How about a trip to the Gulf Coast

1. Golf Getaway Gulf Coast Casinos How about a trip to the Gulf Coast Well, we have decided to take our Getaway Gang on our annual Golf Getaway Outing to a new location and a new state. Next stop…Biloxi, Mississippi. The first four years were in Las Vegas, the latter two have been enjoyed in Palm Springs, with the 6th annual event having the best turn out so far (23 golfers). So, it‘s time for another change in venue. This year we will be heading to the deep south to the beautiful Gulf Coast. This area is rich with large resort casinos, gorgeous resort golf courses, and pristine beaches. Since hurricane Katrina, this area has pored millions of dollars into restoring their resorts and golf courses and they are all in new and excellent conditions. Golf Date: Sunday – April (TBD) Monday – April (TBD) Place: Vancleave, Mississippi Saucier, Mississippi Course: The Preserve Golf Club Fallen Oak Golf Club First Tee Time: 10:00 AM 10:00 AM You'll find eight first-class casino resorts in Biloxi, with most offering gorgeous resort championship golf courses, fine dining and buffets, top-name entertainment and an array of other visitor amenities. The Beau Rivage Resort and Casino is the cream of the crop. It is the class of Biloxi and a very impressive property with all of its botanical features, grandeur and resort amenities . The property is owned and run my MGM Resorts International and has been compared to the Bellagio in Las Vegas The Preserve Golf Club is eighteen holes of “pure golf” designed by U.S. Open champion and award winning golf course designer Jerry Pate. The course encompasses 245 pristine acres, surrounded by an additional 1800 acres of dedicated nature preserve. The native surroundings of pitcher plant bogs, cypress swamps, long leaf pine savannah, live oak groves and native grass prairies have been integrated into the design of the 18-hole, par-71 layout. The Preserve offers five sets of tees, unprecedented course condition and superior guest service. Come enjoy golf …the way nature intended. Sitting on the edge of the DeSoto National Forest, Fallen Oak Golf Course has a lush landscape of more than 4,000 oaks, pines, and several other types of hardwood trees. The terrain also provides ponds, streams, and wetlands that not only form challenging water hazards throughout the golf course, but also enhance its beauty. The golf course - which was built exclusively for guests at the nearby Beau Rivage resort - is also dotted with colorful magnolias and dramatic elevation changes. The trickiest elements of the course's design are the treacherous bunkers strategically placed throughout. Fallen Oak's first hole is a good indication of what a challenge the course is; the hole is a par-5 dogleg left with streams and a lake that border the fairway and green Here is the plan. As was the case last year, Saturday (TBD) most likely will be utilized as a travel day. The first day of golfing has been scheduled for the Redhawk Golf Club on Sunday (TBD), with our second day of golfing taking place at the Pechanga Resort – Journey Course on Monday (TBD). Finally, Tuesday (TBD) is an optional day of leisure or a departure day if you so choose. If you stick around for an extra day of fun, your return day will be Wednesday (TBD).

2. This year’s trip is a package deal. In order for us to play golf at the Fallen Oak Golf Course you are required to stay at the Beau Rivage Resort Casino. This makes for a less crowded day on the golf course and some pretty special pampering (see website for details). If you shop early of discount flights this package could truly be a great deal and financially worth it. The resort is fabulous and in the same category as the finest resorts in Las Vegas. Both golf courses are breath taking and kept in meticulous condition. So here is the bottom line, the package deal is for three nights lodging at the Beau Rivage Resort and two rounds of golf (one round at each course) with the total cost of $530 per person (double occupancy per room) Last year’s trip had another good turn out. So, don’t miss out in Year (TBD). Once again, we will have challenging golf courses, enjoyable socializing (golfing and at dinner) and fond memories. Make plans and don’t miss out! This year as in the past, a group dinner is planned. As was the case in the past two outings, two evenings/restaurants have been selected. The first dinner social will be at “Mary Mahoney’s” Historic Restaurant on Sunday evening The second dinner social will be held on Monday evening at the “Jia” Restaurant inside of the Beau Rivage Resort If you have any questions, feel free to inquire, Lad Meairs Email: meairs2@comcast.net (home) or laddin.d.meairs@lmco.com (work) Phones: (925) 978-0170 (home) – (925) 829-8615 ext 330 (work) - (925) 813-2465 (cell) Mail checks to: Lad Meairs 1254 Mokelumne Court Antioch, CA 94531 Terms of Agreement: To get the group tee times and discounted rate of $000 total, per person, for both courses, I had to sign a contract for a minimum of 16 golfers at both golf courses with a $500 non-refundable deposit (each course). Please make up your mind by early March. I have to pay in full, 30 days prior to our scheduled dates (money due on March 15, 2010). I need your official commitment and green fees by that date. If you need to wait and settle up in April, I can carry it on my credit card, but you will need to honor your commitment. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino 875 Beach Boulevard Biloxi, MS 39530 (228) 386-7111

