Golf Course Review & Scouting Report

Dancing Rabbit Golf Club – Oaks Course

Philadelphia, Mississippi

MS #7 Fazio #119

Established

1999

Architect

Tom Fazio and Jerry Pate

Access

Resort

Par

Par 72

Length

4,400 – 7,076 yds

Green Fees

More at Dancing Rabbit Golf Club

Dancing Rabbit Golf Club – Azaleas Course7.9

The verdict

Fair, tough, and memorable resort test

The Oaks Course at Dancing Rabbit is Mississippi resort golf at its most muscular, combining dramatic elevation, deep forests, and bold bunkering. It delivers strategic challenges and strong shot values in a destination setting that's both welcoming and exacting.

Course DNA

Difficulty

Scenery

Conditioning

Shot Variety

Walkability

Green Complexity

Wow Factor

Design Quality

Don't miss

Keep an eye out for the interpretive sign on local Choctaw history near the first tee—a fitting touchstone to the course's roots.

At a glance

Quick facts

Total elevation change

Over 120 feet across the routing

Tree coverage

Dense pines and mature oaks line most holes

Bunkers per round

Over 70 strategically placed traps

Championship tee rating

74.6 / slope 139 (Gold)

Signature par 3s

Multiple dramatic downhill one-shotters

Course rating recognition

Top-10 Mississippi course (Golf Digest, Golfweek)

Treaty connection

Named for Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek

Sister course

Adjacent to Azaleas Course (Fazio/Pate)

The design

The architecture

Dancing Rabbit’s Oaks Course is both a shotmaker’s test and a visual feast: Tom Fazio and Jerry Pate routed the holes across rolling Mississippi land thick with hardwoods and pines, using the elevation to full effect. The hallmark of the Oaks is strategic variety—one moment you’re threading a long approach through cathedral woods, the next you’re calibrating distance to a downhill green perched over water. Well-placed bunkers and bold green complexes reward thoughtful play over brute strength.

Fazio and Pate’s collaboration shines through in the terrain-embracing routing and the discipline demanded by the greens and approach angles—lessons from Pinehurst and Augusta echo here in microcosm.

Defining features

Dramatic elevation changes and sloped fairways
Well-defended, undulating greens
Signature downhill par 3s, water in play
Strategic, risk-reward par 5s
Bermuda rough and collection areas enhancing challenge
Heavily wooded corridors with occasional panoramic views

Hole by hole

Signature holes

Hole 5

Short Iron Showcase

PAR

YARDAGE

164

A quintessential short par 3, this hole sets the nerves alight with a green fiercely guarded by bunkers and sloping run-offs. Tee shots must pierce the right window, especially when the pin is tucked. Misjudge your number, and the slopes or sand will do the rest.

Play it smart

Pin-seeking irons are rewarded if flighted precisely; otherwise, play to the center and trust your putter for par.

Where it bites

Miss short or get too aggressive and you’ll flirt with deep traps and collection chutes around the green.

Course management

Shots to think about

Approaching a short par 4 with bunkers lurking near the landing zone.

Leave the driver in the bag and favor placement to set up a full wedge for your approach.

Club selection on the dramatic downhill par 3s.

Use your rangefinder on the center of the green, factor for wind and elevation drop, and trust your number—not your eyes.

Second shot on a reachable par 5 with water left.

Lay up to your favorite wedge yardage rather than forcing a risky long approach over trouble.

Out of position in Bermuda rough, sidehill lie.

Don’t get greedy—punch back to the fairway and attack the pin with your next shot.

Long iron approach to the 18th green with a narrow miss zone.

Aim for the fat side, take your bogey medicine if needed, and avoid the short-sided trap.

Shaping a tee shot dogleg par 4.

Take your preferred shot shape off the tee, as angles into the green matter more than pure distance.

On the day

What to expect

Conditions

Pure championship Bermuda with consistently well-kept greens, fluffier rough, and strategic bunkering.

Pace

Varies with resort and casino traffic—expect 4.5+ hour rounds at busy times but typically moves well midweek.

Vibe

Welcoming, high-value resort feel with a strong sense of place and no stuffiness.

Dress code

Golf attire is standard—collared shirts and soft spikes; call ahead for special events or dining rules.

Before you tee off

Your game plan

Bring your full club set

Course length and strategic elevation changes mean every club in the bag—from hybrids to wedges—will get a workout.

Walk or ride?

Uphill hikes abound—walk if you want a workout, but most choose a cart for ease and pace.

Measure twice on downhill shots

Mistake the elevation drop on par 3s and you'll find water or sand—double check distances.

Book early for weekends

Prime resort tee times can fill quickly—reserve in advance, especially in the fall.

The lore

How it came to be

1999
The Oaks Course opens, designed by Tom Fazio and Jerry Pate as a new, original 18-hole championship course.
2005
Escapes major Hurricane Katrina damage while influencing small restoration work.
2006
Ranked #4 in Golfweek’s Mississippi rankings.
2011
Placed #6 in Golfweek’s state rankings.
2023
Hosted the PGA University Championship.
2025
Ranked #8 in Golf Digest’s Best in Mississippi.

Stories & legends

What makes it special

history

A Legacy in the Oaks

The course draws its name from the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, a powerful tie to the land's Native American history. Multiple golf media outlets note that this heritage infuses the experience with a sense of depth and place.

architecture

Downhill Drama

The Oaks has earned a reputation for its dramatic downhill par 3s, where elevation, swirling wind, and watery targets create some of the most pulse-raising shots in Mississippi golf.

resort

Resort Renaissance

When the club opened, it stood at the vanguard of casino-resort golf in the Southeast, proving that rural Mississippi could deliver a tour-caliber resort experience. Its wooded, natural setting and demanding shot values changed regional expectations.

challenge

Finish With a Roar

The closing stretch—featuring a long, bold par 3 and one of the state’s toughest finale holes—has become part of local golfing lore. Players remember the pressure-packed finish for years.

For the group chat

Fun facts

The Oaks routing incorporates over 70 bunkers across its 18 holes.

The course draws its name from the infamous Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek.

Both Tom Fazio and Jerry Pate were on-site regularly to direct the original build.

The course’s signature downhill par 3s offer over 30 feet of vertical drop.

The final two holes combine for over 700 yards of finishing challenge.

Build the trip

If you’re making a Mississippi golf trip out of it

CourseAccessWhy it's on the listTrip

Dancing Rabbit Golf Club – Azaleas Course

Resort

Equally acclaimed Fazio/Pate sister course with more strategy and less brute force.

Pearl River Resort or central Philadelphia, Mississippi for direct access to both Dancing Rabbit courses.

Course DNA

If You Like Dancing Rabbit Golf Club

Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.

Strong DNA Match7.1

Otterkill Golf & Country Club

Campbell Hall, New York

Why it matches: Otterkill Golf & Country Club is a natural next stop after Dancing Rabbit Golf Club – Oaks Course: it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.

Strong DNA Match7.6

Dakota Dunes Country Club

Dakota Dunes, South Dakota

Why it matches: If Dancing Rabbit Golf Club – Oaks Course is your kind of course, Dakota Dunes Country Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.

Strong DNA Match7.2

Black Bear Golf Club

Parker, Colorado

Why it matches: If Dancing Rabbit Golf Club – Oaks Course is your kind of course, Black Bear Golf Club is worth a look because it a comparable balance of challenge, variety, and character.

The architect's other work

Community Sentiment

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