Oaks Golf Club

Guest (cart included), played on Monday, May 2021 at 10:58 AM

Although Biloxi, MS is best known for its beaches and casinos, its appeal to golfers and golf travelers is growing quickly. Coastal Mississippi has some amazing and stunning golf courses, with plenty of courses for the public to play, numerous restaurants to eat at, and the opportunity to win big at one of the many casinos. It’s a chance for a hole-in-one and a million-dollar jackpot all in the same day! There are 12 courses immediately in the Biloxi area; several more if you don’t mind putting a few miles on the rental car. Here’s my take on a few of them.

The Oaks Golf Club is one of the most memorable rounds of golf you’ll play on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The course weaves its way through native wetlands and majestic timberlands and over the years has challenged some of the best players in the game as host of the former Nike/Buy.com Tour in 1999 and 2000. The course bore the brunt of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 and over 3,000 trees were lost, although unless you knew better, you’d hardly notice. As you make your way around this par-72 championship layout you’ll find lush fairways with strategically place bunkers off the tee and around the green, dramatic green complexes, creating a serene and peaceful golf experience. The course is not owned by a casino and is open to everyone.

When it comes to dining options, you can’t go wrong with what each of the casinos has to offer: incredible buffets as well as high-end steakhouses. Get outside the casinos and head into the towns of Ocean Springs and Biloxi and I have a couple of suggestions. Patio 44 in Biloxi is known for its fresh take on classic Creole-style dishes that incorporate the freshest ingredients available from the Delta and Gulf Coast regions, dishes like shrimp and grits, fried catfish tacos, and seafood gumbo. The Buckhead Certified Angus Beef they serve is aged for a minimum of 21 days. Patio 44 also offers one of the most unique – and delicious – appetizers I’ve ever had. Their Debris Fries are a “southern take” on Canadian poutine. Perfectly cooked French fries with braised beef trimmings, brown gravy, and melted cheese, garnished with green onions. It’s a must! >

Maison de Lu is Ocean Springs is another great choice. New Jersey native Luann Ellis left the snow and headed for Gulf Coast over 20 years ago and now calls Ocean Springs home. Maison De Lu is located in the heart of downtown Ocean Springs and serves some interesting creations. The Goat Cheese Torte is delicious; layered with sundried tomatoes and pesto and served with warm pita chips. The New Zealand Rack of Lamb is sliced into chops and served with the sauce du jour. The side dishes are amazing; Roasted Red Beets, Roasted Mushrooms and Onions, and a great alternative to potatoes, Twice Baked Cauliflower.

This is just a brief glimpse into everything Coastal Mississippi has to offer golfers. From great drives on the course to short drives to everything you want to do off the course, The Secret Coast has got you covered. For more information, visit them online at www.coastalmississippi.com

Guest (cart included), played on Thursday, April 2020 at 12:00 PM

The Oaks Golf Club, located in Pass Christian, MS is a one-of-a-kind golf club. The course is situated among the majestic timberlands and native wetlands of Mississippi’s Golf Coast and provides an unforgettable golfing experience. The Oaks Golf Club first opened in 1998 and over the years has received its fair share of accolades including 4 ½ Stars as a “Best Places to Play” from Golf Digest, “Best Courses You Can Play” by Golf Week Magazine, “Best Course on the Coast” by readers of Coast Magazine and “Golf Course of the Year for the Mississippi Gulf Coast”, The National Golf Course Owners Association.

Over the years, the Oaks has also challenged some of the best players in the country, serving as a host course for the former Nike Tour/Buy.com Tour(now the PGA TOUR’s Nationwide Series) in 1999 and 2000. They also hosted the first stage of the PGA TOUR Qualifying School in 2003.

The Oaks Golf Club was originally owned by Landmark Land and was designed in-house by two employees, Stephen Caplinger and Chris Cole. The course bore the brunt of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 and over 3,000 trees were lost, although unless you knew better, you’d hardly notice. Russ Bloom is the Owner and General Manager and is well-respected in the golf industry. Russ played college golf at San Diego State and then as a touring professional for four years and now coaches several of the top high school and college players in the area.