3. Website: http://www.preservegc.com/ Place: The Palace Resort Course Date: Sunday – April (TBD) Course: The Preserve Golf Club Tee Time: 10:00 AM (first group) Location: Vancleave, Mississippi Price $115.00 The Preserve Golf Club has been selected by Golf Digest as one of America’s Best New Courses of 2007 in the “Best New Public $75 and Over” category.  The new rankings appear in the January 2008 issue of Golf Digest, on newsstands now.  This year marks the 25th anniversary of Golf Digest’s annual ranking of America’s Best New Courses.  The judging panel includes more than 800 course raters nationwide who evaluate candidate courses on five criteria:  Shot Values, Design Variety, Resistance to Scoring and Aesthetics.  The Preserve Golf Club was listed as the #6 course in Golf Digest’s Best New Courses of 2007.  “The Preserve Golf Club is honored to have been selected by Golf Digest for this prestigious ranking,” stated Stephen Miles, Preserve Golf Club General Manager.  “Our staff strives to provide the highest levels of course conditioning, amazing amenities and superior service to provide a truly enjoyable golf experience for all levels of players,” Miles continued.  Designed by U.S. Open Champion, Jerry Pate, the Preserve Golf Club is a 18-hole, par 71 championship public course, surrounded by 1800 acres of nature conservancy preserve, protecting it forever from the disturbances of development.  From the first hole to the eighteenth, the native species and surrounding preserve dictate the layout of the 245-acre course.  Tall, slender long leaf pines line the fairways, wooden bridges cross the wetlands and majestic live oaks reach over the course.  Wild, wiry grasses disperse texture and color against the smooth rolling greens. The Preserve Golf Club is proud member of the Audubon International, and was recently recognized as a “Certified Signature Sanctuary.”  From the initial planning to the daily watering, everything is done with the highest regard for the natural surroundings. The Preserve Golf Club is located just minutes from Biloxi, less than an hour from Mobile and little over an hour from New Orleans.  But, golfers feel like they’re a million miles away from it all.  Even the course details, like wooden accessories and hidden cart paths, were all carefully crafted to limit distraction from the spectacular natural beauty of the surroundings, allowing golfers to experience golf the way nature intended.

