MBJ Come See Us 2016

A product of the

tourism, meetings & conventions in Mississippi

Spring 2015

The award goes to ... Mississippi Grammy and more museums, 4-6

ALL-STAR SUMMER Southern League is taking its All-Star game to Trustmark Park in Pearl, 22-23

MBJ Golf Trail Tips on where to stay, eat and have fun on your golf vacation, 7-21

More than a business journal Here are a few services that we can deliver: The whole field of media and communications has changed radically in the past few years. Our goal is to keep pace with the change, with products and services that reflect the constantly evolving digital world.

What hasn’t changed is this:

Content is King, and it always will be.

The information you deliver to your clients and prospects has a huge impact on how they see ad respond to you. It’s more than promotional messages - you need to deliver content that they care about and find useful to their needs.

1. A custom, full color quality magazine of your own, in digital or print form, or both.

2. A daily or weekly e-alert.

Let us help you with just that. With over 30 years as Mississippi’s premier business publication and website, we have the experience and know-how to help you create the right applications to touch your customers in a positive ways.

3. A basic YouTube channel.

Please contact us and we’d be happy to meet with you, learn about your business and prepare D FXVWRP TXRWH WKDW ZLOO À W \RXU EXGJHW DQG SURYLGH PD[LPXP EHQHÀ W DW D PLQLPDO FRVW

For further information: Alan Turner, 601-364-1021 or Tami Jones, 601-364-1011

A product of the

ippi

in Mississ tourism, meetings & conventions

Spring 2015

4 Museums

The award goes to ... Mississippi Grammy and more museums,

4-6

ALL-STAR SUMMER Southern League is taking its All-Star game to Trustmark Park in Pearl, 22-23

WHAT’S INSIDE

MBJ Golf Trail ere Tips on wh to stay, eat and have fun f gol r on you 1 vacation, 7-2

»The cover The Grammy Museum Mississippi opened its doors in early March in Cleveland, Miss. It is the only other Grammy museum outside of Los Angeles and incorporates both national and Mississippi exhibits.

Photo credits: Main photo by Rory Doyle courtesy of Grammy Museum Mississippi; baseball courtesy of Mississippi Braves; Tunica National golf photo courtesy of Tunica CVB.

Mississippi’s musical heritage includes icons Elvis, Robert Johnson, B.B. King and others, and it comes to life with national figures at the Grammy Museum that recently opened in the Mississippi Delta. Additionally, we look at other important and unusual museums in the state.

7 Golf trail Challenge some of the state’s best nonprivate golf courses as part of the Mississippi Business Journal Golf Trail. In addition to places to play, it includes suggestions on where to stay, eat and have fun at each site.

22 All-Star Baseball The best Southern League baseball players will converge on Trustmark Park in Pearl this summer for the Double-A league’s All-Star Game. We have the details.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS » LISA MONTI: Lisa Monti is a freelance writer/photographer/blogger in Bay St. Louis.

A USM grad, she has hosted a radio show and co-written a travel book about Mississippi.

Most recently, her work for Success Magazine was recognized in min’s Editorial and Design Awards for “excellence in content and design among consumer and b-to-b media brands.”

» BECKY GILLETTE: A free-lance writer\photographer whose work has been published in about 50 magazines and newspapers nationwide, Becky Gillette’s articles have appeared in Ladies Home Journal, Organic Gardening, Utne Reader, E, The Environmental Magazine, Builder, BioScience, In Business, Mississippi Business Journal and Furrow. She received the 2008 Special Achievement Award from Sierra Club for work done to expose formaldehyde poisoning in FEMA trailers and other buildings. She was named Mississippi 2008 Small Business Journalist of the Year by the Small Business Administration.

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MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL STAFF ALAN TURNER Publisher alan.turner@msbusiness.com

TED CARTER Staff Writer ted.carter@msbusiness.com

TACY RAYBURN Production Manager tacy.rayburn@msbusiness.com

ROSS REILY Editor ross.reily@msbusiness.com

TAMI JONES Advertising Director tami.jones@msbusiness.com

FRANK BROWN Staff Writer/Special Projects frank.brown@msbusiness.com

MELISSA KILLINGSWORTH Account Executive melissa.harrison@ msbusiness.com

CHARINA RHODES Administrative Assistant charina.rhodes@ msbusiness.com

JACK WEATHERLY Staff Writer jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

VIRGINIA HODGES Account Executive virginia.hodges@msbusiness.com

MARCIA THOMPSON-KELLY Business Assistant marcia.kelly@msbusiness.com Subscription Services (800) 451-9998

STAY. RELAX. DINE. Delta.

THE ALLUVIAN HOTEL • THE ALLUVIAN SPA • VIKING COOKING SCHOOL • GIARDINA’S A cosmopolitan boutique hotel deep in the Delta 318 Howard Street Greenwood, MS 662.453.2114 thealluvian.com

’COME SEE US’– Tourism, Meetings & Conventions

Spring 2016

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3

The Grammy goes to...

MISSISSIPPI Rory Doyle / Courtesy of Grammy Museum Mississippi

Several hundred attended the grand opening of the Grammy Museum Mississippi on March 5. It is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and noon-5:30 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit grammymuseumms.org.

State gets prize for its spin on music

By Jack Weatherly / MBJ staff writer CLEVELAND — We enter the museum exhibit space and our guide takes us first to what might be expected.

The Prize.

Like a spinning disc, the museum revolves around it.

Evolutionary versions of it, all based on the old Gramophone, are in see-through cases. The current award is 8.5 inches tall, weighs five pounds, is handmade from a patented zinc alloy called Grammium and is 24-karatgold plated.

It has taken its place alongside the other trophies in the entertainment world – the Oscar, the Emmy, the Tony.

The Grammy industry has grown immensely in its 58 years. The pie this year was sliced into 83 categories –

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Spring 2016

and even 103, depending how you cut it.

And Mississippi has taken its place alongside the national musical shrines, politically engineered or historically deserving. Among its companions: Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, where country music came down from the hills and found a wholesome home in the former Union Gospel Tabernacle; Sun Studio in Memphis, the birthplace of rock ’n’ roll, even though Cleveland, Ohio finagled the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

This is Grammy Museum: Mississippi.

It is the Delta darlin’ of its Los Angeles daddy.

As has been said ad nauseam and ad delirium, the Delta is the mother of American music, the blues. But that other progenitor, country, well, it comes from another place. That’s covered, too.

’COME SEE US’– Tourism, Meetings & Conventions

“The birthplace of American music is certainly the perfect place for the first Grammy Museum outside of Los Angeles” Neil Portnow, president and chief executive of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, said at the grand opening of the museum in Cleveland, Miss., on March 5.

The academy has already made it clear the Grammy expansion is not over. Grammy Museum: Tennessee?

But this is Mississippi’s day in the Grammy sun.

The award’s analog time line on the walls takes you from the beginning, to the first televised ceremony in 1971, to Michael Jackson’s mega-year in 1983 for the “Thriller” album and so on.

Our pre-opening guide, Crystal Larsen, communications manager for the Los Angeles Grammy Museum, brings us to the first interactive stop in the 28,000-square-foot edifice, the “Grammy Awards Hall of Fame,” for achievements at least 25 years old.

No Mississippians here. They’re all in the Mississippi Room. More on that later.

There are the usual coat and gown shows, including a rarity, a conservative three-piece suit worn by Count Basie, and an early jumpsuit worn by Elvis, before the emperor collar and cape.

And outfits from the red carpet of the annual awards ceremony – including one worn by Beyonce, and voodooish getups worn by Dr. John and Cee Lo Green.

The famous-guitars case has what you might expect – including Dylan’s 1965 electric that re-tuned America’s ear at the Newport Folk Festival, and nearly created a well-mannered riot, and Hendrix’s instrument on which he likewise changed the course of popular music just a few years later.

