Davis Love III Opens New Course On The "Golf Coast"

Shell Landing Golf Club is the NEWEST addition to the growing number of quality courses on Mississippi's version of the Riviera - the Golf Coast

Contact Kevin Drum
Executive Director
Mississippi Gulf Coast Golf Assoc.
228-374-4653 x 24

(October 9, 2002) - Davis Love III arrived in the Gulf Coast of Mississippi on Sunday, October 6 to an enthusiastic and appreciative crowd to attend the Grand Opening of Shell Landing Golf Club, one of Love Enterprises NEWEST course designs. The #7 player in the world showed his appreciation to the crowd by sharing his personnel insights on the game, the recent Ryder Cup and golf course design. Mr. Love explained, "I have not hit a golf club since the eighteenth at the Ryder Cup, so I hope the course isn't set up to hard today, Kenny." He was referring to Kenny Hughes, PGA Professional and Director of Golf at Shell Landing, Gautier, MS.

Davis held court over a group of local media, members and fans that wanted to ask him about the antics on the eighteenth at the recent Ryder Cup and asked if he was bothered by Sergio's interruption on that hole. While all waited for his response, Davis took that opportunity to tell the story of what he called "the classiest guy of the Ryder Cup." He was talking about Pierre Fulke, his opponent that day. He explained that this Swedish gentleman offered to concede the hole to Davis because the Europeans had won, and, he explained, "it was a Nicklaus-like gesture that deserves more attention and what the Ryder Cup is all about."

Ironically, while calling attention to the class of his opponent, he showed his own commitment to that ideal of sportsmanship and the team format by refusing to accept the concession and telling the Swed if we did call the match it would be a 1û2 point each. This same team concept he embraces in golf can be seen in the team at Love Enterprises. His design team was put together with the "commitment to preserving the land in a natural state by designing a course that will compliment the existing terrain."

The team was formed in 1994 and is filled with experience. Davis Love III, Mark Love, Bob Spence, Paul Cowley and Scot Drader combine their experience to create courses that blend with the land - they did that in Gautier at Shell Landing Golf Club. Coastal courses are not supposed to have rolling terrain, and the design team left those characteristics there to preserve this special place.

After entertaining the crowd in the Shell Landing club house, Davis then led the group to the large practice range to give a thorough clinic to those attending and loosen a bothersome neck that has been giving him problems all year. The clinic was so comprehensive many departed immediately to a local golf course with the excitement that they now knew the secret of the golf swing.

Those that stayed followed Davis to the appropriately named "snapping turtle" back tees to play the 7,000-yard course that he first saw as a dirt routing. With nursing his neck injury, it seemed possible that he might not play all eighteen, but at the same time he did not want to disappoint the crowd. He played all 18 holes and capped it off with a booming drive on eighteen that might cause Davis to add another bunker. His round of 71 was more impressive than the score, especially if you ask the 11-year-old girl who was his official pin caddy for all eighteen holes.

It's official! Shell Landing is open for business, and Davis Love gained more fans in the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and was welcomed with open arms.

With the Mississippi Gulf Coast's addition of Love Enterprise's Shell Landing, this coastal resort area can boast over 288 holes of golf from a who's who of design teams like Landmark National, Arnold Palmer, Donald Ross, Jack Nicklaus, Mark McCumber, Earl Stone, Willard Byrd, John Lafoy and Jack Daray. With 26 miles of Gulf of Mexico coastline, over 17,000 rooms and 12 Las Vegas-style casinos, no wonder it is becoming known as the "Golf Coast."

For more information on Shell Landing or golf vacation information log on to www.GolfCoast.com or call 1-866-383-GOLF for a free 48-page Golf Package Guide. For more information on Love Enterprises call John McKenzie (912) 638-6051.