There aren't a lot of moments more exhilarating than hammering a drive 300-plus yards down a Par 5's narrow fairway, then following that up with a towering 220-yard hybrid that lands three feet from the cup and a tap-in for eagle. That's a moment we live for - sheer "pump-your-fist" happiness.

Taking into consideration that my golf brilliance is so rare, I experienced a similar moment - actually a couple of hours - of adrenaline that will be tough to ever match. I was at Mardi Gras - not the get-down-and-dirty New Orleans raunchiness - I was in Biloxi, that splendid golf/casino/fishing destination on Mississippi's Gulf Coast.

"New Orleans has a bit more of an edge," says Richard Forrester, executive director of the Mississippi Gulf Coast CVB. "It's more of a joyous, family atmosphere over here.” This was my first experience here, and we were pretty overwhelmed looking at that huge crowd. "I'm a big bah humbug guy, but there was a need for this kind of celebration."

Golf & Fishing

Biloxi and the Mississippi Gulf Coast is no one-trick pony. The area has got plenty going for it.
While there for three full days, I got in a couple of rounds of golf at Windance and Grand Bear, two of the many majestic area courses — wonderful tracks like The Preserve, Shell Landing and The Bridges should also be on your "must-play list."

I also got an afternoon of fishing in, courtesy of Capt. Robert Brodie. The captain laughed while telling the story of a fisherman who, after latching onto a black drum fish, suddenly jumped into the water. Laughing, the man's wife watched as the man resurfaced with rod, and no fish. See, the fish had yanked the rod out of his hands and he'd jumped in to retrieve it.

While I'm not much of a fisherman, one of my boatmates hauled in a mammoth black drum, somewhere in the neighbourhood of 65 lbs. My catches for the day were somewhat less - about 60 pounds less. And that's no fish story.

So why do tourists take such a liking to Biloxi?

"The number one reason is the people here," says Kevin Drum, executive director of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Golf Association. "The way you're treated when you come here is a natural thing to the people that live here. You'll get the 'How y'all today?' It's the way they are. It sounds quirky, but it's the truth."

"The term "Southern Hospitality" is there for a reason," agrees Grand Bear's head golf pro Mike Buckley. "Everybody here is friendly." "We've got great weather, great golf, nearly 60 miles of Gulf of Mexico coastline, and eleven great casinos," explained Drum. And Canadian golfers have certainly taken a liking to Biloxi. He explained there are more enquiries from Ottawa than any other Canadian city, but there are plenty of snowbirds from all over making the trek. Additionally, "There's a better quality of golf now than pre-Katrina. Fallen Oak and The Preserve have opened since then. People here were golfing a week after the hurricane; they love their golf."

Grand Bear

Windance golf pro David Lee explained, "We were open 30 days after (Katrina)." Now, with an Island View players card, you can hop onto Windance - the site of Jim Furyk's first professional win in the 1993 Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic - for $50, including cart.

Grand Bear offers tranquility and serenity — along with a dynamic golf layout. "There are no cars, no houses here," says Buckley. "That's one of the first things people notice is that you don't hear cars going by. There's no traffic. "I've been here 10 years and I still get that warm, fuzzy feeling when I see a deer walk out onto the course."

Dining If grabbing some tasty food weighs into your decision for a holiday destination, the Biloxi area takes a back seat to very few others. We dined at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino (where I drank sake for the first time), the exquisite Beau Rivage, Mary Mahoney's Old French House (always a highlight) and a pre-Mardi Gras breakfast at Burger Burger. If you're in the area, Mary Mahoney's has to be on your list. You can find jovial owner Bob Mahoney on Page 57 of John Grisham's Runaway Jury. The food is that good and he's that famous. "My mama got this place goin'," says Mahoney as he holds court over our table. "All I have to do is stop from screwing it up." Value Forester insists the Gulf Coast has plenty going for it. "You can fish, gamble and golf, all in the same place," he says. "This is a place where you can get a lot for your money. There's a comfortableness about the destination and I think people are seeking that."

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Mary Mahoney's

There's no questioning the value. Many of the courses rival anything you'll find south of the border. "You can get Top 100 golf courses for around $100. You can't find that anywhere in the U.S.," says Buckley, who's still amazed and humoured by golfers that show up in shorts, even in cold weather.

"This whole destination is built on value," says Lee.

03/2009