 FEATURE STORY
On the road in Mississippi: No ghostly sights here -- golf lives in the delta, pines, hillsBy David R. Holland, WEST POINT, Miss. (June 13, 2003) -- If your stray shots come back to haunt you at Old Waverly Golf Club, scene of Juli Inkster's 1999 Women's U.S. Open victory, there may be good reason. Just down the road is Waverly Mansion, and ante-bellum plantation home built in 1852 by Col. George Young. During the Civil War and the following reconstruction period, many homeless families found a place to stay here, and many believe their spirits remain -- but with typical Southern manners -- never spooking the living or nearby golfers.
But Mississippi's most-sighted apparition, locals say, plays golf near his birthplace in Tupelo at Big Oaks Golf Club. That's Elvis Presley, of course, and you can bet the local tourism folks like to use his image, even to the point of a "staged" photo of the ole hip wiggler playing golf. If America's most famous rockabilly star was alive today no doubt he would recommend golf in Mississippi. "You can't believe how far golf has come in Mississippi," said Bill Colloredo, general manager of Old Waverly. "We enjoy taking care of people here -- showing them a good time and providing good food, drinks and a great golf course." But the hospitality is not just found at Old Waverly and gone are the days when outsiders thought Mississippi golf was just mom and pop nine-holers. Today the state is loaded with great championship layouts. More than 140 beautiful golf courses adorn the state now -- from the Delta Region along the Mississippi River, to the Hills Region, the Pines Region and the Gulf Coast. Golf courses have been designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Hale Irwin, Tom Fazio and Jerry Pate.
Stay and play at the Grand Casino Tunica at Cottonwoods, an Irwin design, then motor down to Elvis' birthplace -- Tupelo, for golf at Big Oaks. You can still visit the tiny house where Elvis was born. Don't miss driving by many of his old "haunts" including Tupelo Hardware, where he bought his first guitar, and Johnnie's Drive In where he honed his famous appetite by devouring "dough burgers" just a short walk from his house. Fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches? You betcha. From Tupelo head for West Point and Old Waverly before ending your journey in Philadelphia, home of nationally-ranked Dancing Rabbit Golf Club and the Pearl River Resort (and casinos). From here you can cut over to I-20 and head for the airport in Jackson. Here's a closer look at golf in northern Mississippi. Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point
Designed by Bob Cupp and Jerry Pate, Old Waverly measures 7,018 yards at par of 72, and was created from 400 rolling acres where cows once grazed. Old Waverly features bentgrass greens, lakes and century-old oaks. At the time of her victory here, Inkster shattered the U.S. Women's Open scoring record by six shots finishing 16-under for a five-shot victory over Sherri Turner. It was Inkster's 20th title and fourth major. "In 1982 we thought that a golf course could be built in the area of the Waverly Mansion," said owner George Bryan, whose family fortune was built on a foundation of lunch meats -- Bryan Foods. "We held sessions in Jackson to try and get approval for a course at the mansion, but the plan eventually fell to the wayside." Four years later, in 1986, Bryan and his investors settled on the current site and came up with the name that was inspired by an Americanized spelling of Sir Walter Scott's famed Waverly novels. Big Oaks Golf Club in Tupelo
Designed by local Tracy May, the course measures 6,784 yards at par 72 for its Tight Lies Tour participants. This award-winner does have generous 419 Bermuda fairways and large bentgrass greens. The water attracts all kinds of wildlife to view throughout the year. Added amenities include a large driving range with six target greens, a separate chipping green, bunkers, and a putting green. The clubhouse includes a golf shop, snack bar and meeting rooms. Cottonwoods in Tunica
The signature par-3 17th will get your attention with a peninsula green 181 yards from the back tees. Cottonwoods owns a four-star rating by Golf Digest and just minutes from the three hotels of the Grand Casino Tunica. In 1991, Tunica was the poorest county in the state, but thanks to 10 casinos and 6,346 hotel rooms, 16,000 new jobs were created. This fall 2003 a Mark McCumber-designed links layout will open named Tunica National. Cherokee Valley Golf Club in Olive Branch
Thick trees line most fairways on this 6,751-yard par-72 and the greens can be tricky at an average of 6,500-square feet in size. No. 7 is the signature hole -- a 155-yard, par 3, demanding a tee shot over water to a large, rolling green surrounded by mature trees. Watch out for the large scalloped bunker in front of the green, which adds visual depth. Cherokee Valley also sports a state-of-the-art practice facility with a three-tiered driving range, two putting greens and a chipping green. The lodge-style clubhouse sits atop a high point and has spectacular views of the ninth and 18th greens from both the snack bar and the banquet hall. Dancing Rabbit Golf Club in Philadelphia
With all this beauty and the addition of 10,000 azaleas and pink-flowering dogwoods you might just blank out and envision Augusta National. The Azaleas opened in 1997 and is ranked second in the state by Golf Digest behind Old Waverly. This rolling layout measures 7,128 yards at par 72 and the greens can Stimp to 12 if someone really wants to be mean. The Azaleas is the No. 1 Mississippi public access course according to Golfweek and The Oaks is No. 2.
You can even stay at Dancing Rabbit's plantation-styled clubhouse. The second floor includes luxurious-appointed rooms. Step outside, sit on the verandah, sip your favorite brew and dream of the old days in Mississippi. And don't be surprised to see John Daly sitting at the piano in the clubhouse -- this is one of his favorite hangouts. Golf in Mississippi will spoil you with its excellent layouts and southern hospitality. It just might become your favorite hangout for golf. Where to playOld Waverly Golf Club Big Oaks Golf Club Cherokee Valley Golf Club Cottonwoods at Grand Casino Dancing Rabbit Golf Club Other golf choicesKirkwood National Golf Club, Holly Springs,
kirkwoodgolf.com, (662) 252-4888 Under constructionTunica National Golf & Tennis Club designed by Mark McCumber, (662) 363-1465 Where to stayThe Lodge at Old Waverly, West Point, Stay and Play, features six, 4-bedroom cottages and other rentals, (662) 495-5485, oldwaverly.net. Where to dineMagnolia Room, Cameron's, The Grill, Old Waverly
Clubhouse Mississippi tourism Web sitesmississippi.org |
Wild
honeysuckle, brilliant azaleas and tall pines lead to thick forests.
And fertile soil makes Mississippi a natural for admirable golf
experiences. One can fly into 
Ranked No. 1 in the state by 
Seeing water? 
Settled down in the rich Delta bottom lands where cotton was once
king, 
Gently rolling hills, wide Zoysia fairways, deep woods, 11 lakes, 78 bunkers
and elevation changes make Cherokee Valley Golf Club a true test
and a country club experience without the pricey dues.
Mississippi's Choctaw Indians hunted on these lands where red-clay cliffs,
streams, pines and oaks frame a classic. The Azaleas layout includes
352 acres meandering through an almost garden feel and the dashing
waters of the Big and Little Dancing Rabbit Creeks.
Opened in June 1999, The Oaks at Dancing Rabbit
stretches out to 7,076 yards at par 72 and golf
packages abound at the next-door Pearl River Resort
which includes the Silver Star Hotel & Casino and the
Golden Moon Hotel & Casino.
