This Week at TravelGolf.com: Sept. 27, 2007

No magnet for Vegas-syle wannabes, Biloxi's got real-deal golf and gambling

One of the greatest marketing triumphs ever is the "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" motto that has coaxed all of us middle-class nobodies into believing that, for one weekend in the desert, we'll be living it large like Jamie Foxx on Oscar night.

In Biloxi, Mississippi, another golf and gaming hotspot on the Gulf Coast, it's only natural to be yourself. You're never under dressed here so long as you have sleeves on, and most people have their guard down enough to spur friendly conversation among strangers.

Now, most of the girls around these parts get married and start spitting out kids far too early for my tastes. But any bachelor is certain to score more innocent chit-chats here than with the high-maintenance troupe of SoCal girls trolling for V.I.P. on the Las Vegas Strip.

But Biloxi isn't a simple "Redneck Riviera," as the affluent Yankee set sometimes dubs it. Hotels and golf courses have used the destruction of Hurricane Katrina as an opportunity to not just replace what was destroyed, but make it better. And wherever there are casinos and high rollers, there are glamorous spots to flaunt your cash. Renowned chef Todd English of Bellagio fame has opened a high-end restaurant, Olives, at the Beau Rivage, and there are numerous other upscale restaurants like Mary Mahoney's that boast top-notch seafood.

The closest thing to Vegas-type nightlife is the newly re-opened Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, with sleek guest rooms and a top-floor night club (though this property is as jumping as Friday Night Bingo compared to the spectacle at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas).

But the real star here is its appeal to a more low-key type of golfer-gambler. There is a logjam of over-achieving middle-tier golf courses with beautiful layouts and good course conditions such as Shell Landing, The Bridges and Grand Bear that offer price tags rivaling Myrtle Beach golf bargains. For the golfer looking to pull out all the stops, Fallen Oak transports foursomes from the Beau Rivage via limo to this Tom Fazio club that's the head of the class here.

And while the odds at the casinos are the same in Biloxi as in Vegas, friendly faces mean you're certain to learn everything you need to know about SEC football, as well as the best generator to buy this hurricane season.

As always, TravelGolf.com welcomes your comments.

Cheap, close, unpretentious: Florida's best municipal golf courses

Sometimes you just want to take your hacks without taking a wallet hit. Florida golf is loaded with quality municipal courses like Crandon Park, Daytona Beach Golf Club and The Golf Club at Cypress Head where you can get in a quality round for well under a C-note. We haven't played all the cheap, close and unpretentious courses in Florida, but we've played quite a few. Here are our favorites.

Also: Hombre G.C. in Panama City Beach a tight treat

Column: PGA Tour should introduce match play into FedEx Cup for TV ratings

The FedEx Cup wasn't quite the disaster the golf pundits predicted it would be, but the PGA Tour's playoffs could still be improved. National Golf Editor Tim McDonald proposes a match play system to boost golf's TV ratings in this Inside Media column.

Podcast: Author Larry Berle on new book, "A Golfer's Dream"

Planning a golf trip to Wales? Frequently Asked Questions

Considering a golf tour to the United Kingdom? Wales is a lesser-known destination compared to Scotland and Ireland but features plenty of historic links and will host the 2010 Ryder Cup. As a way to help you get your trip planning started, GolfEurope.com offers answers to frequently asked questions, including how do you get there, do you need to bring a Welsh phrase book, and why to stick to the south and north coasts for golf.

Also: Wales Accommodation Guide for golf travelers