Mississippi golf courses: The best places to play in the Magnolia State

Dancing Rabbit Golf Club

It might not be the first state most people think about when planning a golf vacation, but if you’re looking for great value, beautiful courses, and a wide variety of experiences, consider Mississippi.

The Magnolia State is where the blues began, and country music, too, perhaps as Jimmie Rodgers (from Meridian) is considered the Father of Country Music. Of course, as almost everyone knows, Elvis, who would be turning 90 years old this year if he were still with us, grew up in Tupelo. So there’s that, too.

As for golf, Mississippi has a wide variety, designed by some of the best names in the business, such as Arnold Palmer, Jerry Pate, Tom Fazio, and David Love III. There are lots of terrific golf courses along the coast, where there are also casino hotels. 

In other parts of the state, some courses have hilly terrain, while others are cut through majestic pines. One golf resort will even evoke a feeling of Augusta National at times. 

And throughout the state, you can enjoy some of the best cooking and barbecue in the South. Most of all, there’s a golf vacation for every budget, and even the most expensive courses are probably more affordable than the best in most other states.

Let’s take a look at each region:

Northern Mississippi and the Delta

Ever wonder where the famous Crossroads is? Well, that’s in the Mississippi Delta, at the intersection of U.S. Highways 49 and 61, where supposedly Robert Johnson, father of the blues, made his deal with the devil and went on to inspire thousands, including Led Zeppelin. You can, in fact, visit the Delta Blues Museum in nearby Clarksdale, or experience authentic blues performances live at Ground Zero, a club co-owned and founded by actor/director Morgan Freeman. And if you can’t get to the private Clarksdale Country Club, you’re only 37 miles south of some great public/resort golf in Tunica, Miss.

Tunica, which is about 45 minutes from Memphis, Tenn., is home to six casinos and two really good golf courses that you play over and over again. So it would be a wonderful place to book a golf package with a little gaming, top-notch nightly entertainment, and wonderful food. 

River Bends Links, which was designed by Clyde Johnston, is a wide-open layout with a Scottish links feel to it with knolls and bunkers, but also plenty of water.  The other course, Tunica National, was designed by Mark McCumber, and it regularly hosts some of the state’s top amateur and pro events. The 7,200-yard, par-72 layout, which has zoysia fairways and Bermuda greens, has lots of bunkers and water on all but two holes.

In Oliver Branch in DeSoto County, which is just south of Memphis, you’ll find three good choices in Cherokee Valley, Timber Truss, and Wedgewood golf courses. Cherokee Valley Golf Club is a Don Cottle Jr. design with wide fairways, but it also has 78 bunkers and 11 lakes. Timber Truss is a solid layout with generous fairways and several water features. And Wedgewood Golf Course weaves through streams, woods, and other water features, providing an interesting, enjoyable test for all levels. 

Kirkwood National, located in nearby Holly Springs, features elevation changes, creeks, lakes, and woods. It even offers convenient lodging near the course.

Another great option is golf at two state parks. There’s Mallard Pointe, a Cupp design, at John W. Kyle State Park in Sardis, and the Dogwoods Golf Course at Hugh White State Park in Granada. Mallard Pointe has some elevated tee shots as well as accommodations right on the course. The Dogwoods’ signature hole is the elevated par-5 ninth, which affords a great view of Grenada Lake. 

Finally, a college town is almost always a good choice for food, entertainment and golf. In this case, we’re talking about Oxford, which is where you’ll find the University of Mississippi.  The Ole Miss Course, a 7,000-yard plus layout modernized by Nathan Grace definitely, is worth checking out. It’s usually in great shape and green fees are a bargain. 

Timber Truss

Jackson and Central Mississippi

The capital and largest city in Mississippi is Jackson, site of the Sanderson Farms Championship, played at The Country Club of Jackson.

As you might expect, there are lots of good public golf courses in the area. One is the Refuge Golf course, located in the suburb of Flowood. Close to the Jackson-Evers International Airport, Refuge is a Troon-managed facility with a well-conditioned course that features three new holes. It’s also next to the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center, which showcases, among other things, the Missy Sippy Bar, where you can enjoy sunsets over downtown Jackson.

