a slope rating of 113.
Fallen Oak - Beau Rivage Casino
24400 Highway 15 Biloxi, MS 39532
Toll-Free: (877) 805-4657 Phone: (228) 386-7111
Nestled in the woods of Biloxi, Fallen Oak offers
spectacular play through one of the most lush and
splendid architectural landscapes in the country and
delivers both formidable challenges and continuously
enjoyable play! Just a short drive from Beau Rivage
Resort & Casino, Fallen Oak golf course was designed
exclusively for Beau Rivage by legendary course architect
Tom Fazio.
Grand Bear Golf Course
12040 Grand Way Blvd Saucier, MS 39574
Toll-Free: (800) 946-7777 Phone: (228) 604-7100
A wide array of hole layouts makes Grand Bear challenging,
yet enjoyable for all. You’ll enjoy the game of golf
like never before, as Grand Bear takes you through all its
majestic beauty, exquisitely sculpted amid protected wetlands
in a pristine Mississippi forest. Grand Bear was
named one of the Top 40 Casino Courses by Golf Magazine!
Southern Club along the railroad in Gulfport and
the area started to attract the best golfers in the Mid-
West with its warm Gulf climate. Jack Daray, long
time professional at Olympia Fields in Chicago,
wintered here each year and was head pro in Biloxi
Country Club in the 20's. Soon golf dotted most
every city in Mississippi's Gulf Coast with the addition
of courses at the Mexican Gulf Hotel in Pass
Christian and Bay-Waveland Golf Club and Jack
Daray of Biloxi Country Club building what was
going to be a golf city in Ocean Springs in Gulf
Hills. This began the area being called the "Golf
Coast" as early as 1920 when the area boasted 7
courses - more than any other mid south coastal
destination of its time.
The "Centennial of Golf in Mississippi" will be
celebrated officially in 2008 commemorating Great
Southern Club's opening in 1908 as the oldest golf
course on the coast and in the state. It was featured
in these three travel posters by artist Paul Proehl.
He immortalized golf on the Mississippi Gulf Coast
with these original 1933 posters promoting travel
Great Southern Golf Club
2000 E Beach Drive Gulfport, MS 39507
Phone: (228) 896-3536
The Great Southern Golf Course, the birthplace of
golf in Mississippi, was built in 1908. It was originally
a nine hole course built to accommodate tourists staying
at the Great Southern Hotel. Captain Joseph T.
Jones was the owner of the golf course and the hotel.
The course was designed by world renowned golf
course architect Donald Ross and built by Charles
Nieman, a prominent New Orleans architect, at the request
of Bert Jones, son of Captain Jones.
Gulf Hills Golf Club
13700 Paso Road Ocean Springs, MS 39564
Phone: (228) 872-9663
Gulf Hills Golf Club course features 6,266 yards of golf
from the longest tees for a par of 71 and has been an important
part of the Mississippi Gulf Coast golfing community
for over 70 years. Located on Fort Bayou, our
rolling hills carry you through our well manicured, velvet
greens complimented by the ever present, gentle gulf
breeze.
The Oaks Golf Club
24384 Clubhouse Drive Pass Christian, MS 39571
Phone: (228) 452-0909
Originally opened in 1998, The Oaks Golf Club is
nestled amongst majestic timberlands and native wetlands
providing one of the most unforgettable golfing
experiences on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The striking
par-72 layout is highlighted by strategic bunkering,
dramatic green complexes and a meandering
routing and creates a serene and tranquil golf experience.
Pascagoula Country Club
2703 Washington Avenue Pascagoula, MS 39567
Phone: (228) 762-1466
The 9-hole "Pascagoula" course at the Pascagoula
Country Club facility features 3,050 yards of golf
from the longest tees for a par of 36. This narrow
course was built on flat terrain and features tree-lined
fairways. Some of the fairways are doglegs, but most
holes play straightaway. The medium-sized greens are
well bunkered, slightly sloped, and elevated. Water
hazards (ten ponds) come into play on five holes,
sometimes coming into play twice on one hole.
Coast Observer www.coastobserver.com March 2009 Page 31
Welcoming Golfers Since 1908
to the Gulf Coast by way of Panama Limited/Illinois
Central railroads. He commented on having
trouble when first creating this poster because the
region had so many great things to advertise. Then,
in the artist's own words, "the poster began to
arrange itself. A figure in motion, clothes blown by
sea breezes, set against a Gulf Coast scene bathed
in sunlight, with the essential information arranged
in small blocks, words grouped for quick, almost
unconscious reading, and used somewhat as a border."
