Mossy Oak Golf Club

Review & Rating of Mossy Oak Golf Club in West Point, MS

Mossy Oak opened in 2016 and it is a very unique collaboration between Geroge Bryan (owner of Bryan Foods which is now part of Sara Lee), designer Gil Hanse, and Mossy Oak an outdoor lifestyle company and pioneer in preserving natural habitats across the US.  The goal, which was wildly exceeded from our perspective, was to create a memorable experience that brings golfers closer to nature while maintaining and celebrating the local Mississippi Black Prairie habitat. 

Gil Hanse was hired to turn what was a dairy farm into a world-class golf experience by utilizing his world-renowned reputation as a minimalist golf designer.  The goal was to preserve the natural habitat, leverage the prairie, oaks and native grasses, and gently rolling terrain to heighten the golfer's awareness of the outdoors and accentuate the area's natural resources.  It's called Natures Golf.  In 2018 Golfweek named Mossy Oak in their Top-100 Modern Courses in the US and Golf Digest rated it #3 Best New Course in the US.

Mossy Oak Golf Club is the epitome of a links-style course – tall native grasses, wide sweeping fairways, few trees, and lots of bunkers, in fact, there are 106 bunkers at Mossy Oak. Gil didn't move a lot of dirt to create Mossy Oak but you will encounter a few elevation changes, challenging raised big greens, water on 3 holes, a blind shot, risk-reward opportunities, and some forced carries. If you can stay in the fairway, be precise on the approach shots, and putt you'll have a fun and very enjoyable round.

Gil took special care to minimize the impact on the environment and preserve the natural habitat.  He packed 18 holes into very few acres and most holes are side by side – but you don't seem to notice it.  In fact, between holes six and seven there is a mound that provides a view of the flag for all 18 holes! 

Every hole at Mossy Oak is different than the previous hole and unique in some way and joy to play.  Some of the holes that we really liked included:

• #3 is challenging and tricky 299-yard par 3 – it's short but the green is elevated with three bunkers in front and a nasty hidden bunker in the back – it takes a precise approach shot to hit this small (the smallest green on the course) light bulb shaped tiered green
• #6 is a 430-yard par 4 with a carry over a natural area and then an uphill climb to the most undulating green on the course
• #11 is a beautiful par three that's all carry over a lake to a green with 3 bunkers
• #17 is a 523-yard par 5 that's like playing in the Sahara Desert – 3 big bunkers at 175 yards out and one of the biggest bunkers I've ever seen guarding a very fast elevated green which also has a front left side bunker

Most of the Mossy Oak Fairways are wide open but miss and you're in a bunker or lost in the natural area.  They were in perfect condition when we played as was the rough, which challenging but playable.

The greens at Mossy Oak were also perfect and to score well you need a precise approach and some good putting.  Most are raised, well guarded, and have plenty of contour. 

The 106 bunkers were strategically placed in the fairway and around the green but seemed to be fairly easy to avoid.  They range in size from huge to some small pot bunkers and most have steep faces – you're not going to roll out!  The sand was excellent – soft and fluffy. 

Forecaddies are required and we loved our forecaddie – great personality, very knowledgeable about the course, and excellent at reading the greens.  We would have had several 3 putts without him.

During our Mississippi Golf Vacation, we also played Old Waverly which is just down the road from Mossy Oak.  Read our review of the Stay & Play at Mossy Oak & Old Waverly.

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