Tucked into the exhibit is a bit of Mississippiana: an amp and speaker made by Peavey Electronics of Meridian. In the Iconic Instruments case you can see a sitar once owned by Ravi Shankar, the Indian musician the Beatles “discovered” and who influenced their music, especially George Harrison’s.

The Beatles Symposium was scheduled for April 1 and 2 the first special outreach for the museum, through its partner, Delta State University.

Rory Doyle / Courtesy of Grammy Museum Mississippi

In the Mississippi Room, wear headphones to learn about state artists who influenced the world.

“Seventy-five to 80 percent of what we will be doing is education, changing kids’ lives” through music, the arts and history, museum Executive Director Emily Haven said.

A 30-teacher advisory committee has built a curriculum that includes such things as the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement, the blues and dancing, she said.

Now for participatory fun (or lighthearted frustration) after the handsoff stuff.

Step into a recording booth and collaborate with Keb’ Mo’ and co-create a song by using a paint-by-the-numbers touch screen. Then send it to the producer’s booth, where you can mix your recording.

Somehow my effort at sounding soulful and bluesy got lost somewhere

’COME SEE US’– Tourism, Meetings & Conventions

Spring 2016

between the booths and is rockin’ around somewhere in cyberspace.

Or try the dance moves as you get on-screen instructions and encouragement from Ne-Yo “I think you got it,” he says. No, kind sir. But this 12year-old girl might have a shot at it.

Last and best is the Mississippi Room.

It is dominated by an interactive table that looks like it’s designed for craps. It is for those who gambled – most had no other choice – on the risks of a musical career, and won, or at least are remembered, which some say is the same thing.

Put on the headphones and fingerwade in the waters from one artist to another, influencers and influenced.

And know mo’ bettah you been to Mississippi.

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5

A state full of museums

By Lisa Monti The number of Mississippi’s museums is impressive, and the diversity of their collections is a pleasant surprise to those who visit.

The collections, large and small, spotlight Mississippi’s complex history and heritage, showcasing everything from the blues, aviation to autos and agriculture to musicians, the military, maritime, fine arts and even Coca-Cola in bottles.

Museums dedicated to famous Mississippians abound: Elvis, B.B. King, Eudora Welty, Howlin’ Wolf and Jim Henson, the Muppets creator. The Mississippi River’s 1927 flood is the subject of one museum, as are clocks, rocks and stitchery.

The Yellow Fever Martyrs Church Museum in a pre-Civil War church in Holly Springs tells the story of the epidemic of 1878 which devastated the city.

One of the most popular museums has its unique spin on the history of aerospace. Infinity in Hancock County is affiliated with the nearby NASA Stennis Space Center, which tests rockets before they take flight. The center greets about 55,000 visitors a year from all over the world.

Exhibits show the various missions of the space center including an F-1 rocket engine, a weather buoy and a riverine boat used by Navy SEALS who train nearby.

Nearly 20 museums in the state are dedicated to art: folk art, fine art, Native American basketry, contemporary and decorative by renowned Mississippi artists Walter Anderson and eccentric potter George Ohr, both of whom have impressive museums on the Coast that are dedicated to their work.

Museums reflecting African-American culture are in numerous, including the Canton Multicultural Center and Museum that recounts the Civil Rights movement as well as celebrating business successes, family life and community spirit of African Americans.

The contributions of firefighters get the spotlight at Jackson Public Fire Safety Education Center and Fire Museum, Old Number One Firehouse Museum in Greenville and West End Hose

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There’s also the unusual With so many museums, you would expect that Mississippi is home to a few unusual collections. Here’s a look at a handful of them. » The Biedenharn family’s confectionary shop in Vicksburg evolved into a candy company that was housed in a two story building that dates back to 1890. The family was the first to bottle Coca-Cola. In 1979 the Biedenharns filled the store with photos and other memorabilia to tell the story of their family’s close relationship with the Coca-Cola brand.

The Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum is at 1107 Washington St. Learn more at biedenharncocacolamuseum.com. » Yesterday’s Children which houses an extensive collection of 19th and 20th Center dolls and toys. The museum’s gift shop is full of dolls, toys and Civil War souvenirs. The museum is located at 1104 Washington St. in Vicksburg For details, visit yesterdayschildrenmuseum.com/about.htm » The Jaketown Museum in Belzoni contains amazing artifacts that date back to 1750 BC. Jaketown is considered one of the earliest inhabited sites in North America, and the museum displays also include huts showing how the inhabitants lived and hunted in the area north of Belzoni on Highway 7. The museum address is 116 West Jackson St. in Belzoni.

More info at catfishbelzoni@aol.com » The City of Jackson’s Fire Museum honors the longstanding tradition of fire fighting and those who help protect people and property.

Exhibits including historic records, and 1870s parade uniform, helmets, communication equipment and fire fighting apparatus dating back from the early 1800s to current equipment. The address is 355 West Woodrow Wilson Ave. Visit jacksonms.gov/index.aspx?NID=128 » In Ocean Springs, the GI Museum houses displays and hosts living history events in honor of the Americans who have served in the military. Memorabilia includes uniforms and military vehicles. The address is 5796 Ritcher Road. Visit gimuseum.com/ – Lisa Monti

Company No. 3 Museum & Fire Education Center in Biloxi.

Spring 2016

More museums Get visitor information for 124 Mississippi museums by scanning the icon or visit msbusiness.com/museums

With so many historic homes reflecting the state’s cultural history, little wonder that dozens of the modest sites and stately mansions double as museums. These include the beachfront home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in Biloxi; the famous Rowan Oak, home to William Faulkner; Confederate Gen. Pemberton’s Vicksburg headquarters; and several landmarks in Natchez including Rosalie, Monmouth Plantation and the Melrose Estate.

These museums preserve a way of life from Mississippi’s past that is reflected in the rich furnishings, artwork, architecture and gardens.

For history lovers, Mississippi has some specialized museums including one in Biloxi devoted to the spirit of Carnival season. The Mardi Gras Museum houses elaborate costumes from the Coast’s traditional, long-standing celebration of Carnival along with photos, parade “throws” and other memorabilia on display all year round. A smaller but just as colorful museum inside the Historic Depot in Bay St. Louis also displays costumes from Carnival royalty.

For sports lovers, don’t miss the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in Jackson.

One of the state’s most popular museums is the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg. It attracted nearly 48,000 visitors in 2014. The museum has been closed for a year for renovations and is scheduled to reopen in July.

Other museums bring in thousands of visitors each year. The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum drew more than 40,000 visitors last year. Delta Blues Museum has more than 16,000. The Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum recorded approximately 7,500 visitors.

The Mississippi Museum of Art's annual attendance for indoor exhibitions is 90,000. Approximately 160,000 people visit the museum.

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The Mississippi Business Journal

Golf Trail Tour the courses, pages 8-21

7

Non-private courses to wrap your vacation around

The best hook in golf is the activities you can link to your golfing vacation. In the MBJ Golf Trail, we offer suggestions for seven of the state’s top-notch courses and the amenities around them. Just turn the page to start your journey.

Courtesy of Tunica CVB

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Spring 2016

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7

MBJ GOLF TRAIL: BILOXI

PLAY: Fallen

Oak Golf Club

Courtesy of Beau Rivage Resort & Casino

1

A golfing experience to remember

F

ALLEN OAK Golf Club gets its name from a magnificent live oak tree next to the clubhouse. Historians say the tree was struck by lightning a century ago. While one huge branch has "fallen," it continues to grow.

The views from the architecturally elegant clubhouse are so scenic that this has been named One of the 19th Best 19th Holes in the World by Golf Digest.

