Just Scan it and you ready when you need to book a golf package on this riviera of the south or to booka  tee-time. Just load a QR Reader App on your phone and you are ready to go. For more information go to www.GolfCoast.com

Golf Visitors on the Mississippi Gulf Coast Will Receive a $100 Award Card to Buy Gulf Seafood

September 24 (Biloxi, Miss.) – BP has funded the “Golf for the Gulf” promotion to provide a $100 Visa Rewards Card to golf tourism visitors to buy local Gulf seafood when they book a 3-night/3-rounds golf package. The “Golf for the Gulf” promotion will feature nearly 70 golf courses, hotels, casino resorts, condos and golf travel providers located on the 60 miles of Gulf of Mexico coastline.  “The golf industry wanted to help the most impacted – gulf seafood and restaurants – and we will distribute nearly one thousand $100 award cards to golf visitors to buy Gulf seafood”, says Kevin Drum, executive director.  “Our restaurants look forward to making sure that our out-of-town guests are treated to some of the best seafood in the world while they enjoy our world class selection of golf courses,” says MS Hospitality & Restaurant Association President, Scott Weinberg,

“BP is pleased to support this ‘Golf for the Gulf’ campaign as part of our $3 million in tourism funding for the three Mississippi Coast counties,” said Heidi Grether, interim general manager for BP’s Gulf Coast Restoration Organization (GCRO). “Our intention with this funding is help encourage visitors to share in the beauty and recreational benefits of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and, in the process, help the people who work and live in communities that depend upon the tourism industry here.  ‘Golf the Gulf’ is helping to highlight that the seafood on the gulf is safe and delicious.”

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is known as the “Golf Coast” with 22 courses by Nicklaus, Palmer, Love, Pate, McCumber and many more dotted along its 60 miles of Gulf of Mexico coastline. The Golf combined with the great seafood and fine dining, 11 casino resorts and the endless supply of Southern Hospitality – makes the “Golf Coast” one of the best golf destinations in the world. The “Golf for the Gulf” promotion begins immediately for 3 night/3 round golf packages in October and November–go to www.GolfCoast.com/golf-for-the-gulf/ to request a FREE quote today.  For more information on the “Golf for Gulf” promotion or the Coast Golf Tourism Partnership, go to www.GolfCoast.com or call 866-383-GOLF.

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Golf Tourism Visitors Who Book 3 Day/3 Night Golf Package at Participating Hotels and Courses Receive a $100 Award Card to Buy Gulf Seafood at Coast Restaurants

September 20 (Biloxi, Miss.) – BP has given the Coast Golf Tourism Partnership a $250,000 grant to promote golf tourism in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties. The “Golf for the Gulf” promotion will provide a $100 Visa Rewards Card to buy local Gulf seafood for golfers who book a 3-day/3-night golf package. The “Golf for the Gulf” promotion will highlight in its marketing material and on the Visa® award card itself – “Play Great Golf & Eat Gulf Seafood.” The promotion features nearly 70 participating golf courses, hotels, casino resorts, condos and golf travel providers from across the three counties and is managed by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Golf Association.

“This funding from BP allows the Coast Golf Tourism Partnership to launch a new, immediate Coast-wide golf promotion,” says Kevin Drum, executive director. “This promotion will not only help our local golf courses, but also restaurants, hotels, attractions, casinos, shopping and even seafood suppliers all along the Gulf Coast. The golf industry wanted to help the most impacted industries – gulf seafood and restaurants – and we will distribute nearly one thousand $100 award cards to golf visitors to buy Gulf seafood and generate close to 3,000 room nights” says Drum.

“On behalf of the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association, I want to applaud the Golf Association’s efforts to help our tourism industry.  They have always been an important part of our industry on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and we are looking forward to working with them on this campaign,” says MHRA President, Scott Weinberg, “Our restaurants look forward to making sure that our out-of-town guests are treated to some of the best seafood in the world while they enjoy our world class selection of golf courses.  The Mississippi Gulf Coast offers a wide variety of locally-owned and nationally-known restaurants for our guests to enjoy.”

