Exploring Four Great Courses within DeSoto County - Mississippi

Packer fans reacted to the news of Brett Favre's retirement on March 4th in a myriad of ways. Some balled like two year-olds, fans of the Chicago Bears rejoiced, and some even called in sick to work to watch the press conference two days later. I decided to take a more proactive approach. A buddy and I got in my 2003 Chevy Malibu and drove south until we hit Mississippi - the resting place of one 38 year-old Brett Lorenzo Favre.

My intent was to drive straight through the night and camp outside the Favre Estate in southern Mississippi and plead with him to un-retire. My plan was flawless, save for the fact that I made a fateful stop just north of Tunica, MS in Olive Branch to get gas. There I saw a brochure that would alter the fate of our trip. It said I could play four championship courses in a 15 mile radius for less than two tickets to Lambeau Field.

So because my love of reasonable golf supersedes my love of #4, Brett will stay retired for a few more months and the rest of this article will be devoted to DeSoto County instead of the restraining order Brett would have inevitably filed against me.

But enough digressing, we were Mississippi bound for the second time in three years and stoked to do so. This year's destination, a four course Mecca in Desoto County -- only minutes from the really cool city of Memphis. It's home to Biel Street, FedEx, and the NBA's Memphis Grizzles. So if you love affordable golf, world class restaurants, and a first class sports town, then "River City" should be on your short list of vacation destinations. When you decide to tee it up in DeSoto County here is an idea of what you should expect.

The Plantation and Cherokee Valley

Two of the four properties within DeSoto County, The Plantation and Cherokee Valley, are owned and operated by Mike Herrington and family, the second-generation steward of Olive Branch golf. If you look up "Southern Gentleman" in Webster's Dictionary, you ought to see a picture of Mr. Herrington. The two properties he runs take on his persona as both facilities make you feel like a member from the minute you pull into the parking lot. It's important to note that the staffs of all four courses exude classic southern hospitality and their care truly enhances your playing experience.

Of Herrington's dynamic duo, Cherokee Valley gets my vote as the lead dog. Thrilling elevation changes and prominent water features lead to an exhilarating round on the par-72, 6800 yard layout. And here's a great design feature - Cherokee Valley's opening hole offers a realistic chance to make eagle. At only 467 yards and all downhill the first half, the premier hole's real defense is an elevated green that's protected by water roughly 30 yards in front of the putting surface. Make sure to look to the right on your approach to see a gigantic "CV" logo carved out of the bushes, one of the best ways to promote a course I ever seen to the passerbys on Hwy 306.

The par-4 429 yard 3rd may be the most scenic hole on the property as it's tucked between trees and features an elevated green. Any country club in the nation would be pleased to have this hole on its roster. "To me that hole looks like you're in the hills of Northern Alabama as it plays uphill and into the wind all the way. It's a very difficult hole from start to finish as in the winter time you can hit a great drive and still have 200 yards in. It's my favorite hole at Cherokee Valley as you have to hit two great shots to even think about securing a par," stated Herrington.

A very unique and stunning design aspect of Cherokee Valley is the parallel par-4's that conclude each nine. Both holes go up, up, and away and are tree-lined with seriously elevated greens. "My dad pictured those two holes in his mind as he loved the idea of uphill finishing par-4's, or as he called them "sister par-4's" Number 9 features a very narrow landing area for your tee ball to find plus it has a huge green with several ridges that adds to the fun. Remember to take at least one more club due to elevation changes on both holes. Number 18 plays at 399 yards and features a three-tiered small green. You must have your ball on the proper level or at least below the hole in order to two-putt as this green has a severe front to back and right-left slope to it," explained Herrington.

The 12th hole is 338 yards and signifies the first great hole of the back nine. It's another elevated tee shot to a risk/reward putting surface. Big bombers may be able to drive the green with a mighty strike on the perfect line. That perfect line requires a 280 yard carry over H2O to a green that's perched on a precipice. The next hole, the 388 yard 13th has simply got a wonderful flow to it. It's open off the tee expect for a vicious slope that will take any ball left of center further left down a ravine. If your drive finds the fairway, your approach will be played to a slightly sunken green which is protected by two large bunkers.