“The Fallen Oak is an underrated treat,” Golf Digest said. “A sunken bar peers out at the 18th hole, a lake and the eponymous signature tree.”

The 19th hole in golf refers to the place where golfers relax after a game of golf, perhaps recounting both the highlights and disappointments of the round.

At Fallen Oak, one thing that makes the experience particularly rewarding is the serenity of the course even though it is located not far north of the main commercial corridors and casinos of Biloxi.

The golf course built exclusively for guests of the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi is a destination itself for golfers far and wide.

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Fallen Oak Year opened: 2006 Designers: Tom Fazio Dues: Exclusive to guests of Beau Rivage Resort and Casino Greens fees: $200 Yardage: 7,487 yards Par: 72 Website: beaurivage.com Phone: 877-805-4657

“Fallen Oak has given us an opportunity to bring people to Mississippi who wouldn’t come otherwise,” said Rick Gehr, director of golf. “It is a Tom Fazio design, and he is very well known in the golf industry for his designs. He is recognized as the most respected living golf architect today. We are located in the middle of the DeSoto National Forest, so there is no residential development around us. The way Fazio designed the course, you feel like it has been there forever. The layout has a very natural feeling. You feel like you have the place to yourself when you play out here.”

Gehr said it is not just a day to go

Spring 2016

and play golf when you are at Fallen Oaks; it is an experience from the start to the finish.

In addition to a number of other accolades, Fallen Oak has been named the number two casino course in the world by Golf Week.

Golf Week’s number one casino golf course in the world, Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, is also owned by MGM Resorts, the parent company of Fallen Oak and the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi.

Most of the land on the Mississippi Gulf Coast is fairly flat, but the hills in this area provide scenic elevations changes of the type rarely seen on the coast. In addition to beautiful live oak trees on the course, Fallen Oak is also known for unique bunkering. All of the bunkers were redone by Fazio’s team in the summer of 2014.

VIP service is considered a signature offering of Fallen Oak, a gated facility.

“From the time you arrive and pull up in the drive and are greeted, you have great personalized service all along the way,” Gehr said.

– Becky Gillette

’COME SEE US’– Tourism, Meetings & Conventions

MBJ GOLF TRAIL: BILOXI

STAY: Beau Rivage

age Courtesy of Beau Riv

Beau Rivage Resort & Casino (beaurivage.com) is widely regarded as one of the most upscale hotels in the Southeast. Beau Rivage has a winged design that allows a maximum number of rooms to have panoramic views of the water and nearby Deer Island. You enter the hotel through a spacious atrium filled with trees and tropical vegetation. Waterfront rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows that make the bird’s eye views particularly enjoyable. There are also great views from the pool off the second story that has cabanas and lush landscaping. The Spa is popular for destressing, and is next to a comprehensive fitness center with exercise equipment and saunas, steam rooms and plunge pools. You don’t have to get in a car or shuttle for gaming and world-class entertainment either…just get in the elevator and take a short walk. And you are just across the street from the new MGM stadium that hosts the minor league baseball team the Biloxi Schuckers and other events.

EAT: Mary Mahoney’s

Courtesy of Mary Ma hon

ey’s

Mary Mahoney’s Old French House (marymahoneys.com), located across U.S. 90 from the Hard Rock Café and Beau Rivage in Biloxi, has remained one of the Gulf Coast’s most popular upscale restaurants now for more than 52 years. The restaurant is housed in a building that dates back to 1737, and has dining areas with windows overlooking a courthouse graced by an ancient live oak tree named the Patriarch. The most popular dish at Mary Mahoney is seafood gumbo, which has been made from the same recipe for 52 years. It is now shipped all over the country. Fresh shrimp and flounder from the Gulf also get rave reviews from diners. Bread pudding with rum sauce is their signature desert.

FUN: Almost anything you want to do What is there NOT to do on the coast. It’s full of entertainment, history, leisure, gaming and the arts.

To see what lives below the waters of the Mississippi Sound, take a trip on the popular Biloxi Shrimping Tour. Colorful guides entertain and educate people about the marine life diversity of the Coast. Other maritime offerings include the Biloxi Schooner sailboat cruises.

The Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum (maritimemuseum.org) has exhibits on shrimping, oystering, recreational fishing, wetlands, managing marine resources, charter boats, marine blacksmithing, wooden boat building and netmaking.

Don’t miss the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art. The futuristic buildings are an apt tribute to George E. Ohr, whose wacky designs made him known as the Mad Potter of Biloxi.

For history buffs, there is Beauvoir, the Jefferson Davis Home and Presidential Library beauvoir.org), and the 1848 Biloxi Lighthouse on U.S. 90, a 65-foot-tall structure with a spiral staircase, which has waterlines marking hurricanes going back more than 100 years.

On the beaches, there is no shortage of water-related activities including sunbathing, swimming, paddle boarding, windsurfing, jet skiing and paragliding. You can fish from shore, u rea Bu s Visitor ional Convention & or off one of the many piers in the area. The Point Cadet Plaza near the U.S. 80 bridge to ippi Gulf Coast Reg Courtesy of Mississ al. ion at uc ed d an ng Ocean Springs has a splashpad, playground equipment and walking path. ini rta te Tour is en

Biloxi Shrimping

’COME SEE US’– Tourism, Meetings & Conventions

– Becky Gillette

Spring 2016

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MBJ GOLF TRAIL: GULFPORT

2 PLAY: Windance Country Club

A ‘thinking golfer’ kind of course

W

INDANCE COUNTRY Club in Gulfport, which is owned by Island View Casino Resort, is well known for being excellent condition year around.

“It is always in good shape,” said Kyle Ramey, head golf professional for Windance Country Club.

“It is consistent. People can arrive to play and know the golf course is going to be good. It is a fun layout for all skills levels. You pretty much hit all the clubs in your bag when you play Windance.”

The No. 1 thing golfers consistently look for in golf courses is good greens. It makes things fun because you don’t have to try hit the ball hard to get it in the hole.

“People like our greens,” Ramey said. “We are renowned for our putting surfaces. They are always smooth and normally fairly quick.

When greens are smooth and fast, it makes things a lot more enjoyable. I feel our greens are consistently second to none in the area.”

Windance Country Club, located north of 1-10 in Gulfport, has been described as thinking golfer's course. That means you can play the same holes over and over again with different strategies.

“A good thing about Windance is it has a variety of holes where have to use a lot of strategy, and other holes where you can be aggressive and hit the driver hard off the tee,” Ramey said.

10 www.msbusiness.com

Special to the Mississippi Business Journal

Windance has been named “One of America’s Best Golf Courses You Can Play” by Golfweek magazine.

Windance Country Club Year opened: 1986 Designers: Mark McCumber Dues: Course for guests of Island View Casino Greens fees: $49 year-round green fees available for Island View Casino Resort players’ club members Yardage: 6,600 yards Par: 72 Website: windancecc.com Phone: 1-877-774-VIEW

“There are a lot of different options you can take off the tee to play the hole. It makes you think. It is a good blend of strategic holes and holes you can play aggressively.”

The course has a mixture of wooded holes where you are surrounded by nature, and other holes that wind through attractive homes in the Windance Subdivision. There are a lot of towering pine trees, and a large, scenic lake that comes into play on three holes.

“It is very pretty on the front nine,” Ramey said. “Especially when you catch it at the right time of day,

Spring 2016

the views are outstanding.”

Since coming under the ownership of Island View Casino Resort in 2007, Windance has undergone major improvements including a new lake, new native plant areas, a stateof-the-art irrigation system, and decorative stone work.

Its amenities have led the Windance Country Club to being named “One Of America's Best Golf Courses You Can Play" by Golfweek Magazine and receiving a four star rating from Golf Digest magazine.