“BP is pleased to support this ‘Golf for the Gulf’ campaign as part of our $3 million in tourism funding for the three Mississippi Coast counties,” said Heidi Grether, interim general manager for BP’s Gulf Coast Restoration Organization (GCRO). “Our intention with this funding is help encourage visitors to share in the beauty and recreational benefits of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and, in the process, help the people who work and live in communities that depend upon the tourism industry here.  ‘Golf the Gulf’ is helping to highlight that the seafood on the gulf is safe and delicious.”

The “Golf for the Gulf” promotion will officially begin September 23 for bookings in October and November, and will be promoted through targeted email blasts to 4.4 million known golf travelers. The promotion will only be available to new “Golf Package Quote Requests” through www.GolfCoast.com, the official web site of MS Gulf Coast Golf. Golf travelers that book a 3 night/3 round golf package at participating hotels and courses will receive the $100 award card.  The Coast Golf Tourism Partnership has added an additional $250,000 in benefits to participating hotels including FREE listing in the Official Golf Package Guide, FREE Golf Trail Guides, FREE mini-site on www.GolfCoast.com, FREE attendance at 16 regional golf shows, and FREE installation and training on the Tee-Time Network to further help hotels who participate. The added benefits – as well as administration, creative, e-marketing, and web development costs – will increase total golf tourism investment by the Coast Golf Tourism Partnership and BP to nearly a half million dollars. While this is a fall promotion, the Partnership expects the impact to increase golf room nights for the next year.

Any hotel that books golf packages in the three coastal counties is welcome to participate in the Coast Golf Tourism Partnership and the “Golf for the Gulf” promotion. Participating hotels will also get connected to the Gulf Coast Tee-Time Network, which allows hotels to book golf electronically online and which saves them a tremendous amount of time in the process, and turns a stand-alone hotel into a multi-golf course resort with live access to tee-times.

“Without this dynamic golf destination tee-time system, we couldn’t manage a large promotion like the ‘Golf for the Gulf’ promotion,” says Drum.  “But since all hotels will be installed and trained on the tee-times system for FREE for signing up to participate, we can track new bookings, which makes managing this program possible and makes it easier for participating hotels,” says Drum.  “This golf marketing effort will be the largest since Katrina, and its impact will reach far beyond the participants, reach across the entire Mississippi Gulf Coast.”

This Coast Golf Tourism Partnership has won nearly 40 awards including Tourism Promotion of the Year from the Mississippi Tourism Association and Governor Haley Barbour. The Partnership was one of the first regional tourism organizations when it started ten years ago and has pioneered the Coast-wide tourism concept popular today.  For more information on the “Golf for Gulf” promotion or the Coast Golf Tourism Partnership, go to www.GolfCoast.com,  email Info@GolfCoast.com or call 228-374-GOLF.

New Greens & Clubhouses, New Hotels & Casino Resorts and a New Attitude

Biloxi, MS – The Mississippi Coast has been called the “Golf Coast” for over 100 years with the first golf course opening in 1903 in Pass Christian. Visitors on the Illinois Central Railroad arrived early last century to enjoy the new game of golf on over 60 miles of coastline and golf continues to play a huge impact on the Mississippi Gulf Coast economy. But on 8/29/2005 the golf industry and the entire  Mississippi Gulf Coast was hit with the largest storm in history and its impact shut down all the areas golf courses and destroyed clubhouses and downed over 100,000 trees on fairways – despite all that, golf visitors were some of the first visitors after Katrina. “I remember being so impressed with the golf course owners, golf professionals and golf industry workers that were working on getting the courses ready for visitors even though their home and car were destroyed,” says Kevin Drum, executive director, Mississippi Gulf Coast Golf Association, “in five years we have new greens and clubhouses at most courses and new hotels and casino resorts and two new courses – we are a much better golf destination,” says Drum. With over 20 courses by famous golf architects like Nicklaus, Palmer, Love and many more and the addition of two new championship courses in 2006 by Jerry Pate and Tom Fazio – the area has increased its quality of golf post Katrina and became one of the hottest golf destinations in the country.