Cherokee Valley features a glorious clubhouse at the highest point of the property as well as an elevated driving range that is confidence inducing from the first hit. And here's a cool fact - there is a plaque on the 10th hole where John Daly's drive once landed in 2002. The marker is 344 yards from the tee. During the same round, John was ready to pull out driver on the 343 yard twelfth when Mike Herrington told Big John he only needed a 275 yard poke to carry the water and the corner of the dog leg. Daly proceeded to stripe his 3-wood to eight feet and make the eagle putt. John then walked off the green and chided Mike by saying, "That's a nice little par-3 you've got here!"

Only 5 minutes northeast of Cherokee Valley is The Plantation, the first course Mike's father, and former Mayor of Olive Branch, Clay Herrington built. The 6773 yard layout opened in 1990 and features gentler contours than the aforementioned Cherokee Valley. The course can be characterized by large, deep faced bunkers and numerous water features that can turn a benign hole into the potential for a big number.

The par-3's are tremendous at The Plantation, with the 179 yard 2nd being a real wake-up call early in your round. If you've got a case of the rights going on the driving range you may cringe at the site of water lingering short and starboard. The hole does offer a generous green and enough room left if a mundane par is on your mind. The 148 yard par-3 9th is set next to the white picket clubhouse that has possibly the finest Chicken Salad sandwich this northern boy has ever seen. I grabbed one before the round, one at the turn, and one for the car ride home. I could feel bad for the poor saps behind me after they ran out 10 minutes later, but that would require that I have feelings.

As far as the back nine is concerned, it plays a staunch 3590 yards from the tips and features a par-5 over 600 yards and four par-4's that play well over 400 yards. The 437 yard 18th is a super dogleg left that's straight uphill from the 150 yard mark. You'll have to take at least two more clubs just to make the climb toward the clubhouse. Make sure you look back as you're putting out and enjoy a thrilling view. Mike Herrington always looks forward to playing the last. "Number 18 is a hard finishing hole that lets the golfer choose how close he/she wants to get to the water down the left side. The closer you get, the shorter your approach will be. The green is well bunkered and tiered, so just getting to the putting surface in two doesn't always mean you'll make par," stated Herrington. For further details on Cherokee Valley and The Plantation, log on to http://www.olivebranchgolf.com.

Wedgewood Golfers Club

Tucked in a cozy residential neighborhood rests Wedgewood, a deceivingly difficult, yet thoroughly enjoyable track. The course plays a robust 6863 yards from the tips and features ample opportunities to post big numbers. The front nine's main defense is a series of cavernous ravines that make the fairway look like an aircraft carrier landing strip. Even though most landing areas are wide enough to negotiate, it's that sense of impending doom that makes you steer your driver similar to a pitcher who guides his fastball when his stuff has failed.

After two straightforward par-4's, it's time to tackle the par-5, 507 yard 3rd. Feeling lucky? If so, pull out the big kahuna and take on the water that curls down the entire right side. Roughly 50 yards from the putting surface is a huge tree that does three things. First it creates indecision, next it creates endless possibilities, and finally it creates character.
Decide to go for it and the tree comes into play, decide to lay up and it must be avoided, and it you hit it- oh my goodness, your ball could end up anywhere from in the water to in the next fairway, or if you're the guy I'm playing against it would end up on the green, 8 feet away for eagle. That's the beauty of this great hole-the possibilities are endless.

The best par-4 on the front happens to be the last, the 364 yard 9th. This hole starts golfers on a journey back into the more wooded and home laden portion of the property where shot values are high and pars are cherished. After a few confidence inducing holes, the best part of Wedgewood is its last four holes, and it all starts with the 424 yard par-4 15th. Much like the aforementioned par-5 3rd, this hole is total risk/reward. Water down the right side is worsened by a ridiculous slope that leaves even a well struck shot teetering on the brink of disaster.

