Under
the Spanish moss, on the Gulf of Mexico, Golf Chicago! found another
Golf Getaway that has been a long-time favorite of many Chicagoans,
but not known to everyone.
Mississippi’s Gulf Coast tradition and hospitality are second to
none. The region once famous for casinos, white sand beaches, and
fresh oysters, now has a growing following of golf fanatics hitting
its shores before Chicago lands’ snow thaws. We soon discovered we
were not the only windy city invaders on Mississippi turf last
January. We also learned that some Windy City golfers would rather
keep this paradise to themselves. Our first tee time was at
Mississippi National Golf Club, where we were greeted by Chicagoans
that were quite distraught at Golf Chicago!’s presence.
“You’re not doing a story about Biloxi, are you?” questioned the
Ping-hatted elder.
“Of course…” I replied.
“Oh…send ‘em somewhere else. We’ve been comin’ down here for years.
Let ‘em find their own place.”
“Yeah, let them play in the rain. This is our treasure,” chimed his
partner.
A roadside lunch of locally brewed Barq’s Rootbeer, gravy fries, and
catfish Po’Boys confirmed our suburban greeters’ rants. This coast
has some incredible courses and when the sun goes down, risk/reward
takes on a whole new meaning in the casinos. Isle of Capri in Biloxi
and Casino Magic in Bay St. Louis may not measure the square footage
of Vegas, but they are surrounded by great, affordable golf that
leaves you with a few extra chips in the budget for the nightlife.
Diamondhead G.C.
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Chicago has been
connected to this area since the Roaring Twenties when the original
Gulf Hills Resort and Dude Ranch was built by Chicago’s Branigan
Brothers. We were fortunate enough to find another Windy City native
in one of Gulf Hills’ favorite residents, Mr. Robert Meyer, a
retired hospital administrator from Chicago who has lived in Gulf
Hills for over twenty years. After inviting us to his home between
nines, Mr. Meyer told us his family’s history in the area over a few
brandy old fashions. His father built the family vacation home in
the early 1930’s, which at the time was one of twelve in a secluded
community. Over the past 70 years Gulf Hills has been named and
renamed enough to turn your head around, but this Jack Daray design
has remained a linkster’s treat. The 18 holes weave in and out of
bay inlets and the signature tight fairways play to smallish quick
greens.
Mr. Meyer treated me to some Gulf Coast tales, and when I looked
through some of his brochures, I noted that there is a mention this
of Sir Walter Hagen gracing their fairways. When I asked him why he
didn’t mention, “You didn’t ask about The Haig”, he mysteriously
replied.
I recently read J. Michael Vernons’ new book, The Greatest Golfer
Who Never Lived. Sure enough, there is a reference to the 1931
Mississippi State Amateur being played at Gulf Hills Dude Ranch and
Country Club. Fiction or not, this track has seen generations of
great golfers. It was a must play course then, and new
Superintendent, Arnold Verhoven is taking it back to its hey-day.
Our first tour of the course left me wondering why anyone would want
to change this classic 1930’s layout. But after a tour with Verhoven,
I realized they were just updating the greens and fairways: a little
facelift, original head intact. This little gem is changing, so if
you played it years ago, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at their
efforts. Gulf Hills Golf Club has enough character to fill a William
Faulkner novel you’ll use every club in the bag.
If you want to swat a few balls on a classic course, start the trip
here their all day play rates make the choice a no brainer. When you
get to the clubhouse tell head professional Rich Barhovovic you made
the trip down from Chicago., and mention Golf Chicago!
The Oaks
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Just east of Gulf
Hills on Interstate 10 is the aforementioned Mississippi National
Golf Club, one of many Earl Stone designs in the area. Located in
Gantier, National is a parallel layout with needle threading
tortoise-backed greens. First glance at the scorecard gives hope to
those looking to scramble for pars around the 16 bunkerless greens.
This track plays just short of 7,000 yards and lets you rip that
driver. Once on the turf, you’ll see the work begins trying to get
up and down on errant approach shots. Illiterate greens folk can
easily knock 35-40 putts before they get home to the new clubhouse.
Weekend swingers will appreciate Mississippi National for their
generous fairways; low-handi cappers can really have at this former
Nike Tour course. The second hole is a brain-burning par 5;
headwinds dictate your second shot. Either go for the green and play
hero, or hit a safe iron to the landing island, leaving you in good
shape for a par.
Another Chicago
favorite is St. Andrews in Ocean Springs. Set on the Gulf of Mexico,
the famous Lighthouse steers you around this playable 6,533-yard
course. St. Andrews may not be the Old Course, but you will turn a
few heads Monday at the Office when you say,
“Yeah, I played St. Andrews and had no problem getting on.” Then
walk away before the questions roll at you. This is a local favorite
you’ll play each returning visit.