The reason for its quick recovery is the unique set of amenities the destination can deliver to the visiting foursome. The great golf combined with the year-round golf weather, 60 miles of Gulf of Mexico coastline, deep sea fishing, fresh Gulf seafood, excellent dining options and 11 “World Class” casino resorts makes the area the only golf destination in the country to deliver this unique set of amenities and legendary southern hospitality. We have golf groups considering Vegas, Carolinas and Florida destinations and they come here instead because we offer it all in one place,” says Kevin Drum, Executive Director of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Golf Association. “There is no shortage of non-golf activity,” says Drum.

While Katrina was a horrific event, the golf industry on the Mississippi Gulf Coast prospered by taking advantage of the recovery to become better golf courses and become a much better golf destination a new attitude. For more information on golf vacations or a FREE quote go to www.GolfCoast.com or to request a FREE Golf Package Quote at over 50 hotels, casino resorts, condos & golf travel providers go to  www.golfcoast.com/plan-your-trip or call 866-383-GOLF.

Contact: Kevin Drum, Executive Director, MS Gulf Coast Golf Association

(228)374-Golf Ext 5 – Email: Kevin@GolfCoast.com

Mississippi Gulf Coast tourism groups received a boost today as BP announced payments totaling $3 million for advertising, activities and events to increase vacation rental, hotel occupancy and restaurant business. The payments will also benefit recreational, retail and other hospitality businesses in the area.

“BP is providing these payments to local agencies to help boost tourism along the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” said Heidi Grether, Mississippi external affairs manager for BP’s Gulf Coast Recovery Organization.  “With the payments announced today, BP intends to add to the benefits already being realized by a $15 million tourism promotion payment the company made to the State of Mississippi in May.

“Our intention is to help the Gulf Coast’s tourism development experts encourage visitors to share in the beauty and recreation benefits of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and, in the process, to help the people who work in and communities that depend on the tourism industry here.”

The payments announced today are being distributed through the Hancock County Tourism Development Bureau, the Harrison County Tourism Commission, the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Golf Association. These agencies provided input to BP on events and activities that would maximize tourism and related benefits to the Mississippi Gulf Coast immediately and through the peak of the fall Mississippi Gulf Coast tourism season.  The funds are to be spent on activities and events before Nov. 7, 2010.

Beth Carriere, executive director of the Hancock County Tourism Development Bureau stressed the impact the tourism funds will have for her destination.

“This funding allows us to not only enhance some of Hancock County’s existing tourism events, but to create new efforts that truly bring positive financial impact to our tourism-related businesses,” says Carriere. “One program in particular that will be immediate is targeting group tours for overnight stays and shopping with our Magnolia Money visitors voucher program at local retailers and other small businesses.”

“The Harrison County Tourism Commissioners, staff and the Board of Supervisors are beginning immediately to use these funds to help our tourism recovery,” says Ken Montana, president of the Harrison County Tourism Commission and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Our Gulf Coast is blessed by the finest and most resilient individuals anywhere in the world, and our restaurants, hotels, attractions, sports and recreational venues, festivals, tours and museums will all receive immediate and direct impact.”

Adds Carla Todd, president of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, “The Jackson County Chamber, representing both the county’s Chambers, the cities and Jackson County, is very pleased to be selected as the lead agency to administer this tourism funding provided by BP.  This enables local organizations to increase their event advertising and expand the scope of their planned event, helping to attract tourists to Jackson County’s accommodations, restaurants, retail stores, attractions, ecotourism venues, historic sites, festivals and golf courses.”

“This payment allows the Coast Golf Tourism Partnership to launch a new, immediate Coast-wide golf promotion,” says Kevin Drum, executive director of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Golf Association and Coast Golf Tourism Partnership. ”This promotion will not only help our local golf courses, but also restaurants, hotels, attractions, casinos, shopping and even seafood suppliers all along the Gulf Coast,” says Drum.

BP provided payments totaling $70 million in May to the States of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana for use in helping to address tourism concerns in the area.  The Mississippi Development Authority’s Tourism Department continues to administer the $15 million payment for Mississippi with input from an advisory committee that includes the state’s Gulf Coast tourism and economic development leaders.  Also, Mississippi Gulf Coast companies have been hired to execute advertising, marketing and promotions supported by the funding.

