BILOXI, Miss. -- Beau Rivage Resort & Casino recently re-opened after a dramatic $550-million renovation and is now poised to become one of the nation's top golf destination resorts. Its brand-new Tom Fazio-designed Fallen Oak course combines Southern charm and ambience with golf of the highest caliber.
Like MGM Mirage's renowned Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, only instead of the desert, the Fallen Oak course is an oasis in the midst of a forest. Now, envision service that will rival the finest country clubs and a course that will leave no leaf unturned in its quest for providing the perfect golf experience. Fallen Oak will be available exclusively for guests of Beau Rivage.
That vision has come to life with Fallen Oak's grand opening this month. Only the second golf course built by MGM Mirage for its guests, Fallen Oak promises to become one of the nation's top resort courses and a must-play destination for golf getaways and casual vacationers alike.
The multi-million-dollar course features dramatic elevation changes -- rare for a Gulf Coast course -- and more than 4,000 stately oaks, magnolias, pines and other hardwood trees. Fallen Oak is located on a 510-acre tract at the edge of the DeSoto National Forest, 15 miles north of Beau Rivage.
From the moment guests enter the lush and picturesque course through the gated front entrance, they will know they are someplace special. With a personal greeting upon arrival, swing tips on the practice facility, exceptional caddie service, on-course food and beverage and chilled scented towels, Beau Rivage guests will find a round at Fallen Oak delivers an experience that is memorable and unrivaled in the region.
"This spectacular course will be the final piece of the destination resort puzzle for Beau Rivage," said George Corchis, president and chief operating officer of MGM Mirage's Mississippi resorts, which includes Beau Rivage in Biloxi, and Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica. "The inherent beauty of the terrain provides an outstanding natural canvas for Fazio's latest golf masterpiece."
As for the course itself, it promises to deliver golf that will test every element of the game. Stretching to a hearty 7,487 yards from the back tees, Fallen Oak will offer golfers five sets of tees and strategic play options as each hole winds through ever-changing terrain and environments.
"I am so excited by the finished golf course at Fallen Oak," said Fazio. "The entire team came together and the final product will rival any course in the Southeast. Couple that with a commitment to the highest quality by Beau Rivage, and this project promises to be viewed as one of the best new courses in America."
To build Fallen Oak, Fazio's crews transplanted more than 1,000 oaks, pines, magnolias and other hardwood trees, some 60 feet or taller; moved 580,000 cubic yards of soil; and laid 125 acres of sod, enough to cover 96 football fields, to give the course a very mature feeling from day one. They laid 20 miles of drainage pipe and 26 miles of irrigation pipe as a precursor to a state-of-the-art irrigation system and created dramatic, sprawling bunkers that hold 3,500 tons of Tour Grade Signature Blend sand.
The course features tiff eagle Bermuda grass on the greens, 419 Bermuda grass in the fairways, zoysia grass flanking the bunkers and creeks and Bahia grass in the native areas.
The greens will be equipped with a SubAir system, which allows the course to control air circulation and moisture content by vacuuming the water out of the greens. The short list of courses using SubAir reads like a Where's Where of Golf: Augusta National in Georgia, The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, S.C., Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head and Shadow Creek are just a sample of the courses employing the system.
The course also features 10 bridges and concealed cart paths to protect and enhance the natural features of the terrain.
The clubhouse and practice facilities alone put Fallen Oak among the top courses in the region. Built to resemble an Acadian-style Southern mansion, the 12,000-square-foot clubhouse will house a 1,000-square-foot golf shop and locker facilities. The 70-seat lounge and restaurant will feature top-level dining and panoramic views of the ninth and 18th holes, as well as the majestic live oak that gives Fallen Oak its name.
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