Windance has some other features that are particularly popular including The View Bar & Grill at the 19th hole that combines great food with one of the best dining views on the Coast. It is a great place to unwind after golf. The club also has a driving range and practice facilities. Also popular with guests is an outdoor Olympic-sized swimming pool.

Windance is also popular due to some great rates with its “Unlimited Golf” package starting at $99 per person (double occupancy) that includes unlimited golf including golf cart and range balls, unlimited trips to The Buffet and one night hotel’s accommodation at Island View Casino Resort.

– Becky Gillette

’COME SEE US’– Tourism, Meetings & Conventions

MBJ GOLF TRAIL: GULFPORT

STAY: Island View

View Courtesy of Island

Casino

At many hotels on the Coast, you have to cross U.S. 90 to get to the beach. But not Island View Casino (islandviewcasino.com).

Following a recent $58-million expansion, Island View has 970 rooms and suites in two towers on the Mississippi Sound south of U.S. 80. Rooms are available that have beautiful views of the Sound. At the Beach Club you can rent chairs, umbrellas,

EAT: White Cap Seafood The White Cap Seafood Restaurant has weathered many a storm on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, including losing its restaurant in both Hurricane Camille and Hurricane Katrina, to remain one of the most popular restaurants on the Gulf Coast. It been serving local, fresh seafood dishes since 1929. It was at Gulfport Harbor for 35 years before Hurricane Katrina hit, then the restaurant was moved to Mississippi City at 560 Beach Drive. It has a magnificent view overlooking the Mississippi Sound with outdoor dining an option. The most popular entrée is the seafood platter, with fried Gulf shrimp and fried flounder some of the other most popular offerings. Prices range from $8 to $22 per entrée.

’COME SEE US’– Tourism, Meetings & Conventions

cabanas, bikes, paddleboards and peddleboats.

Food and beverages are also available. The resort has a beachside, saltwater pool with direct beach access, a sundeck and private cabanas.

The casino tower has a 2,450-square-foot tropical pool surrounded by a large courtyard that hosts free entertainment seasonally. Relax at the Blue Shell Spa or watch a show at the View Showroom.

FUN: Gulfport Harbor Fun in Gulfport starts out at the Gulfport Harbor where you can get on a charter boat to take an offshore fishing trip, or enjoy a trip on a passenger ferry to Ship Island. People are often excited to see dolphins, pelicans and other wildlife on the 12-mile ferry trip to the island where you can beachcomb, swim and sunbathe and enjoy a tour of historic Fort Massachusetts.

One of the free things to do in Gulfport is hanging out on the beaches, where you can relax in the sun, swim, jet ski and even go parasailing.

Family activities include the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center (lmdc.org) children’s museum, the 1,500-square-foot Gaston Point Splash Pad at 1506 Mills Ave., and The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies at 10801 Dolphin Lane for close up encounters with dolphins, sea lions and other marine life.

– Becky Gillette

Spring 2016

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11

MBJ GOLF TRAIL: NATCHEZ

3 PLAY: Beau Pre Country Club

Courtesy of Beau Pre Country Club

Beau Pre Country Club is predominantly a private club, but does allow non-local guest to play and enjoy the course, which challenging holes like No. 16.

Where nature’s bliss offers a challenge

B

EAU PRÉ Country Club, known as “The Jewel of Southwest Mississippi,” was designed by course architect Mike Young to create the perfect combination of nature’s bliss and the challenges of the game.”

“It is a perfect blend of natural beauty and golfing challenge,” said Beau Pré Country Club Board of Directors President Michael Blain.

“The course never gets old or dull for frequent members or once-ayear guests. It is serene, quiet, beautiful.

“There are 190 acres in total with lakes, streams and heavily wooded forests. The loblolly pine is particularly prevalent due to the property being a pine tree plantation in the past.”

Blain said they are famous for very fast, undulated greens. “That is a hallmark here,” he said. “It is the finest course in Southwest Mississippi.”

The golf course is about two miles from the Mississippi River bordered by an ancient stream named Second Creek. The creek has carved into the

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Beau Pre Country Club Year opened: 1999 Designers: Mike Young Dues: Full range of membership levels Greens fees: $60 Yardage: 6,993 yards Par: 72 Website: beauprecc.com Phone: 601-442-5493

hillside for thousands of years leaving a 90-foot-tall sheer clay bluff cliff overlooking the last few holes.

Beau Pré, French for beautiful meadow, had its roots as the Belwood Country Club that was located near the Mississippi River. In 1999, Belwood members joined together to build the new course was south of Natchez and behind the protection of the levy to eliminate problems with flooding from the Mississippi River. They took the opportunity to upgrade the course to a championship design.

Beau Pré has since hosted numerous amateur and professional events

Spring 2016

due, including the MWGA State Am contest.

The golf course is located three miles south of Natchez off Highway 61. Turn on to Country Squire Road and follow the signs to the clubhouse and facility.

Fees of $60 per player include 18 holes of golf, shared cart, tax and use of the practice facility. Guests may replay the same day for $18. There are winter green fee specials of only $35.

The club is predominantly a private member club. But it does allow non-local guest play at $60 per player peak season with specials as low as $35 per player off season. Fee includes cart and driving range use prior to play.

Beau Pré Country Club offers a full range of membership levels along with amenities such as a championship-caliber golf course, a full size grass tee practice facility with short game chipping and putting greens, a clubhouse with full bar and grill, a fully stocked golf shop, three hard surface tennis courts and a large outdoor swimming pool.

– Becky Gillette

’COME SEE US’– Tourism, Meetings & Conventions

MBJ GOLF TRAIL: NATCHEZ

STAY: Natchez Grand Hotel STAY: The Natchez Grand Hotel and Suites (natchezgrandhotel.com) at 111 Broadway Street is all about location.

It is located in the downtown district on the bluff overlooking the river. Most rooms have an expansive view of the Mighty Mississippi, and guests enjoy being within walking distance of many antebellum homes, other historic attractions, shopping and a wealth of dining choices. In addition to great amenities, the Natchez Grand Hotel has rooms for the budget conscious. The city also has nearly 200 bed & breakfast rooms ranging from extremely elegant to quaint and casual. tchez Courtesy of Visit Na

EAT: Fat Mama’s Tamales Fat Mama’s Tamales (fatmamastamales.com), which started out in 1989 in a 600-square-foot log cabin, began its climb to fame by doing just one thing very well: tamales. The rustic atmosphere and great food soon made it a “must see” Natchez attraction. Other items were added to the menu and the popularity of Fat Mama’s grew. In 2005 Fat Mama’s lost its lease on the cabin, and moved across the street to 303 South Canal Street in a new, larger location. But the vibe—and great food—are still packing in the customers. And as Fat Mama’s fame has spread, Fat Mama’s Tamales are sold online at their website, and the Fat Mama’s tamales margarita mix and fire and ice pickles are sold at hundreds of retail locations across the country.

Courtesy of Fat Ma ma’s

FUN: Much to do during 300th anniversary celebration The only problem with looking for fun in Natchez (visitnatchez.com) is there are so many choices during its 300th anniversary celebration. Visitors can experience the Old South, tour a historic home while listening to a guide dressed in a hoop skirt tell stories of the past.

Natchez has the flavor of a little New Orleans, its sister city down the river.

Walking trails along the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River and going down St. Catherine’s Street takes in several different communities.

The Natchez National Historical Park includes the Greek revival mansion Melrose, the antebellum estate of John McMurran, It also includes the downtown home of a free African American

barber and diarist William Johnson.

In August, one of the most iconic antebellum homes in Natchez, Rosalie, will be inducted into the National Park Service.

Built in 1832 on the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, Rosalie served as the Union Headquarters.