Richard Howell, Wedgewood's Director of Golf, discusses his #1 hole of the final four. "My favorite hole on the course is #17. It is a par-4, dogleg left that only plays 359 yards from the back tees, but, it's the #2 handicap hole. This hole is all about accuracy off the tee. With out of bounds left of the fairway and a hazard to the right, you need to play a tee shot that leaves you 120-150 yards. Then the fun begins. Your second shot is to an elevated green that is faced with two deep sand bunkers and the green is two-tiered, sloping from left to right. Making a four on this hole is a good score," stated Howell. "Overall, the final four holes are not long holes. You have three short par-4s and a short par-5. If you're striking the ball well they are definitely risk-reward holes, but any errant shot will find the hazards that surround the fairways and greens." For more information on Wedgewood Golfers Club, visit www.wedgewoodgolfersclub.com or call (662) 895-7490.

The Club at North Creek

Located 15 minutes straight west of Olive Branch is the suburb of South Haven, Mississippi and the Club at North Creek. The course plays at 6433 yards from the gold tees and is a fun hybrid links style layout. Numerous holes on the front nine feature large dunes and moguls that will kick any errant shot toward the shortgrass. On the inward nine the landscape changes, as tree-lined holes give way to Americanized, water laden holes that will make even a plus 3 handicap get nervous. In fact, North Creek's most distinctive design feature has got to be their back-to-back forced carries over water on the par-3 16th and 17th holes.

But before you have to tangle with those bogey-makers, you will get a few generous holes on the opening nine. The 426 yard par-4 1st is just not one of those. Bring your best drive to this tee box plus a solid approach or else you'll be +1 or worse in a heartbeat. Neither is the 628 yard, yes no typo here, the 628 yard par-5 4th. I actually crossed two time zones and needed a passport in order to finish this behemoth. Amazingly, over 1/6 of the entire front nine's yardage is consumed at the 4th.

Once on the back nine, The Club at North Creek gets interesting. The 10th, 11th, and 12th are all short par-4's that run parallel to each other. You may think three holes alike could get boring, but you could conceivably hit a different club off the tee on all three and attack them accordingly. Of the three, my vote goes to the 12th due to the beautiful line of trees that surround the putting surface.

But as aforementioned, the teeth of North Creek are holes 16 and 17-two consecutive holes that feature forced carries over water to semi-island greens. The 16th plays at 170 yards from the tips and features a multi-tiered green that slopes severely from back to front. The 17th is 165 yards from the back and must be played to a wickedly shaped green. There's not much room anywhere on this green complex as it's a narrow strip that falls away from you in all directions. Two 3's on the scorecard here means you've graduated with honors from Dave Pelz's Short Game School.

And then there is the 511 yard par-5 18th. My playing partner, Tim Carr, who hasn't laid up since the Reagan Administration, had a decision to make. As Tim surveyed the scene over his 240 yard second shot here is what he saw: trouble left in the form of a pond, trouble short in the form of a creek, and inexplicably trouble short and right as a couple who were just married were getting their pictures taken on the adjacent bridge. To quote the legendary Al Bundy from Married With Children- "Four Weddings and a Funeral- isn't that five of the same things." I thought we may have a wedding and a funeral at the same site if Tim's epic hybrid blast would have gone as wayward as so many of his previous attempts. I was all set to yell "fore" but all I got to say was "Great shot, man" as Tim's epic clout hit the green on the fly and went just off the back. What can you say; the guy thrives when a gallery is present.

Finally, it's important to note that when playing in Olive Branch, align yourself with a golf friendly lodging facility like the Hampton Inn. From their impeccable continental breakfasts, to their first-class business center, The Hampton Inn really knows how to cater to golf aficionados. For more information on their Stay and Play packages with all area courses, visit their website at hamptoninn.hilton.com or call 662-893-7600.

For more information on all that DeSoto County has to offer, visit their website at www.desotocountytourism.com or call 662-393-8770. And if you're in the area, make sure to drive an hour and half southeast and visit Old Waverly in West Point, MS. Old Waverly hosted the 1999 U.S. Women's Open won by Juli Inkster and is truly one of the classiest golf courses you'll ever play. For more information, visit www.oldwaverly.com or call 662-494-6463.