DESTINATION TUNICA, MISS.

In Tune Down South PHOTO COURTESY OF TUNICA NATIONAL GC The northwest corner of Mississippi has experienced a Hazards are not in short supply remarkable rebound. at Tunica National Golf Club.

olf during the day; Mississippi as the country’s No. 1 music, slots, cards or state for economic recovery from dice at night. the 1990 recession. It noted legal- No, we’re not talk- ized gambling as the major con- ing Vegas or Reno. In tributing factor. fact, there’s an alternative to flying Today, there is no question what Gall the way to Nevada. It’s the north- drives the local economic engine. west corner of Mississippi, just Nine casinos have been built in and south of Memphis, where the golf around Tunica, and there are more season is long and hot, and it even than 6,300 new hotel rooms and is within manageable driving dis- suites. To run this industry, it has tance (about 550 miles) from been estimated that 15,000 new Chicago. jobs have been created. The area is Tunica, Miss., and it In more recent times, business is a story of a remarkable transfor- has shown steady improvement, in mation. part due to a shift in the customer In the mid-1980s, Tunica County base following the damage to gam- was reported to be one of the 25 ing sites caused along the Gulf counties in the U.S. with the lowest Coast by Hurricane Katrina three per capita income. The Mississippi years ago. State Legislature OK’d legalized Similarly, golf has boomed PHOTO BY ASSOCIATED PRESS gaming in 1990, and just one year throughout the state. In 2003, the later, residents of Tunica County Mississippi Development Authority jumped on board with their Division of Tourism announced approval. plans for the establishment of The area’s first gaming establish- the Magnolia Golf Trail, a series of ment opened its doors on Oct. 19, 14 courses that stretch from the 1992, and just one year later, U.S. Tennessee state line to the Gulf Graceland has become one of America’s must-visit News & World Report ranked of Mexico. tourist destinations.

32 WWW.CDGA.ORG West Memphis Memphis TENNESSEE ARKANSAS 147 10 61 78 “The Magnolia Golf Trail offers 175 golfers convenient access to a wealth 6 55 Olive Branch of unique, highly-rated golf venues at Walls Horn Lake 302 affordable prices,” said Robert 131 Rohrlack, Jr., the Authority’s executive Byhalia Lake Cormorant 305 director. “This is a collaborative effort to educate golfers on what Mississippi 9 4 Banks 304 MISSISSIPPI offers.” 2 This year, Mississippi marks its 61 51 Cockrum Holly Springs 40th anniversary of being the site of a 309 PGA Tour stop. Inaugurated as the 3 3 Tunica Independence Magnolia State Classic and since 5 1 renamed three different times, this 7 Coldwater Evansville year’s Viking Classic will be played in 8 Waterford late September, opposite the Ryder Cup, at Annandale Golf Club in Madison. Besides golf, visitors to Mississippi who have an interest in music will find Tunica: Things to see and do a trove of interesting sites. 1 KIRKWOOD NATIONAL GOLF LINKS. Golf Digest rates 6 THE CLUB AT NORTH CREEK. This is a popular facility The small town of Robinsonville, a Kirkwood as a top-10 course in Mississippi. Vastly different for regulars in the Memphis area, but the 10-year-old few miles from Tunica, was home to terrain is featured throughout the course, where architect course in Southaven, Miss., is hardly a pushover. There’s a Robert Johnson, considered by such Greg Conner made prudent use of the natural hill country, nice variety of greens, and the Tracy May design asks storied musicians as Eric Clapton and native creeks, steep cliffs and scenic lakes. players to hit a number of different shots. Keith Richards as perhaps being the www.kirkwoodgolf.com www.northcreekclub.com greatest folk blues guitar player, writer and singer that ever lived. 2 RIVER BEND LINKS. Golf course architect Clyde 7 MISSISSIPPI BLUES TRAIL. The Blues Trail consists of Sadly, in 1938, at the young age of 27, Johnston describes River Bend Links as “a field of dunes.” more than 120 locations throughout the state. From legends Johnson was poisoned by a jealous Massive amounts of dirt were moved to transform the dead- like Robert Johnson, B.B King and Muddy Waters to the king bar owner. flat cotton fields to look this way. Mounds and native of Rock n’ Roll, Elvis Presley, it gives viewers a regional At the time of Johnson’s death, grasses create the illusion of a storied links course. understanding of where and how the music started. another legendary musician was just a www.riverbendlinks.com www.msbluestrail.org young boy. Elvis Presley, who would eventually become one of the most 3 THE LINKS AT COTTONWOODS. The Hale Irwin- 8 TUNICA RIVERPARK MUSEUM. influential and iconic rock n’ roll stars designed course earned a top-40 casino courses award by The 24,000 square-foot museum features exhibits that in history, was born in Tupelo, not far Golf Digest. It features fascinating green complexes with focus on the Delta, wildlife, the levee system and the from where Johnson and many other unusual humps and hollows and recently has added native economic impact of the region. River cruises are offered as blues musicians had set the tone and grasses to return the course to a windswept, links-land feel. well as a 130-acre riverside forest with walking trails. style for Mississippi Delta Blues www.harrahs.com/golf/cottonwoods-golf-course www.tunicariverpark.com sound. In March 2007, Presley’s Memphis 4 TUNICA NATIONAL GOLF CLUB. PGA Tour player Mark 9 BLUES AND LEGENDS HALL OF FAME MUSEUM. mansion, Graceland, was named a McCumber took a bland cotton field and transformed it into Opened in 1998 in Robinsonville, Miss., for blues and music National Historic Landmark. It a spectacular test of golf. With 14 lakes and 93 devilish fans, comprehensive exhibits tell the stories of the all-time remains a popular spot for visitors, bunkers, it is best experienced from the correct set of tees greats, provide a history of guitars and harmonicas, share especially around the anniversaries of to match one’s abilities. extensive photo galleries and countless pieces of Presley’s birth and death. www.tunicanational.com memorabilia. The roster of famous blues artists www.bluesmuseum.org coming from the Delta is extensive, 5 DANCING RABBIT GOLF CLUB. It’s a drive of more and is commemorated by more than than two hours from Memphis, but the Azaleas Course is 10 GRACELAND. The 14-acre estate of Elvis Presley offers 120 markers throughout the state by ranked No. 2 in the state by Golfweek magazine and the visitors a fascinating 90-minute tour that includes a the Mississippi Blues Commission and Oaks Course is No. 5. Set among rolling hills, either collection of his gold records, photos, career honors and The Blues Trail. course, one designed by Tom Fazio and the other by Jerry awards, many of his costumes and mementos from his Pate, offers a refreshing golf experience with secluded stage and musical career. An informative audio tour is ——Brian Oar, Amy Parker and routings and serene playing corridors. available in any of eight languages. Rich Skyzinski www.dancingrabbitgolf.com www.elvis.com

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