A couple of others in the area to consider are Bay Pointe Country Club and Patrick Farms (both semi-private). Bay Pointe is carved through the woods and native wetlands along the Ross Barnett Reservoir, with water coming into play on several holes. Patrick Farms is a Randy Watson design that opened in 1999. It’s also the home of the Mississippi Golf Association and has some of the best practice facilities in the state.

West of Jackson is historic Vicksburg, where you can play at Clear Creek Golf Club, a fun, traditional parkland layout. While you’re there, you’ll want to check out the national military park and the riverboat casinos.

One of the biggest draws in the state, however, can be found about an hour east of Jackson at the Pearl River Resort in Choctaw, where you will find Dancing Rabbit Golf Club. There are two courses there – The Azaleas and The Oaks, built on ancestral lands of the Mississippi Band of the Choctaw Native Americans. 

Both courses were designed by the team of Tom Fazio, Jerry Pate, and Beau Welling (who has since gained notoriety for his own courses and working alongside Tiger Woods). But it’s the Azalea Course, especially when the Azaleas are in bloom, that draws comparisons to Augusta National with its rolling terrain and superior conditions. They’re both long and difficult, but of course come with multiple sets of tees. 

The best way to experience golf at The Pearl River Resort is probably to book a stay and play. In addition to the golf, there are two casinos with sportsbooks, a wide range of dining, and lots of lodging options, including the Silver Star Casino Hotel, Golden Moon Casino Hotel, as well as the renovated Dancing Rabbit Inn behind the clubhouse, which has eight king suites in the clubhouse and a three-bedroom fairway house on The Azaleas course.

Dancing Rabbit Golf Club

Southern Mississippi and the Gulf Coast Region

Perhaps the best-known golf course in Mississippi, not named Dancing Rabbit, can be found near the Gulf Coast. And any discussion of golf in that region has to start with the Beau Rivage Resort and Fallen Oak Golf Club, the former home of a PGA Tour Champions event.

Designed by Tom Fazio and Beau Welling, the course was built as an amenity solely for guests of the Biloxi resort, so you have to stay there to play there, making it one of the state’s most expensive public plays. But if you can afford it, it’s worth it, with surprising elevation changes for a coastal course. 11 bridges, hidden cart paths (to give it a more seamless, natural look), and top-notch conditions. Consistently ranked as the top course in the state, the 7,500-yard layout underwent a major renovation a little more than three years ago. 

While Fallen Oak is the most premium place you can play near the Gulf Coast, it’s just one of many outstanding options. In fact, there are more than 20 courses to choose from in the region, such as Grand Bear, another course affiliated with a casino hotel. Jack Nicklaus designed it for the Harrah’s Gulf Coast Casino Hotel & Spa. This one is cut out of a wooded  piece of rolling land with a variety of doglegs, large greens, and plenty of bunkers. It’s a little over 7,200 yards from the tips, but there are lots of teeing options. 

Major champion Davis Love III is behind the design of another outstanding golf course, Shell Landing, just outside of Biloxi. Opened in 2000, this well-conditioned course works its way around wetlands with water coming into play on eight holes.

And another premium option near the coast is The Preserve Golf Club, a Jerry Pate design and Audubon International course located in Vancleave. It offers digs at the Palace Casino Resort, which gives you another great golf package option. 

A short drive from the coast, you’ll find historic Natchez, where there are a couple of courses worth checking out. Beau Pré Country Club is laid out along the banks of Second Creek and has a 90-foot bluff. And Natches Golf Club at Duncan Park goes back to 1916. Located near historic downtown, where many homes predate the Civil War, this parkland muni was recently renovated.

And just east of Natchez, there’s Quail Hollow, an Arthur Hills design located in Percy Quin State Park in McComb. Golf villas are also available, making this a great base for golf in the area.

Finally, another college town to check out is Hattiesburg, home to the University of Southern Mississippi. This is where you will find Timberton Golf Club, a really enjoyable Mark McCumber designed course. While you’re there, you’ll want to stick around and have a meal or two since Hattiesburg has quite the reputation as a foodie town, in large part to chef Robert St. John, who has written 11 books and publishes a regular newsletter. His restaurants in the area include the Crescent City Grill, Midtowner, Mahogany Bar, Tabella, Loblolly Bakery, and Ed’s Burger Joint. You can’t go wrong with any of them.

Fallen Oak Golf Club