Philadelphia, MS
Two Fazio-Pate courses in the Mississippi pines — the 'Little Augusta' with casino lights next door.
Deep in the pines of Choctaw country sits one of the South's best-kept secrets: Dancing Rabbit, where Tom Fazio and Jerry Pate built two courses through rolling woodland and creek bottoms. The Azaleas course blooms into its 'Little Augusta' nickname each spring, and the Oaks matches it shot for shot. Pearl River Resort's casino hotels next door handle the rest of the trip — rooms, steakhouses and blackjack — and for a bigger swing, Gil Hanse's Mossy Oak and the U.S. Women's Open host Old Waverly make a famous day trip up the road in West Point.
| Course | Designer | Notes | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azaleas | Tom Fazio & Jerry Pate | The 'Little Augusta' — creek-crossed and bloom-lined every spring. The must-play. | resort |
| Oaks | Tom Fazio & Jerry Pate | The equally strong sibling through the hardwoods — many prefer it. | resort |
| Mossy Oak Golf Club | Gil Hanse | Hanse's acclaimed prairie-links day trip in West Point — worth the road time. | public |
| Old Waverly | Bob Cupp & Jerry Pate | The 1999 U.S. Women's Open host across the street from Mossy Oak — ask about stay-and-play access. | resort |
The resort
The Silver Star and Golden Moon casino hotels minutes from the first tee — big rooms, steakhouses and a lively floor for the evening action.
◆ The private house
A countryside lake house in the Neshoba County pines — dock fishing, a big grill deck, and the courses fifteen minutes away. Rentals are modest and priced accordingly; the golf is the luxury here.
4-6 BR · sleeps 8-12 · ~$300–$1,000/nt
AM Road-trip morning into the Mississippi pines — arrive by afternoon.
PM Check in, range session at Dancing Rabbit, steak dinner and a first lap of the casino floor.
AM Open on the Oaks through the hardwoods.
PM Optional replay or pool; barbecue and cards at the resort.
AM Drive up for Hanse's Mossy Oak — the acclaimed prairie-links round.
PM Old Waverly for the 36-hole crowd; late dinner back at Pearl River.
AM The 'Little Augusta' for the team match — creeks and blooms decide it.
PM Trophy steaks, then one last run at the tables.
AM An early Oaks nine or a slow breakfast, then the drive home.
Thirty-six holes that golfers whisper about — Tom Fazio and Jerry Pate's Azaleas course earns its Augusta comparisons every spring — at central-Mississippi prices, with a casino resort next door covering rooms, steaks and late-night action.
Stay-and-play packages through Pearl River Resort bundle both courses; spring azalea weeks book first. Ask about adding a West Point day trip for Mossy Oak and Old Waverly.