Everybody loves a good secret and over here at pjkoenig.com we are no good at keeping them. That’s right, we are spilling the beans on one of America’s most secretive golfing destinations. We are talking about Coastal Mississippi also known as The Secret Coast. Back in 2018, I visited this secret destination with limited expectations and was wildly impressed with the solid lineup of golf that I found. On this blog post, I will let you in on the secrets that I have uncovered.
But before we get started on the hot spots to hang your hat and golf your ball, it is necessary that we bring you up to date on some other, equally ground breaking secrets. I am talking about HANKS secrets.
Disclaimer: After questioning the authorities, Coastal Mississippi has assured me that Tom Hanks has buried no bodies in any of the destinations mentioned below.
The Top Secret Golf Courses
The Coastal Mississippi lineup starts out with a Jack Nicklaus gem in Saucier, MS. Not only is this golf course located in Saucier, it is also a very saucy spot to golf your ball. Built 6 miles into the Desoto National Forest, the golf course is free of homes and any other non golf related distractions. Grand Bear is unobstructed golf goodness.
The entire experience has a private club feel to it and the staff is as friendly as you will encounter in the south. I highly recommend stopping into the Bear’s Den afterwards and grabbing a bite to eat. You can also check out some of Jack’s original architectural notes as they are framed throughout the clubhouse.
The Preserve Golf Club is the only golf course in Mississippi that has been certified by the Audubon International Signature Program. There are over 2,110 golf courses that participate in this program in 24 countries and it’s one of the many great ways that golf connects people to nature in an inspirational and responsible way.
“The native surroundings of pitcher plant bogs, cypress swamps, long leaf pine savannah, live oak groves and native grass prairies all guided the design of the course as it was laid into this natural setting,”
The end result is a golf course that feels like a walk through a nature sanctuary. The mixture of marsh lands and golf lands gives the golfer a serene natural experience. I particularly enjoyed the par 3 2nd hole and the short, yet demanding 17th.
Set against the marshlands of the gulf coast, Shell Landing ends up on many of the “best in state” lists out there. After the first several holes, it was easy to see why. The course is scenic, the holes are varied, and each golf shot holds your interest. According to the owner, Kenny Hughes, the course has taken out a bunch of trees over the last several years and it has made a huge difference.
The 6th hole stands out as one of my favorite golf holes on the Gulf Coast
“The views have opened up in between holes, the turf gets better airflow, and the entire aesthetic has changed drastically.”
I eagerly soaked up the views in between holes and even managed to appreciate the increased airflow as it swept briskly across my brow. At $79 for prime time tee times, Shell Landing is a steal of a deal. The $40 twilight rate feels like you are robbing a bank.
This little number is a local favorite amongst the Mississippi golfers in the know. Diamondhead has 36 holes with the Pine and Cardinal courses. Green fees are around $65 which puts The Club at Diamondhead at a high value target for some great Mississippi golf.
One of the best parts about traveling around the country to play golf is running into like minded golfers in other states. Usually when I hit the scene at a destination, I receive a handful of Instagram messages from golfers looking for a game or just offering up a helpful suggestion. The message that I received from @abkgolf was slightly different. Benj stated that I had partly inspired a life change for him.
“Uh oh, here goes another guy that hates my high kicks and wants to punch my face.”
As it turns out Benj quit his job in finance to pursue a more fulfilling life in the game of golf. My RGV Tour in 2018 had helped him take the plunge into a life of golf and eternal happiness. Read this story about Benj if you want to feel inspired. I am proud to be a small part of Benj’s journey.
Naturally, we hit it off immediately and golfed our balls with passion on the front nine. By the time the back nine rolled around, I had given him the nickname Swampy B for no particularly good reason, and I challenged him to a straight up match play duel.
We weren’t playing for cash, we were playing for pushups. Well, 65 jumping jacks, 75 sit-ups, and 125 pushups to be precise. The loser of this golf match wasn’t going to lose any money, they were going to earn their Presidential physical fitness badge.
We fast forward the pillow fight of mediocre golf until the 18th hole. Swampy B is 1 up, I am in the house with bogey. Benj has a putt to tie my score, remain 1 up, and send me into full cardio mode. It’s safe to say the gravity of the moment got to Swampy B.
“I would have loved to have made my 25 footer on 18 and watch Patrick do 65 jumping jacks, but instead I missed by roughly seven feet.”