Notes to Editors:

Payments have been processed as follows this week:

Hancock County Tourism Development Bureau:
Contact:  Beth Carriere, Executive Director
Telephone:  228-463-9222; Cell phone:  228-493-3989

A $995,000 payment will support Hancock County events and activities including motor coach promotions, Second Saturday Art Walk, Diamondhead Arts & Crafts Fair, a country concert weekend, a Cruisin’ the Coast event in Hancock County, WaveFest and Snowflakes on Mississippi’s West Coast.

Harrison County Tourism Commission:
Contacts:  Richard Forester, Executive Director; Ken Montana, President
Telephone:  228-896-6699

A $1,175,000 payment will support Harrison County events and activities including Biloxi Seafood Festival, Chefs of the Coast, Cruisin’ the Coast, horse shows, Mississippi Hotel & Lodging Association Charter Boat Fishing Tournament, Fall Classic Mississippi Youth Soccer Tournament, Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Rendezvous & Harbor Grand Opening, Magnolia Classic USFA Fast Pitch Softball Tournament, Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo and a Familiarization Tour of convention and coliseum facilities by national tourism magazines, agencies and media.

Jackson County Chamber of Commerce:
Contact:  Carla Todd, President, Chief Executive Officer
Telephone:  228-762-3391

A $580,000 payment will support Jackson County events and activities including the Ocean Springs Art Walk, Mississippi Gulf Coast Blues & Heritage Festival, Walter Anderson Museum of Art Exhibit Opening,  Zonta Festival, Ocean Springs Feast of Flavors, Welcome Center Familiarization Tour, a Cruisin’ the Coast event in Jackson County and the Gautier Mullet & Music Festival.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Golf Association:
Contact: Kevin Drum, Executive Director
Telephone:  228-374-GOLF, ext. 5

A $250,000 payment will promote golf tourism in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties and provide incentives for golfers who book a 3-day/3-night golf package.  MGCGA will invite to participate and work with any lodging property located in the three Mississippi Gulf Coast counties that can manage golf packages.

For further information:

BP Gulf of Mexico response: www.bp.com/gulfofmexico

Telephone:

BP Press Office London +44 20 7496 4076

BP Press office, US: +1 281 366 0265

View this document online
BP America
US – BP America Press Relations

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Biloxi, MS: Jimmy Buffet, born in Pascagoula, told 40,000 fans and a national television audience how he played his first gig in Biloxi and expressed how the Mississippi Gulf Coast was “close to his heart” – specifically Biloxi and the highway 90 corridor along the coast. He opened his show with “Pascagoula Run” and closed his show with “Down Around Biloxi.”

Golfers or Parrot heads, as Buffet fans are called, can go on a “Pascagoula Run” of their own to play Shell Landing by Davis Love or The Preserve by Jerry Pate. They can go “Down Around Biloxi” and play Sunkist, Windance, The Oaks, or Dogwood – or play Arnold Palmer’s The Bridges, 36 holes at Diamondhead or Pass Christian Isles. On the road to Southern Miss, where Buffet attended college here, you can play the Grand Bear by Jack Nicklaus. 

As Buffet said, the best way to help the Gulf Coast is to come on down and enjoy the Gulf Coast. There is no better place to enjoy courses by Palmer, Nicklaus, Love, Pate and McCumber that has 60 miles of Gulf of Mexico coastline. When you add the 11 Casino Resorts and the incredible seafood and cuisine with the Southern Hospitality – you have a destination with a little something for everyone. “I know of no destination in the country that has such a unique set of amenities as the Mississippi Coast – the golf quality of the Carolinas and the attractions of Las Vegas with the weather of Florida and the food of New Orleans – it’s an awesome combination,” says Kevin Drum, Executive Director of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Golf Association.  

For a FREE Golf Package Quote at over 40 hotels, casino resorts or condos go to www.GolfCoast.com/plan-your-trip.  For information go to www.GolfCoast.com or call 866-383-GOLF.

