Fallen Oak and Dancing Rabbit/Azaleas Course Earn Spots on Top-100 List, Top Five Courses in Mississippi Named
(JACKSON, Mississippi) – The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) Division of Tourism announces today that Fallen Oak (No. 26) and Dancing Rabbit / Azaleas Course (No. 32) have been ranked on GOLF Magazine’s biennial “2012 Best Courses You Can Play” in America – a list of 100 supreme courses as determined by the national publication’s raters.
The magazine also recognized five Mississippi courses in its “2012 Best Courses You Can Play” by state list.
• No. 1: Fallen Oak Golf Club (Tom Fazio, course designer)
• 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 2012 print edition of the magazine.
“The state of Mississippi is grateful to be acknowledged by GOLF Magazine for having some of the best courses in the country,” said Brent Christensen, Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority. “With our year-round golf weather and immaculate courses, Mississippi is a must-visit destination, with an array of after-golf activities to further entice our guests.”
Fallen Oak Golf Club is the amenity course of Biloxi’s Beau Rivage Resort & Casino. Located adjacent to the DeSoto National Forest, the sprawling, inspiring course has played host to the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic, a PGA Champions TOUR event, for the past three years.
Owned and operated by the Mississippi band of the Choctaw Indians, Dancing Rabbit’s Azaleas and Oaks courses are amenities of the Pearl River Resort located in central Mississippi. Meandering across many hundreds of combined acres, these courses are isolated among ancient pines with over two miles of creeks and streams set alongside lush fairways.
Grand Bear Golf Club is a challenge for any golfer as it rolls through cypress wetlands and the tall pines of the DeSoto Forest. The course, an amenity of the Grand Casino Biloxi, is consistently rated as one of the top casino courses in the country since its opening in 1999 and features deep bunkers, secluded fairways and manicured greens.
Shell Landing Golf Club, located in Gautier, is situated less than one mile from the coast. The course winds through bayous, marshes and tall pines for a distinctive layout that golfers of all skill level will enjoy. Guests of Shell Landing’s preferred hotel, IP Casino Resort Spa, receive reduced greens fees and free club rentals.
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.
About Mississippi Golf:
Attractions contributing to Mississippi’s growing popularity as the preferred golf-and-travel destination include:
More than 170 courses offering a variety of price points and designs from world-class architects such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Jerry Pate and Tom Fazio
Year-round golf weather with temperate conditions throughout five distinct regions — The Hills, The Delta, The Capital/River, The Pines, The Coastal
Home to two annual PGA TOUR events: The Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic of the Champions Tour, played at Fallen Oak in March and the True South Classic of the PGA TOUR, played at Annandale Golf Club, July 16-22, 2012
Third-largest gaming destination in North America, featuring exciting gaming, upscale shopping, live entertainment, luxurious spas and internationally acclaimed golf courses
Birthplace of blues, rock ‘n roll and country music. Mississippi Blues Trail and Country Music Trail markers are placed at key sites around the state to honor musicians and give visitors insight into the state’s diverse musical heritage
World-famous, authentic southern cuisine offering savory barbecue, fresh seafood and French-Cajun delicacies
A busy calendar of more than 400 unique events scheduled throughout the year
A host of non-golf activities including boating, fishing, bird-watching, hiking, biking, hunting, camping and more
For more information, visit www.visitmississippi.org or call toll-free 1-866-801-8551.
