Mississippi invests in professional golf
The spotlight will be shining on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi this week when the PGA Champions Tour comes to Fallen Oak, a Tom Fazio design and amenity of the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, from April 28 to May 2.
The Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic – which will primarily benefit Habitat for Humanity – is expected to attract more than 60,000 golf fans to the area and some of the biggest names in golf, including as many as 15 major champions and six World Golf Hall of Famers. In addition, a worldwide television audience will watch the action on the Golf Channel, which reaches more than 160 million estimated households globally.
While Mississippi has already established itself as one of the world’s best golf-and-gaming destinations, hosting a PGA event is about much more than just golf. The Gulf Coast Business Council spearheaded the financial foundation for the tournament with the hope of displaying a continuing sign of revival for the Gulf Coast five years after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
As the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic nears its opening tee shot, Mary Beth Wilkerson, the state’s Tourism Director, and her team are primed to show golf fans who flock to the region just how much the state has to offer beyond top-ranked golf courses and casinos.
Wilkerson – who has been with the MDA since 1991 – took some time to answer questions about the economic impact of the tournament and the lasting effect she expects it to have for the Magnolia State.
How important is it from a tourism standpoint to be able to host events like the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic at Fallen Oak as well as the Viking Classic, the annual PGA Tour stop held at Annandale Golf Club in Madison each fall?
Any time you can get a prominent event that will bring the caliber of players that these events typically bring, it’s really beneficial for the entire state and region. We’re also going to get some great exposure from the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic with the Golf Channel broadcasting the tournament. That gives us a chance to show golf fans worldwide that we can host an event of this stature and make it happen in a tough economy.
What kind of economic impact will the tournament have on the state?
We’re expecting a $15-million economic impact. But what’s great is that number will likely end up being even bigger through time because we’re going to draw a lot of first-time visitors. We expect this event to bring in some people who wouldn’t have otherwise come to the area. And once we get them here, the hope is to show them such a good time that they will become repeat visitors.
Fallen Oak has received numerous national accolades over the last few years, including being ranked No. 19 on Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses and second on Golfweek’s Top Casino Courses. How exciting is it for the state to be able to showcase the course on a big stage?
Oh, we can’t wait for the fans to see it. It’s an absolutely magnificent place. But because it’s an amenity of the Beau Rivage, the only time visitors have had the chance to see it is if they came out and actually played it. With the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic, we are going to allow so many more people to walk the course. I’m sure there are plenty of people who have heard about Fallen Oak, but have never been there. This event will enable them to go there, see its beauty and then hopefully make them want to come back and play it themselves.
Is it your hope that hosting this event will lead to other prominent events coming to the area?
Absolutely. All of the parties involved with this event are putting their best foot forward. We’re pulling out all of the stops to ensure that this is a top-notch event. We want to prove that Mississippi is more than willing and able to host other big events.
The main attraction of the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic will obviously be golf, but we’re guessing you’d like to show the fans and players that there’s more than just great golf here in Mississippi.
Without a doubt. We always love to showcase our golf courses. But we want to show people the other attributes we can offer such as the many gaming options and great restaurants as well as the wide variety of entertainment and other outdoor recreation options. We’re excited to show people that five years after Katrina, the Gulf Coast is back and is a truly wonderful travel destination for all kinds of people with different tastes. We’re so appreciative that this event is going allow us to do just that.