Episode 9: Old Waverly Golf Club
From the very moment you drive through the opening gates, Old Waverly Golf Club draws you in with it’s sweet southern charm.
The tree lined drive leading to a stately, yet charming clubhouse sets the tone for this great golf destination.
That welcoming feeling continues on the golf course, where you’ll find a classically designed course that has you convinced you could play day in and day out without tiring of it.
The front nine works you through tree-lined fairways, many of which inhibit strategically placed bunkers to capture wayward shots or distract you from the task at hand.
It’s a friendly front, that ends with a reachable par 5 (though it did take me a well struck driver and 3-wood combo to get home in two) leading you back toward the clubhouse.
My favorite piece of the property is the large lake that serves as the centerpiece for five holes on the back.
It begins flanking the left side of holes 10-12, which offer a stern start to your inward nine.
While the openers offer some room for error, the closing two holes offer little of that. The 17th hole requires a mid-iron to a water and sand guarded green, while the 18th presents a 445-yard par 4 with water stretching down the entire left. Needless to say, many matches have been won (err, lost) on this tough finisher!
Before we called it a day, I made my way over to the Gil Hanse designed Mossy Oak — a recently opened sister course to Old Waverly.
Built on an old dairy farm, Mossy Oak provides a completely different golf experience than Old Waverly. Wide open fairways, few trees, and panoramic views of the property (you can literally see every flag stick from the 6th tee) make for a unique golf experience.
Just watch out for the many lurking deep bunkers waiting to snatch wayward shots into each green.
With two fantastic golf courses, on-site lodging and dining, and an unparalleled southern charm, dare I say West Point, Mississippi will now be one of the most highly sought after golf destinations? I won’t go that far (yet), but I for one am already looking forward to our next visit.
