Grand Bear - Hole #17

Getting To Know: Grand Bear

An Insightful Interview With Michael Buckley, Head Golf 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 Michael Buckley 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
Towering pines, natural cypress wetlands, secluded fairways and impeccably manicured greens surround Grand Bear. This 18-hole, Jack Nicklaus Signature Course has the feel of Augusta and the excitement of Pinehurst.

A wide array of hole layouts makes Grand Bear challenging, yet enjoyable for all. From the Grizzly Bear tees at 7,204 yards, the challenge is firm but fair; from the Teddy Bear tees at 4,802 yards, the layout is downright cuddly.

The outgoing nine, which skirts the Little Biloxi River has superior golf holes, but the back nine is truly grand. Cypress wetlands rimmed with live oaks, gum trees, and old magnolias give way to the Big Biloxi River, its brilliant white-sand banks girding three of the last four holes.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
Grand Bear is a championship golf course that anyone can play. Whether you are seasoned professional or new to the game, Grand Bear is the place for you. Our welcoming staff and perfectly manicured golf course make Grand Bear the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the great outdoors.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
Just tee it up, let it fly, find it and hit it again. There are no tricks at Grand Bear. What you see is what you get. Just leave your cares and worries behind and become one with nature.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
Grand Bear has received numerous awards and accolades. From "Best in State" to "Top Ten Casino Course". We take the greatest pride in repeat customers. During tough times like these, it makes you feel great to have someone choose to play Grand Bear every year. With so many quality golf options on the coast, the repeat customers give us a great sense of pride.

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
Jack Nicklaus was asked the same question when we opened. He replied that he had built 18 signature holes. With all of the people coming in and telling us about their favorite holes and all of the different responses, I'll have to agree with Jack. 18 is probably our most photographed hole. Besides the beauty of the hole you see our beautiful clubhouse behind the 18th green.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
Number two is my favorite hole. It is a 515 yard par 5. You drive to a wide open fairway. If you hit it far enough, you can go for it in two. This is where the fun begins. If you hit a good shot you have a great chance at birdie and a good chance at eagle. If you miss to the right, you end up in the Little Biloxi River. If you miss to the left, you end up in a wetlands area. It's the classic
"risk-reward" hole.

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
Whether it's a cup of coffee or an ice cold draft beer, you can't go wrong in our gorgeous 5000 square foot log cabin Clubhouse. The charming and talented staff are sure to make you feel at home. You may never want to leave. I recommend the burger or club sandwich.

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score?
Eric Epperson holds the course record of 63. He shot it in the final round of the 2002 Grand Bear Classic. We have had some close calls, but it has held up over the last decade.

Back Tee Stats
Par: 72
Yardage: 7204
Slope: 143
Rating: 75.5

More Information
Grand Bear
12040 Grand Way Blvd.
Saucier, MS, 39574
228-539-7806
www.golfgrandbear.com

Revised: 12/01/2012 - Article Viewed 32,782 Times - View Course Profile

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the mastermind behind GolfTrips.com, a vast network of golf travel and directory sites covering everything from the rolling fairways of Wisconsin to the sunbaked desert layouts of Arizona. If there’s a golf destination worth visiting, chances are, Brian has written about it, played it, or at the very least, found a way to justify a "business trip" there.

As a card-carrying 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), Brian has the credentials to prove that talking about golf is his full-time job. In 2016, his peers even handed him The Shaheen Cup, a prestigious award in golf travel writing—essentially the Masters green jacket for guys who don’t hit the range but still know where the best 19th holes are.

Brian’s love for golf goes way back. As a kid, he competed in junior and high school golf, only to realize that his dreams of a college golf scholarship had about the same odds as a 30-handicap making a hole-in-one. Instead, he took the more practical route—working on the West Bend Country Club grounds crew to fund his University of Wisconsin education. Little did he know that mowing greens and fixing divots would one day lead to a career writing about the best courses on the planet.

In 2004, Brian turned his golf passion into a business, launching GolfWisconsin.com. Three years later, he expanded his vision, and GolfTrips.com was born—a one-stop shop for golf travel junkies looking for their next tee time. Today, his empire spans all 50 states, and 20+ international destinations.

On the course, Brian is a weekend warrior who oscillates between a 5 and 9 handicap, depending on how much he's been traveling (or how generous he’s feeling with his scorecard). His signature move" A high, soft fade that his playing partners affectionately (or not-so-affectionately) call "The Weis Slice." But when he catches one clean, his 300+ yard drives remind everyone that while he may write about golf for a living, he can still send a ball into the next zip code with the best of them.

Whether he’s hunting down the best public courses, digging up hidden gems, or simply outdriving his buddies, Brian Weis is living proof that golf is more than a game—it’s a way of life.