Diamondhead Country Club & Golf

Getting To Know: Diamondhead Country Club & Golf

An Insightful Interview With Hoppy Smith, Head PGA Professional

By Brian Weis

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with Hoppy Smith who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
Experience award winning golf at Diamondhead Country Club, long recognized as a popular MS Gulf Coast golf destination. Conveniently located between Mobile & New Orleans, we are immediately accessible off I-10 at exit 16 and the public is welcome.
TWO 18-hole courses, attractive rates, and an unmatched experience throughout the region. The design and length of both courses are very friendly and promote a relaxed round of golf for an unforgettable experience.
We also have a full service restaurant and 19th Hole, 8 lighted, hydra clay tennis courts at Tennis World, marina & airport.

Diamondhead is the right choice for players of all abilities in search of challenging and scenic golf.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
Diamondhead is the only facility on the MS Gulf Coast that offers 36 championship golf holes. Play 18 holes or play all day. Stay & play packages are always available with our lodging partners. With the addition of the Golf Academy of Diamondhead, golfers will now be able to book stay & play packages that include professional golf instruction in our indoor/outdoor state of the art golf training facility. Plus, we have the newest greens along the MS Gulf Coast!

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
It's real simple here...make sure your tee shot is in play!

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
Within the past year our guests continue to compliment us for our service and product. Many guests make it a point to stop in the Golf Shop to let us know that Diamondhead has "the best greens on the MS Gulf Coast". Diamondhead is committed to providing a great golf experience from start to the 19th Hole.

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
Hole #15 on the Cardinal Course was designed to be Diamondhead's signature golf hole. #15 is a spectacular 577 yard par 5 framed by a 10 acre lake on the left and majestic oak trees on the right. The lake flanking this hole was designed to be in the shape of the Diamondhead logo so the property could be easily spotted from the air.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
There are so many really good holes here in Diamondhead. Hole #16 on the Pine Course is a great dogleg left par 4 playing 418 yards with a double tier green. The tee shot, depending on how far you carry your drive, can benefit a short hitter. If your drive catches the down slope your ball will be catapulted an extra 50 to 60 yards. Fun to out drive the big hitters!

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
Served during lunch, our 19th Hole burgers are the best! For munchies, try our home made onion rings or many enjoy noshing on our chicken quesadillas. Our bartenders will take good care of all your beverage needs. You can place your order from the course & have it available for pick up in the 19th Hole at the turn.

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score?
Bob Stanton holds the course record on the Pine Course with a score of 62. Bob was a former club professional at Diamondhead Country Club who finished 2nd in the Australian Open and mentored a young Greg Norman. According to a member, during a two week stay in Diamondhead, Greg Norman drove the creek on #10 of the Pine Course, only a 350 yard drive from the back tees, then asked Bob for a yardage for his approach shot on #11, a 433 yard par 4. Bob dropped three balls and proceeded to hit each one with a different iron to within 15 feet of the pin. He then turned to Greg Norman and said "maybe you should give up on the PGA Tour and just stick with the long drive competitions".

Back Tee Stats
Par: 72
Yardage: Pine/6769 Cardinal/6729
Slope: Pine/132 Cardinal/129
Rating: Pine/72.8 Cardinal/72.7

More Information
Diamondhead Country Club & Golf
7600 Country Club Circle
Diamondhead, MS, 39525
228-255-3910
www.diamondheadms.org

Revised: 11/19/2012 - Article Viewed 34,213 Times - View Course Profile

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the Publisher of GolfTrips.com, a network of golf travel and directory sites including GolfWisconsin.com, GolfMichigan.com, ArizonaGolfer.com, GolfAlabama.com, etc. Professionally, Brian is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA) and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG). In 2016, Brian won The Shaheen Cup, an award given to a golf travel writer by his peers.

All of his life, Brian has been around the game of golf. As a youngster, Brian competed at all levels in junior and high school golf. Brian had a zero chance for a college golf scholarship, so he worked on the grounds crew at West Bend Country Club to pay for his University of Wisconsin education. In his adult years, his passion for the game collided with his entrepreneurial spirit and in 2004 launched GolfWisconsin.com. In 2007, the idea for a network of local golf directory sites formed and GolfTrips.com was born. Today, the network consists of a site in all 50 states supported by national sites like GolfTrips.com, GolfGuide.com and GolfPackages.com. It is an understatement to say, Brian is passionate about promoting golf and golf travel on a local, regional, national and international level.

On the golf course, Brian is known as a fierce weekend warrior that fluctuates between a 5-9 handicap. With a soft fade, known as "The Weis Slice", and booming 300+ drives, he can blast it out of bounds with the best of them.