Canebrake Country Club, Hattiesburg, MS

Set among the stately trees in Hattiesburg, MS, Canebrake Country Club embraces the traditional Southern landscape and provides its members with championship golf, quality dining, and all of the country club amenities one would expect, all in a relaxed, resort-style setting that is perfect for both individuals and families.

At the heart of Canebrake Club is an 18-hole, par-71 championship golf course that plays 7,003 yards from the back tees, with a course rating of 73.6 and a slope of 137. Five sets of tees let golfers enjoy the course from yardages of 6,553, 6031, 5,716 and 5,140 yards. Canebrake was designed by Jerry Pate Golf Design and is the home course of the William Carey University Golf Team. The Club has hosted events for the Mississippi Golf Association, the Mississippi Women’s Golf Association, and the USGA.

Canebrake is a tale of two nines. The front nine plays like a links-style design with generous landing areas, some wide enough to land an aircraft on! The backside is more of a parkland-style course, winding its way through towering pine trees which form the boundaries on either side of several holes. The course is built adjacent to a 250-acre man-made lake, with a good deal of elevation change that requires golfers to think about each shot. The Champion Dwarf Bermuda greens roll quick and true. Within each bunker on the course is a round mound of grass which has become the Club’s trademark.

Canebrake has several unique and memorable holes. Although it’s handicapped as the 7th hardest hole on the golf course, Number 1 plays tough and is a great starting hole. The hole stretches out to over 400 yards from the Blue tees and starts off with a blind tee shot uphill, followed by an approach shot that plays slightly downhill into a large, angled green that is well protected by a bunker front right.

Number 11 is a fun par 4 that plays 380 yards from the Blue tees. Carry the ball over the hill off the tee and catch the downslope and you can easily find yourself less than 100 yards from the green. A deep bunker on the left guards the green which has a lot of undulation and is a lot wider than it is deep.

The par 5, 13th hole starts off with a blind tee shot followed by a semi-blind layup shot with fairway bunkers coming into play. The large green is hidden behind a deep trap on the front right and a trap on the left about 50 yards short of the green. A back right pin placement can be tricky and will require a precision approach shot.

Number 18 is a good finishing hole that plays 429 yards from the Blue tees. The tee shot plays slightly uphill with a fairway bunker in play on the left. The approach shot plays downhill to a very large green that is a lot wider than it is deep. Bunkers front both sides of the green as does water on the right, which shouldn’t come into play but will definitely intimidate some players.

If you don’t have time to get in a round, take some time and work on your game at Canebrake’s impressive practice facilities. There’s a dual driving range, where you can hit every club in the bag from either side, chipping greens, two practice bunkers and a separate practice putting green. Canebrake’s Pro Shop carries the latest brands and equipment to keep you up to date on the latest trends and technology; they’ll even fit you for the right set of clubs or repair the ones that didn’t treat you so nice. You can also store your golf bag at the Club, with cleaning, bag tagging and shaft labeling.

Expanding the game through young golfers is a priority at Canebrake and their junior golf program is designed to make learning the game of golf fun and memorable. Students of all ages and skill levels are taught creative and fun methods of instruction in a structured, yet relaxed environment. The Junior Golf experience ranges from playing in tournaments to a more relaxed environment of full and half-day summer camps. Junior clinics are offered from March until October to children ages 5 and up and the Canebrake Junior Golf Academy is held at various times throughout the year and is designed to teach the basics of the game to younger golfers. By testing students quarterly, the experienced staff can make sure each student is properly placed based upon their skill level.

The dining facility is best described as casual dining with a modern flair. You can enjoy a quick hamburger after your round or make a reservation for a sumptuous meal with friends and family during the Club’s evening dining hours. They’re open for both lunch and dinner, with a full cocktail menu and wine list. Tuesday nights are Flying Pasta Nights – not a food fight but rather an opportunity to pick your own ingredients and let the chef blend them together into a fabulous pasta dish. On Sunday mornings there’s a Brunch Buffet from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and many other themed meals throughout the year.

During the warm summer months, Canebrake’s Members can relax and enjoy the Club’s Junior Olympic-size pool. There’s a wade-in entry area for the little ones and a dancing fountain play area to keep the kids entertained. If toning up from the winter hibernation is more your goal, you can get a workout by swimming laps. The pool also hosts many great activities such as "Flick on a Float" Movie Night and themed pool parties just for the adults. At the pool grille located adjacent to the pool you can enjoy a variety of casual food and snacks, cold beverages and hand-spun, old-fashioned milkshakes. The pool opens on Memorial Day and closes on Labor Day.

Health and fitness have become a big part of any country club. Canebrake features a 3,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art fitness center with 26 pieces of cardio and weight training equipment including TechnoGym treadmills, ellipticals and recumbent bicycles, all with LCD monitors wired with cable TV, web apps and vital statistics.
Once you start feeling good it’s time to look good, so head over to Shoots Salon & Spa, located within Canebrake Country Club. Shoots provides guests with a full-service, luxurious spa experience. Services include massage, hair treatments and styling, manicures and pedicures, and more.

You will find that the membership at Canebrake Country Club is made up of families, young professionals and individuals who want to experience everything the country club lifestyle has to offer. Throughout the year the close-knit group of Members join together for special events, holiday parties, golf outings and more. Names like Brett Favre and Jonathan Papelbon grace the membership list.

Canebrake Country Club offers a wide variety of memberships including Full Club Memberships, Junior Memberships, Out-of-Town Memberships, Corporate Memberships, Clubhouse Memberships, Military and College Memberships. Full Memberships are the most popular and include full access and use of all golf swimming, dining, and clubhouse facilities including range balls. Out of Town Memberships are available for prospective members who live more than 50 mile from the Club while Clubhouse Members have access to everything Canebrake offers with limited access to golf.

Canebrake takes good care of the men and women of the military by offering them an affordable membership that includes access to Canebrake’s 18-hole championship golf course, driving range, pool, and dining rooms. A one-year membership is available with no initiation fee and $225 monthly dues. College students can become a member while enrolled in school at a very nominal rate as well. Contact Canebrake’s Membership Director, April Leonard.

Canebrake Country Club is a great place to host your next golf outing, tournament, corporate event or wedding. The elegant clubhouse at Canebrake features a copper bar and an exposed wood-beamed, 40-foot ceiling with panoramic views from the terrace overlooking the 18th green. Many wedding ceremonies are held on the terrace. Canebrake’s talented chef and the culinary team will prepare a special meal designed exclusively for your event, everything from a full-course dinner to a delightful buffet, with full beverage service and enough room for up to 600 guests.