Also visit the Grand Village of Natchez Indians, the main ceremonial center of the Natchez Indians between 1682 and 1729.

Other special events in Natchez include the Fall Pilgrimage, Blues Fest and the Mississippi River Balloon festival in October.

For nightlife, consider the Under the Hill Saloon or The Camp. Another favorite is the Corner Bar on Canal Street. Magnolia Bluffs Casino is at Roth Hill, and juke joint Smoot’s Grocery offers a variety of music.

– Becky Gillette

ent Authority Mississippi Developm Rosalie courtesy of

’COME SEE US’– Tourism, Meetings & Conventions

Tamales

Spring 2016

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13

MBJ GOLF TRAIL: TUNICA

3 PLAY: Tunica National

Offering an outstanding course to all

T

UNICA NATIONAL Golf & Tennis Club makes it affordable to play golf with green fees of only $50 on weekdays and $60 on weekends.

There are also reasonable weekday golf packages for groups of eight or more than include two rounds of golf, two meals and two night stays at the Gold Strike Casino for $200 per person (double occupancy) and weekends for $280 per person.

You don’t have to give up having an exceptional place to play golf for the affordability.

“At Tunica National, we believe that everyone who loves the game deserves to play on an outstanding golf course,” said Matt Cooper, director of marketing, Tunica National Golf & Tennis. “Designed by Mark McCumber, our public 18-hole course features Champion Bermuda greens, gently rolling zoysia fairways, t-boxes with six markers, and generous landing areas that both pros and average Joes enjoy.”

Tunica National’s claim to fame is having consistently great course conditions.

“We have the best conditioned course from the tee boxes to the fairways to the greens,” Cooper said.

“We are always in pristine condition, which is helping us retain our customers and championship events. It is a good challenging layout and it is a fun course to play. But at the end of the day, players like the best grass they can play on. That is what we are known for.”

Tunica National is known for hav-

14 www.msbusiness.com

Courtesy of Tunica CVB

Tunica National Year opened: 2004 Designers: Mark McCumber Dues: (VIP annual passes ranging from $1,400-$1,800) Greens fees: $50 weekdays, $60 weekends Yardage: 7,210 yards Par: 72 Website: tunicanational.com Phone: 866-TEEOFF1

ing one of the best practice facilities in northern Mississippi, including the Golf Academy where golf professionals offer the finest in personalized golf instruction for individuals or groups through clinics and private lessons. And the latest in video technology will record every swing, enhancing your learning of the game.

Tunica National hosts a lot of big time corporate gathering, charity golf events and championship golf qualifying and events. It has hosted SEC Women’s Conference Championship and the Mississippi State Open, the Mississippi State Open

Spring 2016

and the Mississippi Cup Matches. It has also been the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying Host and the U.S. Amateur Qualifying Host.

Tunica National Golf & Tennis has a partnership rough Gold Strike’s loyalty program. M Life Members earn Express Comps through play and redeem those comps for golf or tennis at Tunica National.

Tunica National also has championship tennis facilities and is the only tennis center in the South with Hydro-Grid Har-Tru® clay surfaces, a granular surface that acts as a shock-absorbing cushion and allows players to slide safely into their returns. The tennis facilities includes four climate-controlled indoor courts. Spectators can watch behind crystal clear Plexiglas in the comfort of the Tunica National Clubhouse.

Tunica National is also a popular place to hold business meetings large and small.

The clubhouse has a conference room and meeting rooms capable of handling both large and small functions.

– Becky Gillette

’COME SEE US’– Tourism, Meetings & Conventions

MBJ GOLF TRAIL: TUNICA

Courtesy of Tunica CVB

ike Courtesy of Gold Str

STAY: Gold Strike Gold Strike Tunica (golfstrikemississippi.com) is known for having competitive rates for rooms that are comfortably lavish with features such as marble bathrooms and large flat screen televisions. In addition to guest rooms with two queen beds or a single king, there are also large guest suits with an oversized Jacuzzi tub for relaxing. You are also close to live music with Gold Strike offering entertainment with live bands Thursdays-Saturdays. They also have headline entertainment by internationally famous musicians. There’s an indoor pool available to all hotel guests ages 18 and up. Another favorite, particularly for women, is the spa.

There are number of dining options from fine to graband-go.

EAT: Blue and White Restaurant Blue and White Restaurant (blueandwhiterestaurant.com) has a long history of being a popular place to eat in Tunica. Originally established in 1924, the Blue and White has some staff who have been there as long as 40 years.

“Serving great food along with true Southern hospitality was and still is the driving force behind everything we do at the Blue and White,” said owners Steven Barbieri and Joe Weiss. “In the kitchen you will find a grandmother cooking side by side with her daughter-in-law and two of her grandchildren as she passes down a seventy-year-old tradition of true Southern style cooking. The research and purchasing of the meats and freshest produce available, our commitment to food safety and a clean environment, and our expert cooks and friendly wait staff make it possible for us to provide the ultimate restaurant experience.”

FUN: It’s all about the blues, the river and casino gambling

CVB Courtesy of Tunica

’COME SEE US’– Tourism, Meetings & Conventions

One of the newest and most popular attractions in Tunica is the Gateway to the Blues Museum on U.S. Route 61 that is considered one of the nation’s most important collections of Blues artifacts and memorabilia. It opened in 2015 and artifacts are on loan from Caesars Entertainment.

The Tunica RiverPark has trails that allow you take a walk on the EcoTrail to view native wildlife and plants. Enjoy a panoramic view from the RiverPark Overlook, and spend time in the Mississippi River Museum. RiverPark Museum exhibits help people experience the relationship between nature and history. You can catch a riverboat cruise at the RiverPark.

The Tunica Museum follows Tunica’s history from its Native American beginnings to the Civil War to the town it is today. Admission is free.

Tunica is still one of the largest destination gaming areas in the South with seven casinos, providing gaming, food and entertainment. Strip resorts include Hollywood Resorts and Sam’s Town. The Casino Center houses Horseshoe, Gold Strike and Tunica Roadhouse. The north end casinos are Fitz and Bally’s.

Spring 2016

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15

MBJ GOLF TRAIL: JACKSON

5 PLAY:

The Refuge

Copyright Nathan Crace

Corner of country near the capital city

A

GREAT LOCATION surrounded by nature, affordability, playability and excellent maintenance are factors that make The Refuge in Flowood frequently rank as the best public course in the state.

“The real appeal to the golf course is you don’t have homes crowding around you,” said Refuge in Flowood Manager Nathan Crace. “The gulf course is cut out of a large forested area. When you are out on that golf course, you can’t get any closer to nature in our market. Golfers like that. They also don’t have to cross any streets while playing. It is very appealing.

“It is not terribly long, so it is not too difficult for the average golfer.

But it is still challenging because we have some great water features, wetlands and lakes to play on, across and over. This past year we did renovation work clearing out a lot of overgrowth, which opened up the course a lot. That has been a big impact on playability. People enjoy that.”

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The Refuge Year opened: 1998 Designers: Roy Case Dues: None Greens fees: With cart, $42 during the week and $52 on weekends (Discounts for seniors and military) Yardage: 6,800 yards Par: 72 Website: refugegolf.com Phone: 601-664-1414

The low cost of playing at the course managed by Watermark Golf is also appealing.

“There is no better value if you look at what it costs to play there,” Crace said. “And yet we have often won awards even competing against top private golf courses.”

The Refuge in Flowood has been ranked as “The Best Purely Public Course in Mississippi” by Chicago Golfer, and has ranked fourth in the state by GolfLink.com. Mississippi Sports Magazine has ranked it as the

Spring 2016

“Best Affordable Public Course in Mississippi.”

