Hanse to Design New Course in Mississippi


The George Bryan family, founders of Old Waverly Golf Club, has announced it has joined golf course architect Gil Hanse and outdoor brand Mossy Oak to develop a new golf course focusing on nature preservation.

Mossy Oak Golf Club, set to open in 2017 in West Point, Miss., will feature a 7,400 yard, par-72 course, a clubhouse and guest cabins. Hanse - the designer of the new 2016 Rio Olympics course and other top layouts, Mossy Oak, the Bryan family and 76 founding members are creating a new destination that will be known as Nature's Golf, a sustainable approach that will preserve local habitat while delivering a top golf experience.

"Nature's Golf is a perfect complement to Hanse's minimalist approach to course design and a logical extension of the Mossy Oak brand," said George Bryan and Toxey Haas, co-founders of Mossy Oak Golf Club, in a joint statement. "The lay of the land and depth of the untouched prairie will guide the development of this new course and inform fairway routings, to the point of utilizing existing ridge views for the final green complexes on which legendary putts will be made."

Many courses enjoy natural beauty and a minimalist design, but few have such a complete focus on each area. Mossy Oak GC will feature native landscaping along with environmentally friendly management techniques, irrigation strategies. It will preserve the site's native grasses, wildflowers, plants and trees.

"Mossy Oak is an iconic thought-leader in the outdoor industry and I've admired the approach that they have taken towards preservation and the love of the outdoors," said Hanse. "We are excited to learn from each other and innovate in the way we approach the design of the overall golf experience. We believe that the outdoor enthusiast and avid golf traveler share a common love of nature, and the inherent qualities in this site will allow us to seek to create the ultimate in Nature's Golf."

For the last three decades, Mossy Oak has been pioneering new techniques to help land owners manage the process of growing and maintaining natural habitats. The West Point-based company has grown from a leader in camouflage print into other outdoor brands. Mossy Oak Properties is a leader in enabling land owners to secure prime recreational and hunting land. Through Gamekeepers, it helps restore natural habitats and establish native vegetation to nurture the survival of local wildlife. Its Native Nurseries incorporates root-system growth strategies to produce hearty vegetation for reforestation and habitat preservation.

"The literal mission statement of our entire enterprise is connecting human beings with the outdoors and nature; the golf course is literally nature," said Haas. "Our goal is to create a truly unique golf experience and to develop it into not only one of the finest golf courses in the country, but in the world."

In addition to the course, Hanse has designed a practice facility to serve as the home of the Mississippi State men's and women's golf teams. It will include a five-green driving range, short-game training areas and a 16,000-square-foot putting green in the shape of the State of Mississippi.

The first phase also features a 6,400-square-foot team clubhouse with locker rooms, players lounge, coaches offices, indoor putting center (with SAM PuttLab training system), exercise room and conference room. Construction is expected to be completed in 2015.

The project will have a 2,400-square-foot indoor hitting bay equipped with two Trackman swing and ball-flight analysis systems and a club-repair room that will be constructed in 2015.

"We are honored and privileged to receive the generosity of our supporters and the partnership of Mossy Oak and Mr. Bryan to make this truly amazing practice facility a reality for our program," said Ginger Brown-Lemm, the women's golf coach for Mississippi State University.

"This facility is a program-changer for us and we are overjoyed by the partnership and vision of both Mossy Oak Golf Club and Gil Hanse to make our dream a reality," added Clay Homan, men's golf head coach.

Mossy Oak Golf Club's site is adjacent to Old Waverly, which hosted the 1999 Women's U.S. Open and the LPGA Legends' 2014 ISPS Handa Cup. The Bryans have owned and operated the private club since its creation in 1988, with the membership including people from a 200-mile radius. The family sees the addition of Mossy Oak Golf Club contributing to the positive economic impact in the region. It will become an extension of Old Waverly Golf Club, with opportunities for guests to stay and play at both courses.