4. Website: http://www.fallenoak.com/ Place: Beau Rivage Resort Course Date: Monday – April (TBD) Course: Fallen Oak Golf Club Tee Time: 10:00 AM (first group) Location: Saucier, Mississippi Price: Included in Resort Package Fallen Oak is the newest golf course in the Biloxi area, and it's a humdinger. It’s a big, bold, and spectacular course by a "A-list" architect, Tom Fazio. It's financed by MGM Mirage and only guests of the Beau Rivage Casino are invited to share the glory. While technically it isn't private, it is exclusive, doing a third of the rounds of, say, Grand Bear, another top-notch Biloxi golf course. It's a course that should retain its pristine conditioning. Fallen Oak elevates golf in Biloxi, literally and figuratively. It's one of the few coastal Mississippi golf courses with substantial elevation changes. "If you like golf, and you want to play all the great courses of the world, this should be on the list," Fazio said to the media. This place is exceptional from the minute you pull through the gates, after a 20-minute drive from the casino headlands of Biloxi, through the Mississippi backwoods. The service is smothering. Fallen Oak has a vast practice facility, one of the most pristine I've ever seen. Teak furniture, neatly-stacked range balls, towels and cold drinks. Everything in the beverage carts is free except the hard stuff. The clubhouse is grand, with a fountain trickling by outside and inside, a floor-to-ceiling view of the course. If you come straight from gambling at the Beau Rivage, be prepared to keep rolling the dice. It's a gambler's course, with more risk-reward options than the blackjack table. Being a Fazio course, the bunkering is distinctive. "We've evolved in America to think that bunkers aren't as much a hazard as they used to be," he said, noting the penal nature of bunkers on Scotland's golf courses. "You come to America, and if you can't hit a 3-wood out of a fairway bunker, you complain.“ You won't be hitting 3-woods out of these bunkers The course has way more than its share of memorable holes. Fairways bend and twist, rise and fall. The greens are huge, averaging about 7,500 square feet, with He-Man slope. There are marsh carries, doglegs to be cut and creeks to fly. You'll be thinking on every hole, so you'll need some smarts with your muscle mass. The course tips out at more than 7,400 yards, though you may want to take it on from the forward tees. Fallen Oak is worth a stay at the Beau Rivage, even if you hate the sound of slot machines. Hey, knock yourself out, take a limo there; they have 13 waiting for you.

5. MGM International Beau Rivage Hotel Resort and Casino 875 Beach Blvd Biloxi, MS 39530 We understand the special touches that transform a guest room into much more than just another hotel room.  Whether you’re visiting with us for a night or a week, you will bask in the plush comfort of the tastefully appointed sleeping and lounging area and the oversized luxury of the marble guest bath. Decorated in an attractive palette of warm hues, exquisitely touchable fabrics and substantial furnishings, the aesthetic is a perfect mix between modern and graciously traditional. There’s plenty to see and do at Beau Rivage, but your room is always your sanctuary. Guest room highlights: 32 inch flat-screen LCD television, High-speed internet access (Ethernet cable needed), Panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, Electronic safe, Climate control system, Writing desk with data port and separate table and chairs, Lighted closet with mirrored doors, Two telephones with voice mail , plus an Iron and ironing board Guest bath highlights: Italian marble floors and surfaces, Soaking tub and separate stall shower, Third telephone, Hair dryer and make-up/shaving mirror, plus Custom bath and hair products Largest Casino in Mississippi: Indulge your passion for a very grown-up type of play in the 24-hour excitement of our spacious, luxurious casino. The variety is unbelievable and the atmosphere, electric. With everything conveniently located on one expansive level, you’re sure to find a diversion that matches your mood. Enjoy all your traditional table game favorites like Craps and Roulette, along with unique assortment of intriguing games including Mini & Midi Baccarat, Single Deck Blackjack, Crazy 4 Poker, 3 Card Poker, Pai Gow, Mississippi Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold'em and more. Plus, with over 2100 of the hottest, newest and most in-demand slot machines/games available, the Beau Rivage Slot floor is a thrilling sight to behold. Restaurants: Two Fine Dining (Prime Steakhouse and Jia, Pan-Asian Cuisine) Four Casual Dining (Memphis Q Barbeque, Terrace Café, Coast Restaurant and The Buffet Four Quick Bite locations and four Bar/Lounges Beau Rivage Entertainment: Be starstruck. Head bop. Dance in the aisles. Wave your cell phone. Or just sit back and lose yourself in the moment. Featuring an unrivaled line-up of the biggest headline acts in show business, hot up-and-comers, extravagant production shows and cutting-edge nightclub gigs, the Beau Rivage entertainment schedule is on everyone's most-watched list. Amenities: Spa, Salon, Shopping (Promenade stores), Resort Pool with poolside grille and bar, Arcade room and golf privileges at Fallen Oak with limousine services (includes 2 rounds of golf) 3 nights lodging (Double occupancy) and 2 rounds of golf: $530

