Fallen Oak Golf Course

Review and Rating of Fallen Oak Golf Course Biloxi, MS

"Front Nine. Back Nine. Cloud Nine" is the logo for Fallen Oak Golf Course which was designed by legendary architect Tom Fazio and it's 510 acres of lush, rolling landscape adjacent to the Mississippi DeSoto National Forest.  It's pure heaven or hell depending on how you played the course. 

In 2005 the Beau Rivage Resort gave Tom Fazo open reign to find a piece of property and build a golf course for the exclusive use of guests of the Resort. And he created a masterpiece.  The course plays through more than 1,000 mature oaks, pines and magnolias, streams, lakes, and marshland and features dramatic bunkers, inviting greens, near perfect conditions, and surprising elevation changes.  You'll feel like you're playing deep in the forest – no homes, a very diverse collection of huge sprawling trees, and no noise except for the birds, wind blowing through the trees, or my golf ball ricocheting off the trees.

After a round on Fallen Oak you won't be surprised to learn that Fallen Oak was:

• ranked #2 in Mississippi by Golf Digest, GOLF Magazine, and Golfweek
• rated the second best casino course in the country
• "Best in State" and the "second best new upscale course you can play" by Golf Digest
• #16 on Golfweek's list of the top 100 resort courses, "Top 100 Modern Courses," and "Best Courses You Can Play in Mississippi

With five sets of tee boxes and yardages ranging from 5362 to 7487 yards plus huge sprawling steep-faced bunkers, water on 10 holes, natural areas to carry, contoured rolling greens, and some tight fairways, make sure you don't bite off more than you can chew.  In fact, consider moving up a set of tee boxes for a more relaxing and enjoyable round with several memorable holes.  Some of our favorite holes included:

• #1 is a beautiful 596 yard par 5 with a stream that cuts across the fairway in front of the tee boxes and then runs the entire length of the fairly tight dog left fairway to a large pond from 150 out to the back left side of the green which is guarded by a left and right side front bunker
• #6 is a fun 548-yard par 5 that turns right between two bunkers and a huge sprawling oak that blocks a right side approach shot to a fairway that takes a small left turn to the green
• #13 is a great hole with a slightly elevated tee box, a carry over a natural area, and a dog leg left around 2 large bunkers followed by a slight uphill shot to a raised green with 3 right front bunkers and two left side bunkers
• #18 is a beaut and one of those holes you'll want to play again – a 493 yard par 4 with a slight dog leg left around 3 gigantic bunkers and a pond on the left from 150 out to the rear of the green which is guarded by a huge long left side bunker and smaller right side

Speaking of bunkers, if you want to score well on Fallen Oak you need to do whatever it takes to avoid the 51 strategically placed bunkers.  They range in size from small pot bunkers to some huge monsters and all have steep faces.  The sand is perfect – soft and fluffy and deep.   It took 3500 tons of Tour Grade Signature Blend sand to fill the bunkers – I think I hit a ton of it out of the bunkers and took several pounds home with me in my shoes, pockets, and hair. 

Greens at Fallen Oak are perfect – fast (11 or so), true, firm, and smooth!  Pin placement can be a killer thanks to lots of contour, slope, and some small ridges.  All of the greens are guarded by bunkers and water which puts a premium on the approach shot.  They range in size from small to well above average.

The fairways at Fallen Oak were also in perfect condition and they range from wide and sweeping to tight and sloping.  You'll also encounter some mounding, a couple of roller coaster rides to the green, wide roughs, and lots of trees if you spray the ball.  From tee to pin, the fairways are perfect and well manicured and maintained – not a leaf out of place!  The rough was dense and thick but fairly easy to recover from.

Read more about the fantastic courses and stay and play options we enjoyed on our Mississippi Golf Vacation.

You'll need to stay at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino if you want to play Fallen Oak – but that's a great thing!  The Resort is fantastic with 85,000 square feet of casino, state-of-the-art fitness center, an award-winning spa and salon, 11 recognized restaurants, four nightclubs and bars, a beautiful pool, an upscale retail promenade, a 1500 seat theater with headline entertainment, and lots more.   Read our review of the Beau Rivage Stay & Play.