The Bridges in Mississippi Set to Reopen

The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) Division of Tourism has announced that the Arnold Palmer-designed Bridges Golf Club in Bay St. Louis will reopen for play on October 18.

The project involves a major re-grassing effort due to damage caused by Hurricane Katrina last year. Seaside Golf Development removed the original turf and re-grassed more than 100 acres with Tifway Bermuda sod. The renovations also involved drainage and bunker repairs. The Bridges’ newly renovated clubhouse will reopen later this year.

The Bridges is the world’s first resort course granted the Audubon Silver Signature Status by Audubon International. The facility, also the state’s only Arnold Palmer Signature course, is part of the new Hollywood Casino.

Hollywood Casino opened last month. It boasts the 291-room Hollywood Hotel, 900 new slot machines, 20 unique table games, a six-table poker room, three restaurants and 17,000 square feet of function space.

“It is gratifying for yet another outstanding Mississippi golf-and-gaming property to welcome guests back to the Gulf Coast,” says D. Craig Ray, the MDA’s Tourism Division Director. “The Bridges and Hollywood Casino are outstanding venues and part of the reason why people are increasingly choosing to visit our great state of Mississippi.”

“Overall, the golf course routing has remained untouched but some minor modifications in the way of shaping have been made to make the course more resort and player friendly,” says director of golf Chris Altese.

The total square footage and number of bunkers remain the same as before Katrina. However, some bunker locations were changed to improve playability. “Greens on hole Nos. 3, 10 and 17 have been raised slightly to improve the drainage which was damaged by the storm,” added Altese. “Amazingly, the one-mile span of bridge work and bulkheads stayed in place and had very minimal damage from the storm.”

For more information or a tee time at Bridges Golf Club, call 866/7-LUCKY-1 or visit www.hollywoodcasinobsl.com. For more information golf in Mississippi, call 866/801-8551 or visit www.visitmississippi.org/golf and receive a free Golf Travel Guide and suggested play-and-stay packages.