If you are lucky during your travels, you visit a little place that
you instantly captures your heart. If that town also shares its
borders with an Arnold Palmer course, it is time to buy a ring or
maybe a house. Bay St. Louis, roughly 30 miles west of Biloxi and on
the way to New Orleans, is that kind of town. The Bridges Golf
Resort at Casino Magic, an 18 hole Palmer/Ed Seay design that plays
up to its high parentage.
The resort entrance reveals a sneak peak at the sculpted back nine;
these wooden bridges will take you back to your candy store days, so
wipe that chin and buckle up, the bridges may lead to safe ground or
a toothachin’ snowman. The 6,841-yard layout has four choices from
the tee, each offering a unique challenge. The challenge continues
through the green. While our Illinois bridges are posting ice
warning signs, the 23 wooden bridges at Casino Magic wind you
through a beautiful environmentally friendly wetland track on that
well deserved vacation.
The Arnold Palmer Course Design Company’s signature mounding and
bunkering frame Hancock County’s crown jewel. At the turn, if you
didn’t take advantage of the 11 acre Arnold Palmer Golf Academy and
Practice Facility, you’ll need to reload on balatas. A quick piece
of advice the starter starter gave us;
“Keep ‘em in the short stuff! Don’t be hawkin’ fer yer balls,
there’s gators on this course.” ‘Nuff said!
Two holes to lick your chops on are the fiteenth a par-3, 178-yarder
called “Snake Eyes” and the finishing hole Torgy’s Finale, a 541
yard three-shotter that only the gutsy reach in two. Water threatens
the entire right side for you slicers, and the green is well guarded
by a pond and the many eyes that are watching from the clubhouse
windows, so steady those nerves partner.
The Bridges at Casino Magic clubhouse is a castle fit for the King
himself. Overlooking the 18th green, the 19th hole offers a classy
spot to enjoy a club sandwich and tally up the round. You’ll love
knocking that Titleist around the wooden bridges and the Mississippi
hardwoods. At nightfall hit the Casino, if the putts didn’t roll on
the course maybe you’ll get a hot hand on the tables.
Hancock County is connected to Chicago through Al Capone. Big Al
used to barge some of the finest bootleg whiskey up the Mississippi
River from prohibition entrepreneurs. Hancock County also calls home
to the Ramada Diamondhead Golf Club and Convention Center, a 36-hole
resort. These two Earl Stone layouts are in the same tradition of
another Chicago favorite, Gull Lake View in central Michigan. The
Cardinal and Pine courses are perennial top five picks in
Mississippi. Both are lined with impossibly huge trees and enough
water to remind you this is Gulf Coast golf! The Lanai Village
offers on course condos to suit groups and families. With plenty of
non-golf activities the whole clan will want to make this an annual
stop. Both courses are fun for all levels of golfers and are mounded
to give you that friendly hop.
Stone’s Cardinal and Pine courses both play over 6,800 yards from
the back and just over 5,000 yards from the forward tees. The one-shoters
are tricky and unique to the terrain, a dartboard for all and a fair
test of your golfing prowess. That’s the real beauty of resort
courses; play your tee and try to go low. Enjoy the walk, smell the
magnolias.
Hancock County also hosts the Buy.COM Tour annually at The Oaks
tucked away in Pass Christian, MS. Eighteen sculpted holes bordered
by foreboding oaks and lush rolling fairways nestled on over 400
acres of Mississippi beauty. A walk in the park The Oaks is not,
Thick rough, deep white sand bunkers, major elevation changes, and
the venerable hardwoods await each shot, wait a minute…its better
than a walk in the park. This course is not for the faint of heart
or the weekend duffer, bring the A game and see what the developers
of La Quinta, PGA West, and Kiawah Island Resort created in Hancock
County. At $62 during the peak season The Oaks is a steal by Chicago
standards. This track could easily charge $80 in the Chicago area
and have a waiting list every weekend.
Enjoy the walk, the casinos, the southern charm, and most of all,
enjoy the Gulf Coast. A special lady has been helping Chicago
golfers make the trip for years. Kristen Llambias and Gulf Coast
Vacations, Inc can book the gang a place in any of the Gulfs
resorts, hotels, B and B’s, or condos. Give her a call 1 (800)
974-2657], or visit their website, www.gulfcoastvacations.net. Gulf
Coast Vacations is the golfing answer to one-stop-shopping. If there
is a better hostess than Kristen, I bet it’s your mother! On our
trip south she kept popping up checking agendas and offering
alternate activities if rain loomed in the forecast.
Do it yourselfers can use her pamphlets and brochures to plan the
trip, but I’ll warn you, she has the resources, discounted rates,
and a great eye for the hot night spots along the entire coast.
The seasonal temps reach the 60’s during late January and February
on the Gulf Coast, that is shirtsleeves for northerners. With the
fresh seafood, draping Spanish moss, and those ever tempting
casinos, you’ll need a few days to recover from this golf getaway
hot spot. The Gulf Coast is a must on golfers To Do list, smell
those Magnolias, slurp an oyster, and remember to tip your beer cart
girl!
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