One of the biggest surprises from Coastal Mississippi came on my visit to The Oaks. It’s not on any of the usual must play lists but I am certainly adding it to mine. As advertised, the golf course is framed by plenty of oak trees and will challenge visiting golfers to stay inside of the ropes. For those that manage to keep it in play, good scores await.
When the sun peaked out onto the green grass at The Oaks, I was able to get some of my favorite images from the trip. The par 5 6th hole and par 3 12th were some of my favorites. At $89 for prime time and $49 for twilight, The Oaks delivers mega value.
The big name in the Coastal Mississippi golf lineup belongs to the Tom Fazio creation, Fallen Oak. However, it wasn’t just business as usual for my visit to Fallen Oak this time, I was in town for the Rapiscan Systems Charity Challenge. At the Charity Challenge, each Champions Tour Profesional is paired up with 4 amateurs. Our professional for the event was the critically acclaimed Scott Parel. Please find a list of Scott’s accomplishments below.
3 PGA Tour Champions victories
Finished 5th in the 2018 Schwab Cup Rankings
$5,945,684 in lifetime Champions Tour earnings
Played with PJKoenig in the 2021 Rapiscan Systems Charity Challenge
Mr Parel waits patiently as he prepares to make another birdie.
Even though the Rapiscan Systems Classic tournament was officially postponed, the Rapiscan Systems Charity challenge played on. The most important news…. The Charity Challenge raised a whopping $2,367,882.00 for local charities. *loud applause is heard
The format for the Challenge was a net shamble best ball or NSBB. Which means all golfers hit a drive and then everyone plays their own ball in from the very best drive. The best net score from all golfers is then recorded.
Pro Tip: Leverage of key net scoring partners is key to performing well in the NSBB.
Even though our team managed to make a glorious net eagle on the very difficult 18th hole, we would finish 2 shots back of the winning score of 50 by Steve Flesch and his pencil whipping partners. You can catch all of the action in my Coastal MS Instagram story highlight.
All combined, this crew has made $5,945,684 playing professional golf.
The Top Secret Hotels and Hot Spots
Even though it’s location is secret and heavily fortified, I was able to penetrate the Coastal Mississippi headquarters and retrieve this exclusive insider’s map of the 62 miles of coastline in Mississippi. Please use it wisely as you review my options for entertainment and lodging that sync up nicely with a heavy golf agenda.
Secret Coast Hotels
With a central location, Harrah’s Gulf Coast in Biloxi is a perfect launch pad to enjoy all of the nearby golf glory. Fallen Oak, The Preserve, Shell Landing, and Grand Bear are all within 20 minutes of the hotel. They also have a wicked pool for savage cannonballs and a decent casino for those that like to hit the craps and jack the black.
The view from at the Bay Town Inn
Pool view at Harrah’s Gulf Coast
Apartment like living at the Bay Town Inn
With a quaint beach cottage Inn type vibe, I felt like I was part of a community right away. Additionally, downtown Bay Town is a seriously happening scene and the Bay Town Inn provides the perfect access to the hot coastal action. I would highly recommend the Thorny Oyster and then checking out the local nearby beach dives afterwards.
Secret Coast Hot Spots
Mississippi Aquarium - Biloxi, MS
This was my favorite non golfing activity in Coastal Mississippi. With a wide range of sea life and aquatic action to take in, I was mesmerized for several hours before the Pro Am reception party began. They have penguins, armadillos and the only shark in the world that has undergone a spinal fusion. Her name is Stella. Stella is the Tiger Woods of sharks. If you have the time, the aquarium is worth a visit.
These fish just swim around in circles forever.
Pop Brothers in downtown Ocean Springs offers an elite Oreo Cheesecake popsicle.
Stella the spinal fusion shark
If quaint Main Street communities set amongst the shores of the Gulf and nestled amongst the live oaks isn’t your thing, then you need to check yourself before you wreck yourself. For me, this is totally the vibe. Ocean Springs has all of the hot shops, boutiques, and restaurants that you could dream of. Most importantly, they have lots of live music on the weekends and artisan popsicles.
That’s it folks, the cat is out of the bag and the beans have been spilled. The secrets of the Secret Coast have been revealed. Feel free to plunder the treasures of Coastal Mississippi.