Bay Pointe Country Club, Brandon, MS

Bay Pointe Golf Club in Brandon, MS has been family owned and operated since 1992. Brent Belton and his family have over 90 years combined experience in golf. More than that, the Belton’s are a Godly family and use Bay Pointe as a way to bring people of all ages to Christ regardless of where they are in their spiritual walk. There’s a weekly prayer meeting around 6 a.m. on the first Monday of every month, however Brent’s door is always open. The monthly prayer meeting is attended by staff, regular golfers and businesspeople on their way to work. These meetings are open to anyone seeking the Word of Christ. It’s the family’s way of giving back to the community which has embraced them and help them spread the Word.

From the back tees, Bay Pointe plays 6,713 yards with a par of 72. The course has a rating of 73.2 and a slope of 129. Four sets of tees make Bay Pointe a playable and enjoyable course for golfers of all abilities. Over the years, Bay Pointe Golf Club has hosted several professional tournaments such as The Hooters Tour, The T.C. Jordan Tour and the Tour America Pro Tour.

The golf course at Bay Pointe is recognized for being in excellent condition year round. The natural landscape, majestic timberlands and native wetlands you play through on the lush fairways lead to small greens which require a precision approach shot. Many of the holes are lined with trees on either side of the fairway, requiring a certain amount of control off the tee. There are only two bunkers on the entire course – one in front of the green on the par 5, 10th hole and on in the front left of the green on 18. However, if you think this course is a pushover because of the lack of sand, you’re sadly mistaken. First of all, the greens are small. On several holes, the greens are guarded by small, man-made ponds that may not be visible from the tee box. What you’ll find is that there is enough trouble in the form of woods that creep in tight near a couple of greens and natural hard pan areas around a few others provide a challenge.

Before your round, get loose and hit a few balls on Bay Pointe’s full length driving range and stroke a few putts on the practice green. There’s a fully stocked pro shop with plenty of logoed apparel for both men and women; balls, hats, gloves and just about every golf accessory you’ll need to go out and play your best. After you’ve shaken hands with your playing partners and walked off the 18th green, stop by Bay Pointe’s full service restaurant inside the club house. The culinary staff at Bay Pointe create some of the best food in the area including hamburgers, and their daily lunch specials can’t be beat. You don’t have to be a golfer to enjoy the great food at the 19th Hole Grille. They also offer meeting rooms and banquet facilities which are considered to be one of the best banquet spaces in the region. Your guests will enjoy panoramic views of the golf course and your next banquet, wedding reception or special event will be the talk of the town. In speaking with Brent Belton, plans are to grow the food and beverage side and make the restaurant a favorite among locals.

Memorable Holes

Number 3: Par 3, 118 yards. Although short, this can be a tricky little par 3. There’s a tree right if you push it off the tee and water short left if you try and get cute. Play for the middle of the green and hope you don’t spin it too much or you could find the aforementioned water.

Number 7: Par 5, 515 yards. A long par 5 that takes a good strike off the tee just to reach the turn. Left center of the fairway is the best position off the tee. Should you have the chance to go for the green in two, play up the right side and play for a favorable kick. The small green is firm so do your best to keep the ball below the hole. Anything over the green can be trouble and lead to a big number.

Number 10: Par 5, 518 yards. Number 10 features one of two bunkers on the course, and it’s strategically positioned directly in front of the middle of the green. Danger lurks when you try to cut the corner of this dogleg left as O.B is very close to the left side of the fairway. The fairway is narrow tee to green, so there’s a premium on accuracy. You’ll need to take the aerial route to the green over the bunker; find it and par just got a lot tougher.

Number 12: Par 4, 360 yards. One of the few straight fairways on the layout. It’s narrow and keeping it in the fairway can be tricky. You’ll need to play your approach shot over a small pond to a small angular green.

Number 15: Par 5, 515 yards. This is Bay Pointe’s signature par 5 and features water on either side of the green from about 150 yards and in. Most players will layup at the bottom of the large hill and then play their approach uphill to a long green. Take an extra club and be sure of the pin position. There’s a few ways to play this hole, which makes it a lot of fun.

Number 18: Par 4, 370 yards. A dogleg right with out of bounds to the right on the parallel fairway. A good drive that leaves you on the left side of the fairway heading into the green is the preferred spot and leaves an easy approach shot into the green. Just be sure to avoid the course’s second bunker on the left. The green has a lot of subtle undulations and can be tricky to read. Make the putt and end the day on a good note.

Each year, the Belton Scholarship Program assists a deserving young man or woman golfer get a good start on the next chapter of their life: a college education. The program is funded from green fees purchases at the club and has been awarded every May since 2016. To qualify, applicants must have at least a 3.0 or “B” average in school and be an active member of their school’s golf team. They must also submit an essay of no more than 75 words, stating the importance of golf in their lives and why they should be considered for the award.

Bay Pointe Resort & Golf Club has one of the area’s best junior golf program, and in an effort to make the game of golf more accessible and enjoyable for other junior golfers, the Brent Belton Golf Academy places an emphasis on a year round golf development program. Their GOLF Initiative – short for Giving Our Love Freely - was created to help young people grow the game of golf in two areas: through the game of golf itself and by the life lessons that can be learned when the game is played properly. This is done by not only teaching golf, but also learning what kind of influence the love of Christ has on all our lives. The GOLF Initiative is proudly sponsored by callaway golf and is open to all Junior golfers 11 years of age and older. The program runs from June – August and offer juniors much more including free lessons, golf, practice time, and more.

Kids Golf 365 is designed for year round fun and game development and focuses on teaching the proper fundamentals of the full swing, short game, rules & etiquette, health and fitness, safety, and beginning concepts of the rules of golf. Bay Pointe’s Team Golf Summer and Fall leagues are 6 week programs that allows kids to practice and compete with others, while playing in a fun format designed to introduce and elevate their golf experience and enhance their social development skills. Parents can get involved with their kids by either coaching or caddying. Bay Pointe also utilizes the United States Kids Golf (USKG) Tee system. These Green tees offer a scaled down golf course for junior golfers and are designed to promote a quicker round of golf for all to enjoy.

One of the best ways to take full advantage of all that Bay Pointe has to offer is to become a member. Bay Pointe offers a variety of membership packages with a plan to suite every golfer, budget and lifestyle. Their new Unlimited Membership is the most affordable in the Jackson-Metro Area and offers unlimited golf 7 days a week, a cart whenever you need it, range balls, swimming, and a full calendar of golf and social events. Walking memberships are also available and if you pay your membership in full, you’ll receive the 13th month free.

The great golf at Bay Pointe is surpassed only by a special brand of southern hospitality and the God-centeredness you find in the staff.

Absolute garbage! Website raves about the course and special tournaments held, but that can not be true. Course, carts, clubhouse, grill, and parking lot are in bad shape. I quit after 7 holes because I was so disgusted, and couldn't get my money back.

Decent course, tree lined. Fairly tight fairways, plenty of hills, trees and water. Greens were fair considering heat of MS summers.