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The PGA Tour Players and Officials at the recent Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic were so impressed with the quality of the golf courses, casino resorts and hospitality – they couldn’t stop the accolades. “If I knew this area was this much fun, we would have come here earlier,” said Mike Stevens, Champions Tour President. “This is the first golf course I played in Mississippi,” says Jody Mudd, “I think great things of Mississippi golf now after my first visit,” says Mudd.  The players and visitors were amazed at how they have never been here and were already acting as advertisements – you will too. “I came here for the media day and loved the golf course and the great casino resorts,” says Loren Roberts, “I really like this part of the country,” says Roberts. “Mississippi’s ‘Golf Coast’ is the kind of place I like, it’s the kind of people I like and it’s got the food I like,” says David Eger, MS Gulf Resort Classic Champion, “I want to be the first to commit to be here next year.”

What are you waiting for? The Mississippi “Golf Coast” has courses by Palmer, Nicklaus, Love, Pate and McCumber and has 60 miles of Gulf of Mexico coastline. When you add the 11 Casino Resorts and the incredible seafood and cuisine with the Southern Hospitality – you have a destination with a little something for everyone. “I know of no destination in the country that has such a unique set of amenities as the Mississippi Coast – the golf quality of the Carolinas and the attractions of Las Vegas with the weather of Florida and the food of New Orleans – it’s a awesome combination,” says Drum.  

For information go to www.GolfCoast.com or call 866-383-GOLF. For a FREE Golf Package Quote at over 40 hotels, casino resorts or condos go to www.GolfCoast.com/plan-your-trip.

Gulf Coast Amateur Championship

The Oaks Golf Club

Round 1 - June 19, 2010

7:30 am: – Don Marshall, Gulfport; Ray Sinopoli, Biloxi;  Lynn Pippin, Ocean Springs

7:39 am: – Jamie Keels, Ocean Springs; Joey Landrum, Ovett; Gabe Ahlers, Kiln ,

7:48 am:- Bob Mahoney, Biloxi ; Tom Koger, Diamondhead  ; Bobby Myrick, Hattiesburg, Miss.

7:57 am – Justin Massey, Gulfport, Miss. ; Lane Pippin, Ocean Springs, Miss. ; Nick Ishee, Laurel, Miss.

8:06 am – Deland Dill, Biloxi, Miss. ; David Ross, Biloxi, Miss. ; Thomas Moore, Canton, Miss.

8:15 am - Jason Bryant Eaton, Gulfport; Michael Maley, Ocean Springs ; Naret Johnson, Biloxi, Miss.

8:24 am – Charles Aycock, McComb ; Shane Murphy, Petal, Miss. ; Kenny Perry, Ocean Springs, Miss.

8:33 am – David Sellers, Clinton, Miss. ; Vince Leleux, Picayune, Miss. ; Kelsey New, Purvis, Miss.

8:42 am – Matt Lachaussee, Pascagoula ; Duke Simmons, Brandon. ; Ronnie Averett, Loranger, La.

8:51 am – Mike  Morton, New Iberia, La ; Derek Kirkwood, Moss Point, Ms. ; Joseph Binder, Slidell, La.

9:00 am – Mr. Jason Seal, Pearl, Miss. ; Michael Wilkinson, Gulfport, Miss. ; Casey Ham, Natchez, Miss.

9:09 am – Rory Nelson, Lucedale, Miss. ; Tyler Gentry, Wiggins, Miss. ; Nick  Byrne, Long beach, Miss.

9:18 am – Derrel Palmer, Brandon ; Greg Brooking, Natchez. ; Hank Holcomb, Diamnondhead, Miss.

9:27 am – Scott Winstead, Lucedale ; Drew Seals, Wiggins, Miss. ; Mark Menefee, Hattiesburg, Miss.

9:36 am – Robert Smith, Long Beach, Miss. ; Mike Justice, Gulfport, Miss. ; Mike Miller, Lucedale, Ms.

9:45 am – Matt White, Vancleave; Chris Nicholas, Richton, Miss. ; Brian Newman, Pass Christian, Miss