As you make your way around this par-72 championship layout you’ll find lush fairways with strategically place bunkers off the tee and around the green, dramatic green complexes, creating a serene and peaceful golf experience.

The first four holes at Oak Hills Golf Club set the stage for what’s to come. Many players will consider them short however they are extremely tight and require a tremendous deal of accuracy. Getting off to a good start on these holes is essential so you may want to consider something less than driver off the tee. On these holes, positioning is much more important than length.

Number 6 is a good looking par 5 dogleg left that seems to just keep turning left. At 517 yards from the Blue tees, long-ball hitters may be able to go for the green in two with a good drive down the right side. There’s a lot of undulation in the fairway which can lead to the dreaded uneven lie! For many players, the bunkers on either side of the fairway about 70 yards from the green can easily come into play on the layup shot. The elevated green slopes back right to front left and is guarded by a very deep bunker on the right.

Hole #7 is a challenging par-3 and features the only water hazard on the front nine. It plays 172 yards from the Blue tees over a pond to an elevated green with a deep bunker between water and green.As you make your way around the course, you’ll find areas where the rough is considerably longer; it’s not exactly wetlands however it might be when it rains. Bringing any of these areas into play can make a par a lot tougher. Number 13 is a good example of this. It’s a dogleg right, par 4 with deep grass on the right, near the corner of the dogleg. Off the tee, the landing area gets smaller is you reach the corner of the dogleg, so it may be wise to hit something less than a driver. A good drive will leave a mid-length approach shot into a well elevated green protected by a long narrow green on the left.

Seventeen and eighteen are two good length par 4s and perhaps the best back-to-back finishing holes on the gulf coast. Number 17 plays 396 yards from the Blue tees and, if the wind is blowing, it’s probably in your face. Fairway bunkers are in play on either side off the tee, with the one on the right being a lot more difficult to play from. The green features lots of undulation and is guarded by a bunker front right. Number 18 is a long narrow hole that plays 411 yards with a fairway bunker on the right side that can be reached off the tee. Most players will be looking at a long iron or hybrid into the elevated green that is flanked by deep bunkers on either side, There’s nothing wrong with ending the round with a par!

The Oaks Gold Club offers a tax-free membership program (There is no tax on membership programs in the state of Mississippi). The Platinum Membership program includes unlimited golf, cart, and unlimited range balls, 14-day advanced tee times, complimentary tournaments in July and December and much more! Fees run $199/month for an individual/$299 for a couple. Bigger discounts are available if you pay upfront! The Oaks will even throw in a free hat! Corporate and Group Rate memberships are also available.

The Oaks Golf Card also offers tremendous value and makes a great gift. For $99 you’ll receive a complimentary first round of golf as well as entry in two tournaments of your choosing, a free replay, a comped twilight round when you bring three paying guests, 10 small buckets of range balls and lost more.

Last Word: The Oaks Golf Club is a lot of fun to play, no matter whether you’re a seasoned veteran golfer or just taking up the game. This well-treed parkland golf course has plenty of water and wetlands, coming into play on no less than half the holes. The greens are in great shape and roll true. It’s obvious that the maintenance crew is diligent in their efforts to keep The Oaks Club looking as good as it does.

The Oaks features a good mix of wide-open holes and those that require control off the tee. It takes a good mental game as well if you want to post a low score out here. Bunkers seem to be very penal; deep with a lot of mounding around them. Nothing wrong with that.

The next time you’re considering a golf trip to Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, be sure to include at least one round at The Oaks Golf Club. Tee times are available online and through most golf packagers. Tee times are available online and through most golf packagers.

$41 (cart included), played on Sunday, February 2011 at 10am

Very nice course, nice people. definitely would play here again. Check out their discount card before you pay. We found out afterward we could have paid for the card on the first round. Good challenging layout.

$41 (cart included), played on Saturday, July 2010 at 6am

Love this place. Always in great shape, greens are perfect. The staff is friendly and helpfull. A golf course ran the way you would expect.Well done.