Page 98 - Play Coastal Mississippi - Summer, 2025

GOLF & OUTDOORS
98PLAYCOASTALMISSISSIPPI I SUMMER2025
Story by Tommy Snell
The cat – or should I say birdie – is out of the bag. Golfers are teeing off on Coastal Mississippi’s 15 challenging courses and returning home to share the remarkable news that Nicklaus, Love, Pate, McCumber, and Palmer, among others, have designed masterpieces that are accessible to every skill level.
It’s no wonder that Coastal Mississippi earned its #4 spot in the 10 best destinations in the United States for a golf getaway by USA Today!
From The Preserve Golf Club designed by Jerry Pate, built in a dedicated wildlife preserve, to Palmer’s Bridges Golf Resort, surrounded by nature’s bayous and marshes, golfers have choices that satisfy their golfing souls. And chosen they have.
The PGA Tour Champions hosted Hall of Famers at Fallen Oak and Grand Bear, while Mark McCumber’s Windance Country Club was the first venue to host the Hogan Tour (now Korn Ferry). Soon after, Hickory Hill Country Club and Resort welcomed the Korn Ferry (formerly NIKE Tour). The Oaks Golf Club hosted the Korn Ferry (Buy.Com Tour) two years in a row, with rave reviews from all the PGA Tour players.
The Coast is no stranger to the best players in the world. The Oaks was voted one of the favorite venues for the Korn Ferry Tour and Number 13 was the third hardest hole on that tour in 1999 and 2000. When they check in, golfers can still view Tripp Isenhour’s fabulous 8-under 64 when he won in 2000.
Longtime PGA Tour Rules Official and local Mickey Bradley brought PGA Tour player Jerry Kelly down to Shell Landing Golf Club after Katrina to raise money for Habitat for Humanity. Kelly’s buddies John Daly, Bubba Watson, and many others were glad to help and adored the Love design, as well as the Coastal cuisine cooked up by the Bradley family.
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