Being in Flowood is also a plus.

“Flowood is a great city to involved with,” Crace said. “There is a lot of growth there. The Refuge is located close to the airport, and it is just a 15-minute drive to Jackson. Day in and day out, the greens and fairways are always in great shape. It is a fun golf course for beginners, for women and seniors, and for better players.

There are a lot of options out there.”

The course is located on Airport Road about 1.5 miles south of Lakeland Drive. The course includes a series of lake including the 15-acre AquaRange Lake.

The Refuge has a spacious clubhouse, a fully-stocked and professionally-staffed pro shop, and men’s and women’s locker rooms. There is a full menu open daily at the Refuge Grill, which is designed like an old hunting lodge. There is also outdoor dining under a covered veranda overlooking the 18th hole.

– Becky Gillette

’COME SEE US’– Tourism, Meetings & Conventions

MBJ GOLF TRAIL: JACKSON

EAT: Tico’s Steak House Tiko’s Steak House, 1536 East County Line Road, Ridgeland, (ticossteakhouse.com) uses a proprietary beef out of Chicago that no one else in the state uses. Tico’s hand cuts its own steaks and guarantees the steak will be the best filet you ever had. In addition to steaks, Tico’s also has fantastically fresh fish, and its homemade blueberry cheesecake is “to die for.” There is also an extensive wine list in a restaurant that has a cozy lodge type feeling. Top it off with a very warm and friendly staff. While the cheapest steak is $32, there is a reason Tico’s stays packed six nights a week.

Courtesy of Tico’s Steak

House

STAY: Hilton, Cabot Lodge For a stay at one of the state’s most elegant historic hotels, check into the Hilton Garden Inn Jackson Downtown (formerly the King Edward Hotel, kingedwardhoteljackson.com). In the center of Jackson’s cultural arts district, the hotel prides itself on being a distinctive mix of vintage charm, modern luxury, and Southern hospitality. It is within walking distance to the Jackson Convention Complex, the Mississippi State Capitol, the Old Capitol Museum, the Mississippi Museum of Art, the Davis Planetarium, the Governor's Mansion, and a number of shops and restaurants.

The Refuge in Flowood also offers a Stay and Play package at the Cabot Lodge Millsaps (www.cabotlodgemillsaps.com) in Jackson or at the Cabot Lodge Jackson North in Ridgeland. It offers discounted rates, a complimentary hot breakfast buffet and afternoon cocktail hour.

’COME SEE US’– Tourism, Meetings & Conventions

FUN: Museums and shopping As Mississippi’s largest city, and the state Capital, there are more attractions in the greater Jackson area than anywhere in the state (see visitjackson.com).

The city is full of museums such as the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science (museum.mdwfp.com), the Mississippi Children’s Museum, the Eudora Welty home (eudorawelty.org) where the author lived from 1925 until her death in 2001, and the Mississippi Museum of Agriculture and Forestry which includes permanent exhibits, a living history farm, an entire crossroads town, and a forest study area.

The Mississippi State Fair Commission annually hosts the Dixie National Rodeo (Dixienational.org) and with livestock shows.

Shoppers have plenty of choices for fine merchandise, including the Outlets of Mississippi at 200 Bass Pro Drive in Pearl.

– Becky Gillette

Spring 2016

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17

MBJ GOLF TRAIL: PHILADELPHIA

6 PLAY: Dancing

Rabbit Golf Club

2 choices for a great golf outing

D

ANCING RABBIT Golf Club in Philadelphia, which has two golf courses owned and operated by the Mississippi Bank of Choctaw Indians, has consistently been named a top golf clubs in the country by national magazines. It has been ranked No. 32 by Golf Magazine for the Top 100 Courses You Can Play. Golfweek Magazine has named it to the Top 100 Best Resort Courses, and it has been named by Golfweek Magazine in 2015 to the Top Resort Courses in America. MSN named it the best golf course in the state.

It also can be a very inexpensive place to get out on the links. For the most affordable deal, check out the options to stay at one of the resort’s hotels. Stay & Play Golf Packages start at $99 per person (double occupancy) during the off season (dancingrabbitgolf.com/golfpack.html).

You not only get two golf courses in one location at the Dancing Rabbit Golf Course at Pearl River Resorts, you get two courses that have completely different looks.

“When golfers come here, they are playing two courses that complement each other with different shots and looks,” said Mark A. Powell, director of golf, Dancing Rabbit Golf Course, Philadelphia. “If you go to many areas of the state, the courses are all similar. The Azaleas Golf Course cuts through creeks and valleys. The Oaks Course plays more up in the hills. It has more elevation change, open fields and rock formations.”

18 www.msbusiness.com

Courtesy of Pearl River Resort

A waterfall on the 18th hole of the Azaela Course is only part of the beauty of Dancing Rabbit Golf Club.

Dancing Rabbit Year opened: Azaleas, 1997; Oaks, 1999 Designers: Tom Fazio and Jerry Pate Dues: None (public course) Greens fees: $60-$150 Yardage: Azaleas, 7,128 yards; Oaks, 7,076 yards Par: Both 72 Website: dancingrabbitgolf.com Phone: 866-447-3275

There are about two miles of spring-fed creeks and streams woven between the Bermuda and Zosia fairways and gently rolling hills and valleys.

Visitors enjoy the fact that there is so much to do within walking distance or, even easier, by riding in a golf cart. There are three hotels, two casinos and a resort with live entertainment every night. There are also a number of other amenities such as great restaurants, a fitness center and the Geyser Falls Water Theme Park.

“A lot of golfers like to stay in the clubhouse because it is so conven-

Spring 2016

ient,” Powell said. “There are golfers who come year after year because of that. They frequently remark about our great service and amenities.”

Dancing Rabbit was created renowned golf course designer Tom Fazio and PGA great Jerry Pate. Powell said each of the 36 golf holes bears the indelible mark of the designers, while still retaining the character and grandeur of the Southern woodlands from which they were carved.

Dancing Rabbit offers a variety of golf packages, lodging options and amenities all in one location. Powell said the Azaleas course, Clubhouse, Clubhouse rooms, Fairway House, Pavilion and Azaleas course have all had renovations completed that have enhanced the beauty of the property and upgraded the guest experience.

“Pearl River Resort eagerly invites everyone to come experience the new Pearl River Resort and renovations that the entire resort has completed at Dancing Rabbit, Golden Moon and Silver Star,” Powell said.

– Becky Gillette

’COME SEE US’– Tourism, Meetings & Conventions

MBJ GOLF TRAIL: PHILADELPHIA

Courtesy of Pearl River Resort

STAY: Pearl River Resort

The Golden Moon, right, and Silver Star, back left, are overnight options at Pearl River Resort.

There are several choices of where to stay at Pearl River Resort on Choctaw. There are comfortable rooms or suites at either the Silver Star or the Golden Moon. The Silver Star has more than 500 rooms and 75 suites.

With over 500 rooms, including more than 75 suites, Silver Star offers accommodations with all the amenities you expect from a world-class hotel.

There is the 26-story tower Golden Moon with nearly 600 elegant rooms, including 112 suites and 32 VIP luxury suites. And at the center of it all is a

place for golfers who enjoy being close to the course and the views of the golf courses don’t want to be too from one of the Southeast’s most acclaimed golf course, Dancing Rabbit Golf Club. Dancing Rabbit Inn offers 140 guest rooms in a 100 percent smoke-free environment. Whether it is one golfer, a couple or 100 golfers, Pearl River Resorts has packages and group discounts available with two championship courses to play. The resort’s Spa gets exceptionally high marks from guests as does

EAT: Peggy’s Diner EAT: Peggy’s Diner (peggyshomecooking.com), 512 Bay St., was named one of the Best Restaurants in the South in 2013 by Southern Living Magazine.