This piece was used in the winter by Panama
Limited/Illinois Central, which connected Chicago
with the Deep South, to draw people to the south
by way of their railroad. What's been true then is
true now - all sports/all year - and golf played a
major role in the areas development. The term
"Golf Coast" Golf Trail was first noted in print in
the 1920's and featured 7 golf courses. The "Golf
Coast" had more golf courses in the 20's than Myrtle
Beach, Pinehurst, Pebble Beach and Orlando. It
was attracting national PGA Tour events in the 40's
including a great match in which Sam Snead beat
Pine Bayou Golf Course
Naval Construction Battalion Center
1706 Bainbridge Avenue - Bldg 418
Gulfport, MS 39501
Phone: (228) 871-2494 Alt. Phone: (228) 871-2189
The 18-hole "Pine Bayou" course at the Pine Bayou
Golf Course facility features 6,561 yards of golf from
the longest tees for a par of 72. The course rating is 71
and it has a slope rating of 123 and was designed by
Willard C. Byrd, ASGCA. Navy Golf Program manages
this facility and the course is open to the public.
The Preserve Golf Club
8901 Highway 57 North Vancleave, MS 39565
Toll-Free: (877) 674-6539 Phone: (228) 386-2500
Alt. Phone: (877) 674-6539
The Preserve Golf Club is eighteen 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
1800 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.
St. Andrews Golf Course
#2 Golfing Green Drive Ocean Springs, MS 39564
Toll-Free: (888) 875-7730 Phone: (228) 875-7730
The 18-hole "Saint Andrews" course at the St. Andrews
Golf Club facility features 6,533 yards of golf
from the longest tees for a par of 72. The course rating
is 69.7 and it has a slope rating of 119 on Bermuda
grass. Our golf course boasts 2 of only 4 holes on the
Coast that are directly on the Gulf of Mexico. As you
wind your way to our signature "lighthouse" hole be
sure to enjoy the abundance of wildlife around you.
Herons, egrets and alligators all call St. Andrews
home.
Shell Landing Golf Course
3499 Shell Landing Blvd Gautier, MS 39553
Toll-Free: (866) 851-0541 Phone: (228) 497-5683
The 18-hole "Shell Landing” course at the Shell
Landing Golf Club facility features 7,024 yards of golf
from the longest tees for a par of 72. The course rating
the great Byron Nelson in the first playoff hole. We
are celebrating that great history and 100 years of
golf -1908 to 2008 - and we welcome you to join us
in this celebration.
Today, the "Golf Coast" delivers golf for every
budget and skill level all with easy access from I-10
and all hotels and casino resorts. Starting at the west
end of I-10 proceeding
east is a smorgasbord of
golf. The "Golf Coast"
Golf Trail's final stop
on its eastern end is
Mississippi National,
site of the Nike Tour.
Enjoy your visit
to Mississippi's
"Golf Coast" and
for more information,
golf packages
or to book a
tee-time - go to
www.GolfCoast.com.
is 73.2 and it has a slope rating of 128. Shell Landing
Golf Club is a Davis Love III Signature course and the
property boasts tall pines, marshes, bayous and wetlands,
and rolling hills. These natural features combine
with five sets of tees to afford a challenging course for
all handicaps.
Sunkist Country Club
2381 Sunkist Country Club Road Biloxi, MS 39532
Phone: (228) 388-3961
Sunkist Country Club has long been a Coast favorite
for locals and "Snowbirds" alike. Sunkist is a "fun"
course for all skill levels of golfers, yet still a challenge
to the more accomplished players. The back tees play
an inviting 6400 yards with water coming into play on
7 holes---just to keep you honest! The course rating is
69.4 with a par of 72 and a slope rating of 116. The
course was designed in 1953 by Frank Stiedle, making
it one of the original package courses on the Mississippi
"Golf" Coast.
Whispering Pines Golf Course
18412 Highway 613 Hurley, MS 39555
Phone: (228) 588-6111
The 18-hole "Whispering Pines/Jackson" course at
the Whispering Pines/Jackson County Golf Course facility
is a public course and features 6,392 yards of
golf from the longest tees for a par 72. Whispering
Pines/Jackson golf course opened in 1974 and was
completely redesigned in 2002.
Windance Country Club
19385 Champion Circle Gulfport, MS 39503
Phone: (228) 832-5374 Alt. Phone: (228) 832-4871
The Island View Casino Resort has recently purchased
Windance Golf Course!
The 18-hole "Windance" course at the Windance
Country Club facility features 6,660 yards of golf
from the longest tees for a par of 72. The course rating
is 73.1 and it has a slope rating of 129. The course
was designed by Mark McCumber and was built on
rolling terrain and has very tight fairways. The greens
are average-sized and level. The course is moderately
bunkered and there are many water hazards that will
come into play if you hit a bad shot. Windance has
hosted both the Ben Hogan and Nike Tours. Windance
is truly the "Gem of the Mississippi Gulf Coast”