Grand Bear Golf Club

Course Layout

Nicklaus routed all 18 holes so none run parallel to another, and DeSoto National Forest pines wall off nearly every hole, so the course feels private even on a busy Saturday. The Little and Big Biloxi Rivers cross through several holes, most dramatically at the par-5 5th, the longest and hardest hole on the course, where a hazard splits the fairway and punishes a lazy layup. The drivable par-4 13th rewards a bold tee shot with a real look at eagle, while the 18th climbs back uphill to the log cabin clubhouse for a tough closing two-putt. Five sets of tees, from 7,204 yards down to under 4,300, keep it fair for a mid-handicapper and honest for a scratch player.

Getting There

Grand Bear is about 30 miles northwest of the beach, a genuine change of scenery from the casino strip on Highway 90. From the coast, take Highway 49 north for roughly 30 to 40 minutes; the course sits 8 miles past I-10 at Exit 34B, then a scenic six-mile drive through the national forest on Grand Way Boulevard. It's far enough inland that ride-shares and taxis plan on 40 minutes each way, so budget a full morning or afternoon if you're treating it as a day trip off the beach.

Nearby Stay & Play

None of the coast's hotels sit close to Grand Bear — it's a deliberate 30-mile retreat into the forest — so most golfers base out of Biloxi's beach corridor and drive up for the round. Harrah's Gulf Coast is a natural pairing: Grand Bear honors Caesars Rewards tier discounts of 10 to 25 percent off green fees for cardholders. For a simpler, budget-friendly home base near the Highway 49 route out of town, La Quinta Inn & Suites Biloxi keeps things easy.

Hotels Nearby

• Harrah's Gulf Coast
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Biloxi