But you won’t find any white tablecloths or fancy decorations here. What you will find is fresh, home style food that has been keeping customers coming back for lunch for decades. Peggy Webb and her husband, Don, sold the business in 2002 to one of their son’s, Stan, and his wife, Debbie. Today, Peggy’s prides itself on serving the same homestyle food that has generated so many fans. Favorites include fried chicken, chicken and dumplings, beef tips with gravy, fried pork chops, fried okra, butterbeans and English peas.

In addition to lunch hours, Peggy’s Grille is open Friday nights from 5 to 8:30 p.m. serving steaks, catfish, shrimp and other dishes.

Courtesy of Peggy’s Restau

rant

FUN: Gaming, water, music

er Factory Leaky Creaky Wat rk. lls Water Theme Pa is part of Geyser Fa

’COME SEE US’– Tourism, Meetings & Conventions

Gaming is what has put this area on the map, and the options — from table games to the latest in slot machines — are many.

A trip to Geyser Falls Water Theme Park is like a journey to the Caribbean without the airfare. It is a destination in itself for families looking to cool off in the summer sun. Clearwater Key features white sand beaches in a lush, exotic atmosphere. There are relaxing cabanas to enjoy after wearing yourself out on the 17 water rides, and plenty of food available at the Tie Café and the Beach Club Restaurant. In addition to slot machines and table games, there is the new Pearl River Bingo Room where visitors play for progressive jackpots in the hundreds of thousands of dollars on top of the regular prize board.

There are also live entertainment and promotions choices at The Eclipse at Golden Moon and the Starlight Lounge, located on the Silver Star casino floor. The resort’s concert series, Centerstage at Silver Star, features popular artists and bands.

er Resorts Courtesy of Pearl Riv

Spring 2016

– Becky Gillette

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19

MBJ GOLF TRAIL: HATTIESBURG

7 PLAY: Timberton Golf Club

Courtesy of Timberton Golf Club

‘A Pinehurst sort of atmosphere’

T

IMBERTON GOLF CLUB has been a Top 10 course in the state as rated by Golf Digest since 1993. Since opening, Timberton Golf Club has consistently been recognized by all of golf's most respected publications.

It also has drawn plenty of tournament play. Timberton has been the host course for the PGA Tour Qualifying, The PGA CPC Southern Championship, The Mississippi State Open, Mississippi Men's Amateurs, MGA State Four-Ball Championships and numerous USGA & PGA qualifying. It is the only 4 1/2 star rated golf course in Hattiesburg.

Timberton is a very ascetically pleasing course.

“We have a Pinehurst sort of atmosphere with our tall pines and wide fairways,” said Ron Hickman, PGA master professional and director of golf. “It has the feel of a resort. It is a very fun golf course to play, challenging, but fair. The layout plays well for all skill levels.”

20 www.msbusiness.com

Timberton Golf Club Year opened: 1991 Designers: Mark McCumber Dues: $1,740 per year Greens fees: $39-$59 Yardage: 7,000 Par: 72 Website: timbertongolf.com Phone: 601-584-4653

Timberton has a practice facility, a popular 19th Hole restaurant, and a full-service golf shop.

Being in South Mississippi, the course is open year around. It has 419 Bermuda fairways and rough, and USGA spec greens and bunkers.

Conveniently located at 22 Clubhouse Drive only a few miles from the University of South Mississippi and two mile from Forrest General Hospital, Timberton has been successfully providing outstanding golf for 25 years. The club gets a wide variety of golfers from residents to people traveling through the state.

Spring 2016

Golf, of course, is the main draw.

But another thing that keeps people coming back again and again is the way they are treated.

“The biggest compliment we get all time is how friendly our staff is,” Hickman said. “We pride ourselves on Southern Hospitality. When you come here, you are made to feel welcome. You have a positive experience from the time you arrive to the time you leave. It means a lot of people when you look them in the eyes, say hello, and thanks for coming. It does still come down to people.”

One local who is a fan of the course says he has played golf all over the country and still always would rather play at Timberton Golf Course.

“This may be the best course for the money in America,” he said.

“Don’t think so? Try it.”

Timberton is a semi-private course meaning members can pay annual dues and get reduced costs for green fees. Non-members are also welcome.

– Becky Gillette

’COME SEE US’– Tourism, Meetings & Conventions

MBJ GOLF TRAIL: HATTIESBURG

EAT: Purple Parrot Cafe Purple Parrot Cafe has been a favorite gourmet restaurant that has been a regional favorite since 1987. The Purple Parrot Cafe features contemporary cuisine with French and Asian influences. Highlights include global seafood, Wagyu beef, and locally grown artisinal foods. There is a Wine Spectator award winning wine list features over 700 labels and 30 wines by-the-glass. The cocktail bar is a local hotspot featuring handcrafted cocktails from fresh ingredients.

Courtesy of the Pur ple Parrot

STAY: Bay B&B

FUN: College life, zoo, Longleaf Trace

The Bay Bed & Breakfast is an historic downtown mansion at 103 Short Bay St. that has been getting rave reviews for its unique architecture and warm hospitality.

The home has been renovated and furnished with antique furniture and interesting art pieces. It showcases what Hattiesburg was like when it was first founded in the late 1800s. For reservations, call 601-606-7200.

Hattiesburg is a popular destination for visitors attending cultural or sporting events at the University of Southern Mississippi. In addition to watching the Golden Eagles compete in sporting activities, the university’s art, music, theater and dance programs produce hundreds of events each year open to the public.

The historic buildings on campus and features like the famed USM All-American Rose Garden and other landscaping make the campus a pleasant place for a stroll. There is also the fully-lighted Bruce Virginia Wilgus Fitness and Wellness Trail located adjacent to the Payne Center.

The Historic Downtown District offers shopping and dining opportunities.

Hattiesburg is home to one of two zoos in Mississippi. One of the most popular exhibits is the one housing Sumatran tigers Kuasa and Cinta. Another newcomer is Chewbacca “Chewy” the Sloth.

Hattiesburg is also home to the only certified Rails to Trails conservancy project in the state. The Longleaf Trace (longleaftrace.org) is popular with walkers, runners, bikers and horseback riders. The 10-foot-wide asphalt trail runs 42 miles from Hattiesburg to Prentiss.

– Becky Gillette

tupelo.net

’COME SEE US’– Tourism, Meetings & Conventions

Spring 2016

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21

An All-Star Summer Courtesy of Mississippi Braves

Southern League’s best to play in Pearl

By Lisa Monti There will be plenty for baseball fans to revel in when the best players in the 10 team Southern League compete June 21 in the 2016 Southern League All-Star Game presented

by Trustmark Bank at Trustmark Park, home of the Mississippi Braves.

“We’re excited to receive the honor of hosting the 2016 Southern League All-Star Game,” said Mississippi Braves General Manager Steve DeSalvo. “We look forward to planning a memorable show for the fans and showcasing not only our great facility but the surrounding development area.”

All-Star players will be chosen by votes cast in early June by the league’s managers and broadcasters.

“It will be the best players from the North Division playing against the

22 www.msbusiness.com

Want more?

For more information about the Southern League All-Star Game and other events, go to mississippibraves.com/allstargame.

best in the South Division,” said DeSalvo.

The All-Star game is rotated throughout the league and this year it’s only the second time the Missis-

Spring 2016

sippi Braves will serve as host at Trustmark Park. The first was in 2007 when the roster of players featured several future and current Major Leaguers including Jose Ascanio, Emilio Bonifacio, Jake Fox, Matt Harrison and John Jaso.

The Southern League includes the Montgomery Biscuits, Tennessee Smokies, Birmingham Barons, Chattanooga Lookouts and Jackson Generals in the North Division.

