best places to play near Jackson, Ms

Castlewoods CC is a little off the radar, but a solid course.

The Refuge is probably the best 100% public option. Deerfield is private, but they let the public play if its not busy, so if its a weekday you can probably get on.

Depends on where you’re staying……

Close to Madison area - Lake Caroline, Whisper Lake (mostly a par 3 course with a few short 4s and I think two 5s), Annandale & Reunion top in the area but private and typically have to be with member.

Close to Brandon - Castlewoods, Refuge, Baypointe. I’m a member at Castlewoods. It is semi-private. If playing during the week, it’s pretty wide open sans the men’s noon group that normally has 3 groups. Greens replaced two years ago, took some time to come back, but starting to get really good and they have a new superintendent and he’s doing a great job of getting it in great shape. Greens fees are pricey as they want to try and make it a “members only” course. Refuge - great course and pretty well maintained. Greens are nice. Was completely redone (design and greens) a few years back, hotel on site as well, so you could stay there and walk to the clubhouse. Greens fees aren’t as bad as Castlewoods during the week. If I didn’t live 4 miles from Castlewoods, I would join here and play more. Baypointe - I wouldn’t play it if they offered me a free greens fee and a box of Pro V1s.

Other options - Patrick Farms (Pearl, MS) - not a bad place but one of the busiest weekday courses in the area.

Deerfield (Canton, MS) - nice course, nice greens. Semi private. Not too busy during the week.

Canton Country Club (Canton, MS) - think it’s semi-private. Old school course. Small,Turtleback greens. It’s decent.

Dancing Rabbit (Philadelphia, MS) - 45-60 min drive from Jackson. 36 hole course. Used to the the diamond of golf courses in our area, funding lacks for real on course maintenance but still always in really good shape, it just used to be in GREAT shape.

There is a course in Brandon that is solid. I don't remember th name of it though.

Had anyone played the refuge before and after the redesign? I had played it many times before the redesign and really enjoyed it. Played it like a month after it reopened and I was not a fan at all of the new layout. Obviously it was in fantastic shape since it had just gotten redone but they took out so many trees and rerouted a lot to where I felt like all of the holes were on top of eachother. Feel like I might need to give it another chance.

I've played before and after several times. I think they removed a lot of the trees and changed a few of the holes to make it intentionally easier since its now a "resort" course. They rerouted it so you will make the turn by the pro shop/bar area instead of the old layout making the turn all the way in the back edge of the property with only a coke machine. The old layout was definitely more difficult.