Jan. 26, 2005 - BILOXI -- Workers have begun moving dirt and trees for Beau Rivage's long-planned golf course, which will be open to the casino resort's guests and the public early next year.

The course is being built at a cost of more than $30 million on 510 acres adjacent to the DeSoto National Forest on Mississippi 15.

The 18-hole, par-72 course, designed by golf architect Tom Fazio and named Fallen Oak, was in the casino resort's original plans but was put on the back burner for the past few years while the casino's restaurants and rooms got a makeover.

"It's always been on our list of things to do," said Jeff Dahl, president of Beau Rivage. "We'll be putting grass down starting in May and start construction (on the clubhouse) in March. We'll be open for play beginning in February."

Dahl said Fallen Oak is named for a tree that leans but is still standing on what will be the 18th fairway. The course will have two distinct characters, thanks to the natural landscape. The front 9 holes are on land that was a pecan orchard, with large oaks and lakes. The back 9 layout has dramatic elevation changes not usually found in coastal areas.

Fallen Oak will have water features, 10 bridges and concealed paths for golf carts. The large clubhouse, reminiscent of an Acadian-style Southern mansion, will house a pro shop, lockers, a lounge and restaurant.

Fazio and casino officials looked at more than a dozen sites before settling on the Mississippi 15 location, which is populated with oak and pine ridges, magnolia and pecan groves, lakes, streams and marshes.

Fazio described the trees on the site as "spectacular," and said he will use part of the landscaping budget to transplant some large mature trees around the course.

"In areas where the routing of the golf course requires the clearing of existing specimen trees, we'll be able to simply move them to a location that works, or even move them to the side of the hole temporarily and move them back after the hole is built," Fazio said. Transplanting these trees and shrubs will give the course a mature look from the outset, he said.

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