Along with the Braves, the South Division teams include the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Mobile BayBears, Biloxi Shuckers and Jacksonville Suns.

DeSalvo said each team will be represented by at least one player but most will have more take the field in Pearl. The Braves, as host team, will supply players to fill in for those All Stars who won’t be able to play.

’COME SEE US’– Tourism, Meetings & Conventions

Courtesy of Mississippi Braves

Trustmark Park in Pearl will be the full for the Southern League All-Star Game on June 21.

The game on June 21 will be played during the threeday break from league play.

Plans are in the works for introducing All-Star players to local youth at a clinic and autograph session on June 20. Reaching out to kids who don’t get the chance to meet the players is a tradition for the All Star event, DeSalvo said.

“That evening we will host the big gala night with the All Stars at the Jackson Convention Complex. There will be live music and an autograph session with the players,” he said. The ticketed event is open to the public and will feature food, beverages, live and silent auctions and all the elements of a big celebration black tie event “without the black tie.”

On game day, the players and their families will be treated to a special luncheon with league officials at the Bass Pro Shop lake.

Also on game day, ticket holders can enjoy live music, food and beverages for the pre-game and post-game hospitality events adjacent to the stadium.

Instead of having a home run derby like the major league teams, the Braves are teaming up with the Special Olympics to have the Governor’s Softball Game on the field before the All Star game. Fans can expect to see former Braves players and other celebrities at the game.

Proceeds will go to the state Special Olympics.

After the game, look for a fabulous fireworks display above the stadium. “It’s going to be a lot of fun and an opportunity for the fans to see the best professional players in the Southeast,” DeSalvo said. “Usually 95 percent of these players go on to the majors.”

Needless to say, there will be plenty of scouts in the large crowd that’s expected to watch the game. “We’re shooting for a sellout,” DeSalvo said. “The last time we had 4,500 people and we’re hoping for 6,000 or more.”

The Southern League All-Star Game starts at 7:30 p.m. and as part of the pre-game festivities, there will be

’COME SEE US’– Tourism, Meetings & Conventions

a ceremony honoring the Southern League’s 2016 Hall of Fame Class. The inductees are Peter Bragan Jr., John Shoemaker, Larry Ward and Larry Schmittou.

The Southern League Hall of Fame recognizes individuals for their accomplishments and contributions to the League on the field of play or in an administrative role.

Spring 2016

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Our name says it all.

INSIDE — Navy’s new combat ship will carry

INSIDE — Co-wor

Jackson’s name PAGE 4

MBJ FOCUS

king ‘commun ity’ concept com

Insurance & Employee Benef its

ing to Fondren’s

Duling Hall pg 10

INSIDE — Which came

first? The Brand or the

Promotion – Page 25

MBJ FOCUS Health Care

October 23, 2015 • Vol. 37, No. 43 • $1 • 28 pages

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www.msbusiness.com {Section begins P 13} » ACA ‘confusing’, but businesses and individu advised to not delay als action » Declines in reimbu rsemen ts under ACA cause concern for future of rural hospita ls in state » Employers struggle with handling benefits packages in-house or out

AN MBJ FOCUS:

HISTORIC TAX CREDITS » State’s historic preservation office to ask for $60M in new tax credits » Saving Mississippi’s past can brighten its economic future, Stennis report says » Heritage Trust places state’s historic tax credits on 10 Most Endangered List Begins page 3

THE 2015

A BREAKDOWN OF STATE’S TOP PRIVATELY

OWNED COMPANIES

The List {P 18}

» Third Party Admini

Shoutrage: Yelling instead of fixing

December 4, 2015 • Vol. 37,

ELOPMENT

» JRA’s $9 million Westin hotel bond is not bid on

— Page 2

» FEATURE: Irby breaking sales records in its » Making the list, Page 14 90th year, Page 19 » Some private companies prefer transparency, » FEATURE: Duff brothers have ridden others — not so much, Page 15 Southern Tire Mart to success, Page 18 building Group Taylor » FEATURE: The versatile » The complete Top 100 list, Pages 21-25 16 Page values, on company

P 12

Health Care {P 5} » UMMC’s ‘F’ in safety galvanizespatient effort

ENERGY

PSC SET TO VOTE ON NET-METERING RULE

{Section begins P 14}

» UMMC opens Teen Wellness clinic at Lanier » Coast pharmacy expansion built on customer care and those little extras The List {P 20-21} » Hospices Around town {P 5} » Jackson downtown promoters cheer Forman Watkins’ move to Regions Plaza South Miss. {P 9} » Legal whiskey to flow in the Kiln community

SPORTS BUSINESS Agriculture {P 4} » Official: rains have softened the drough but a wet winter t, may be in the offing

Sanderson Farms extends tourney sponsorship by 10 years

from staff reports

impact Blair Sanderson Farms, E. and the state Batson Hospital for Childre title sponso Sanderson Farms Championship r of the Farms Chief of Mississippi,” said Sander n dren’s Hospital will continue and $300,0 since 2013, Executive Officer son sissippi to son. “Now we charities. Friend 00 to other MisJoe F. Sander TOUR tourna sponsor its home state PGA are the tournament certain of the opportunities- ization benefiting Blair s, a nonprofit organJackson througment at The Country Club provide E. Batson Hospit Children at Wednesday at h 2026, officials announ of commitment to both s, and feel it shows our al for the University ced Our greates our state Medica of tension takes the host site. The 10-yea t hope is that and its children. primar l Center, became the Mississippi r ex- mitme effect once the tournament’s this 10-year y charity in 2008. ment expires nt will current agreecomfollowi With regard likewise and encourage others to respon “From the beginn ng the 2016 tournament. reinvest in our d importance to the tournament’s ing, great we’ve In econom 2014, the Sander ment in the state.” to felt our involve tournament sioned by the the state, a study commi ic - onship son Farms could signific antly $1.1 generated $1.4 million for Champi- thority and Mississippi Development smillion going to Friends of charity, with University conducted by Mississippi AuBatson Chilseveral State had a $22 million years ago determined that it impact.

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Hopeful signs for restoring state’s historic tax credits

Y

BY JACK WEATHERL ss.com jack.weatherly@msbusine

Service The Mississippi Public to vote poised Commission was Thursday and culminate four years of study and input from major utilis consumer ties, and others on a proposed net-metering rule.

Two of the Presley three-man panel this indicated week that they Marcus McClamrock l would vote to Rich the through allow residential tours will be used for those taking -foot tasting room that electricity users -the bar in the 1,500-square at al stands Rich David and commerci Grain Distilling Co. in Canton customers, too -to produce power through solar panels installed on Renfroe rooftops and sell any excess back to utilities. three-man Two of the current to run in the commission chose not will leave office Nov. 3 election and left the deciJan. 1 and would have student at the a . was he while sion to their successors CommisBut before that, i, he “became obsessed Northern District Y University of Mississipp

BY JACK WEATHERL who was Presley, ss.com sioner Brandon with bourbon.” jack.weatherly@msbusine that exhis self-assigned reThat's when he began re-elected, said Monday what he includon handcrafted to a new search into the making of the whiskey, of the pects a vote Thursday . .. with all David Rich is taking distill“magic and alchemy” to open his boutique ing what he calls the thinks is “a smart policy level as he prepares I could get my in process. ery in Canton. he put in five years read just about everything ING, Page 7 “I've NET-METER See deA mechanical engineer, a as in Huntsville, Ala., the defense industry Page 3 and unmanned aircraft See DISTILLERY, systems radar on signer projects.

Distilling a craft from the bottom up

More , P 2

strative-stars/ http://msbusiness.com/events/mississippi-admini http://msbusiness .com/events/ceoawards-of-missis sippi/

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