Golf Travel Guide To Mississippi Gulf Coast

Looking to plan the perfect golf trip to Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau? Planning a buddies trip or a romantic golf getaway can be a full time job not to mention pressure filled to deliver a memorable experience. Below is an interview with Torye Hurst, Director of Sports Sales & Marketing who shares some insider information about golfing and traveling to Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau, must play courses, a sample itinerary and where you can go for more planning tools.

Give our readers an overview of your destination and why they should consider it for their next golf trip?
Unlike other parts of the country, golf on the Gulf Coast is a year-round, short-sleeved game thanks to our temperate climate. The Gulf Coast offers you a choice of nearly 20 golf courses, many of them created by the top course designers in the world - Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Davis Love III, Mark McCumber, Jerry Pate and Tom Fazio! With so many golf courses to choose from, there is something for every skill and every budget. Search for golf courses in Gulfport, Biloxi, Pass Christian, Bay St Louis and more.

What are the must play courses in Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau?
Fallen Oak - Designed by legendary course architect, Tom Fazio, exclusively for guests of Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Fallen Oak raises the bar for luxury resort golf in this region. The 18 hole, par-72 championship layout unfolds in a majestic, almost cinematic, invitation to all who love the game.

It's a challenge few can - or should - resist. This is 510 acres of pure heaven... or hell, depending on how your scorebook looks that day. Be among the first to test its hype. Titanium is optional. Nerves of steel are not. The 18-Hole course ranges from 5,267 yards at the front-most of five tees to a hearty 7,480 yards from the tips, and is a Par-72 Layout.

**Earned #8 ranking in Conde Nast Traveler Magazine"s Top 80 Golf Resorts 2010!
**Awarded the No. 2 spot by Golfweek Magazine Best Casino Courses list for 2011 & the No. 13 spot on its list of Best Resort Courses for 2012!

The Preserve - 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.

The Preserve offers a full service practice facility, bar & restaurant on site, Group and corporate outings, P.G.A. instruction, rental clubs and is affiliated with The Palace Casino Resort.

**GolfWeek's 2012 Best Resort Course

Grand Bear - This 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course is among the South's most spectacular. Beautiful and challenging, the course navigates through natural cypress wetlands and towering pines, with packed pine needle rough, championship greens and deep bunkers set over 650 acres of rolling land in the piney woods of the DeSoto National Forest.

Grand Bear offers 1,746 total acres, five different tee levels of play, a 400-yard driving range, plus putting green and chipping area, a 5,000-square-foot beautiful clubhouse with pro shop and restaurant, and a 6.5 acre manmade stocked lake.

What is the hidden gem and/or best value course?
The best values at all of the signature courses occur in the summer months.

Can you provide our readers with an ideal itinerary for a long weekend?

Squeeze in the three course mentioned above, it is World Class Golf!

Visit the Mississippi Gulf Coast, overlooking the sparkling Gulf of Mexico and 62 miles of scenic coastal beaches - including the world's longest man-made beach. Visitors can enjoy our world-class golf courses and championship fishing. Water Parks, children's museums, and a variety of shopping venues await your arrival.

After a day of fun, you can begin an exciting evening with dinner at a local seafood restaurant before heading off to enjoy 24-hour gaming at one of the coast's casino resorts. Whether you are looking for a relaxing weekend getaway or an adventure-filled vacation, change your pace and Relax on the Mississippi Gulf Coast!

After golf, what are the "must do" things or attractions to see?
The only trouble you'll have on your visit to the Mississippi Gulf Coast is deciding what you want to do first. Choose from landing a big one on one of our fishing charters, winning big at one of our casinos, finding that perfect outfit at a charming local boutique, or any number of our other entertaining and exhilarating activities!

There are art museums that will inspire you, one of America's top 50 children's museums that will motivate and pique the curiosity of your youngsters, and natural and historical museums that will interest and educate you. If you're more action-oriented, you can throw a pot or paint a picture while participating in a workshop at one of our art museums.

With our sub-tropical climate, outdoor activities are a year-round option for the Gulf Coast vacationers. Nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts will find our temperate climate and natural activities second to none. Whether you take an eco-tour to view the wildlife or rent a kayak and paddle on one of our unspoiled rivers and bayous, you are certain to unwind while experiencing nature at its most pristine. Visitors are always excited to get up close and personal views of hundreds of species of birds, animals, and reptiles, including several threatened and endangered species that call Mississippi home. Other options for exploring the coast are by bike and hiking.

You'll certainly find that visiting the Gulf Coast offers you a wide variety of choices and experiences, from the hottest casino action to the natural solitude of our backwoods, and everything you can imagine in between!

What is the best time to travel?
Best golf rates in the summer with best lodging rates Oct-March.

Where can golfers go for more information to research and plan their trip?
Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau
Golf Coast

Mississippi Hotel & Lodging Association