The 30-year young Old Waverly Golf Club first pole vaulted itself onto the world stage when it hosted the 1999 LPGA U.S. Women’s Open. In 2019, this Jerry Pate and late Bob Cupp design will welcome the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. Big credentials indeed and certainly worthy of all the accolades bestowed as being one of the best courses in Mississippi.

This mature well-treed layout is a unique combination of parkland, lakes and links-styles all in one. You are faced with either a lake or a grassy wetland on every hole so control versus distance here is paramount here. Adding to the difficulty, the large greens are fast and firm making it tough to stop your approach shots. However, the conditioning is fabulous, and the powder white soft sand bunkers are extremely consistent.

The first hole starts from an elevated tee to a tight well-tree lined fairway. A pond comes into play on the right on your approach so keep left and watch your ball funnel back toward the centre of the green.

The 5th is a sharp dogleg right that requires a straight drive then a short iron to an elevated green. #6 is mid length par-4 over a creek that runs diagonally across the middle – very picturesque indeed.

Hole #10 is a gentle bending par-5 with a pond that comes into play on the left for your second shot. This would be a signature hole on any other course but not so here.

14th is a shorter par-4 but a creek crosses the fairway twice and a huge horseshoe-shaped bunker protects anything short right. Hole 15 is a par-5 starting from a raised tee offering a split fairway to choose from with a marshland in between. Either way your second shot must find a narrow fairway to position yourself to a green protected by a pond on the left.

The 18th is definitely the signature hole. A big sweeping dogleg left around a pond. Bite off as much as you can chew so you don’t have to play over the bunker. The stoned-faced retaining wall with the clubhouse in the background makes for a memorable finish.

This is a private course but ‘Stay and Play Packages’ are available and well worth the visit.

To read more about Dave Finn's golf travel adventures visit www.golftravelandleisure.com