Beau Rivage, a
1,740-room MGM MIRAGE destination resort on the Mississippi Gulf Coast,
today announced plans to build a new 18-hole championship golf course on a
510-acre tract 20 minutes north of the resort on Highway 15. Fallen Oak, a
par-72 layout stretching 7,516 yards from the back tees, will open for
play in early 2006. Designed by one of America’s greatest golf architects, Tom Fazio, who
created Shadow Creek for Beau Rivage’s sister properties in Las Vegas,
Fallen Oak is MGM MIRAGE’s answer to an ultra-exclusive golf experience
unrivaled by anything currently in the region. A public course to which
guests of Beau Rivage enjoy priority access, Fallen Oak offers spectacular
play through one of the most splendid architectural landscapes in the
country.

Fallen Oak runs adjacent to the stately DeSoto National Forest and is
characterized by lush rolling landscape covered in oak and pine ridges,
magnolia and pecan groves, yaupons, large lakes, winding streams and
majestic marshes. The inherent beauty of the existing terrain provides an
outstanding natural canvas from which to develop golf’s latest masterpiece.

“When we were originally asked about the possibility of a golf course for
Beau Rivage, we spent a tremendous amount of time researching sites in the
area,” said Fazio. “We looked at more than a dozen sites before eventually
settling on the present location.

“The site for Fallen Oak offers some dramatic elevation changes that we
rarely encounter on sites so close to the coast, and tremendous vegetation
that we knew could be incorporated into the routing of the golf course,”
he said. “The trees and shrubs could also be transplanted throughout to
give it a very mature feeling from day one. Now, years have passed since
we initially chose this site, and the vegetation is even more spectacular
—it has just gotten better with time and will continue to do so.

“The trees on this site are spectacular, and Beau Rivage has given us a
landscaping budget for the golf course that will allow us to transplant
large, mature trees to key locations on golf holes. In areas where the
routing of the golf course requires the clearing of existing specimen
trees, we’ll be able to simply move them to a location that works, or even
move them to the side of the hole temporarily and move them back after the
hole is built,” Fazio added. “This is the ultimate in design flexibility,
and when completed, Fallen Oak will feel very naturally integrated into
the site.”

Beau Rivage is spending in excess of $30 million to create one of the
country’s most exclusive golf facilities for people attracted to the best
features and amenities of the game. “Golfers are going to find Fallen Oak
aesthetically beautiful and equally challenging,” said Beau Rivage
President Jeff Dahl. “This course will be a perfect complement to our AAA
Four Diamond resort, recently recognized among the best in the world by
both Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler.” In addition to Fazio’s
legendary elevation changes and high profile design treatments, Fallen Oak
will have numerous water features and concealed cart paths. An expansive
clubhouse reminiscent of an Acadian-style Southern mansion houses a pro
shop, locker facilities, lounge, and restaurant. The back veranda provides
panoramic views of the 9th and 18th greens and the distinguished signature
Fallen Oak.

“When Beau Rivage Resort & Casino contacted us about moving forward with
the golf course project, we were understandably excited, knowing the
potential for the chosen site to produce a truly world-class golf
experience,” said Fazio. “Couple that with a commitment to the highest
quality by Beau Rivage, and this project promises to be viewed as one of
the best new courses in America.”
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