LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Mississippi is home to
great golf, so forget the
controversy, reader says

(Aug. 2, 2005) -- I don't give a damn about the Mississippi Gulf Coast Golf Association, but I live within shouting distance of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. While it is not my favorite part of the planet, I can tell you what is good about the Mississippi Coast when it comes to golf ... and one other item.

• Cleveland-area golf course Eagle Creek is good enough for a gander • Say what? Auburn-Opelika in Alabama ranked as the best golf city in the United States? • Biloxi, where casinos and golf courses meet the wide, wide Gulf • Visit GolfBoards.com

Beau Rivage, built by Steve Wynn when he owned the Golden Nugget group of hotels, is as good a casino/hotel as there is NOT in Vegas. As far as golf goes, the Grand Casino's Grand Bear is fabulous. Shell Landing is always a pleasure to play. The Bridges is damn good. The Oaks is a good track. And Beau Rivage has a new Tom Fazio design about to be finished.

That is Nicklaus, Davis Love, Arnold Palmer, Mark McCumber and Fazio designs all on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. No, it ain't the Trent Jones Trail, but it ain't bad, either.

Frank Parks