6. Optional Social Events Sunday Evening – Dinner Social - April Mary Mahoney’s 110 Rue Magnolia Biloxi, MS (228) 374-0163 www.marymahoneys.com/ Enjoy the upscale and elegant meal in one of the South’s most unique restaurants centered around one of the oldest homes in America. Mary Mahoney’s Old French House Restaurant was established in may 7, 1964. Over the past 40 years they served, residents, dignitaries, celebrities an millions of others. Proudly seving seafood form the bountiful waters of the Gulf of Mexico, fresh and unique food and outstanding cuts of beef make Mary Mahoney’s a restaurant that cannot be matched. A variety of dining rooms are available for your culinary dining experience. Romantic intimate settings for two up to banquet rooms accommodating 100 guests are all available. You may also choose to dine in an elegant New Orleans style courtyard under the canopy of a 2000 year old oak. Monday Evening – Dinner Social - April Jazzeppi's Ristorante & Martini Bar 195 Porter Avenue Biloxi, MS 39530 Phone: (228) 374-9660 Cuisine: Italian, Steak & Seafood www.jazzeppis.net/index.htm Jazzeppi’s offers the most unique and admirable restaurant features in the Biloxi. If you are searching for a restaurant that delivers mouthwatering food and delicious drinks, as well as a serene and stunning environment, then Jazzeppi’s is where you want to be. Their menu reflects irresistible Creole, Italian and French cuisines. The restaurant is located just 3 minutes from the Beau Rivage Resort and features Prime steaks, fresh seafood and an upscale Italian and Creole cuisine. We also have entree style appetizers at the bar along with gourmet pizzas. Jazzeppi's Ristorante & Martini Bar has become one of the area's favorite culinary destinations and is sure to ensure you a pleasant and unique dining experience every time you visit.

7. The Jefferson Davis Home and Presidential Library Owned and operated by the Mississippi Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans. Beauvoir was the last home of the Confederate President Jefferson Davis and it was the site of his retirement http://www.beauvoir.org/ Biloxi Fishing Expedition Aboard the “Sailfish” experience 3 hours of fishing with an experienced Captain and Crew.   They will even help you set your lines. You will be targeting such species as white trout, ground mullet and flounder.  License, Bait, Tackle, Sun Screen and Rod & Reel are provided.  The crew will also clean you fish dockside. You may bring a small (6-pack) cooler  for your beverages (alcoholic or non-alcoholic). Soft drinks, water and snacks available aboard the boat. Cost: $35 per person http://www.biloxishrimpingtrip.com/ordereze/default.aspx Mardi Gras Museum Located in the historic Magnolia Hotel, Biloxi's Mardi Gras Museum traces the three hundred year history of the celebration of Mardi Gras on the Gulf Coast. On display are costumes, photographs and memorabilia of carnival celebrations along the coast. http://www.biloxi.ms.us/museums/mardigras/ Biloxi Lighthouse Erected in 1848 and one of the first cast-iron lighthouses in the South, is the city's signature landmark and has become a post-Katrina symbol of the city's resolve and resilience. The light was civilian operated from 1848 to 1939. In 1939, the U.S. Coast Guard assumed responsibility for the light's operation. http://www.biloxi.ms.us/museums/biloxilighthouse/ Ohr-O'Keefe Museum Of Art This art museum is dedicated to the ceramics of George E. Ohr, the self-proclaimed "Mad Potter of Biloxi". Three buildings on the east side of the campus have opened with outstanding exhibitions, including the George Ohr pottery, The Mississippi Sound Welcome Center, the IP Exhibitions Gallery and the Gallery of African American Art. http://www.georgeohr.org/

8. The Preserve Golf Club 8901 Hwy. 57 North Vancleave, MS 39565 Phone: 877-MSGolf9 Fallen Oak Golf Club 24400 Highway 15 North Saucier, Mississippi 39574 Phone: (228) 386-7015