Diamondhead golf: the Cardinal and Pine courses, the academy and how to book
Diamondhead golf explained: the Cardinal and Pine courses, 2026 rates ($115 rack, about $70-$107 online), how they differ, the golf academy and how to book.
Open the 3D map of every course →
Diamondhead golf means two 18-hole courses at The Club at Diamondhead, the Cardinal and the Pine, plus the coast's only indoor/outdoor golf academy. Both are open to the public online about 14 days ahead. The 2026 rack rate is $115 with cart, tax and range balls, and the online sheet ran about $70 to $107 all-in in late October 2026.
The club sits off I-10 at the west end of the Mississippi coast, about 47 minutes from downtown Biloxi, and it is an easy 36-hole stop for a group based in Bay St. Louis or Diamondhead. This guide covers the 2026 rates, how the two courses differ, the academy and how to book. Rates were read on October 25, 2026; they change, so check before you go.
Quick facts
- Where: 7600 Country Club Circle, Diamondhead (I-10 exit 16).
- Courses: Cardinal (1978) and Pine (1969), both 18 holes, par 72.
- Rack 2026: $115 before 12:30 PM, $95 after, $75 after 2:30 PM (daylight saving).
- Online sheet: about $70-$107 all-in on October 26, 2026.
- Booking window: about 14 days; also on GolfNow and TeeOff.
- Owner: Diamondhead Property Owners Association (semi-private, public welcome).
- Golf shop: 228-255-3910; opens 7 AM, first tee times 7:30 AM daily.
Diamondhead golf rates for 2026
Both courses share one rate card, with time-of-day tiers and no weekday-weekend split.
| Rate | Before 12:30 PM | After 12:30 PM | After 2:30 PM (DST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public rack (cart, tax, range balls) | $115 | $95 | $75 |
| Online sheet, Oct 26, 2026 (all-in with $23 cart) | About $107 | About $89 | About $70 |
| POA members and badge rate | $85 | $75 | $65 |
| Juniors | $35 | ||
| Same-day replay | $35 |
On the online sheet the green fee and the cart are shown separately: on October 26, 2026 the per-player prices were $84.48 at 12:27 PM, $65.78 from 12:36 to 1:48 PM and $47.09 from 2:42 PM, plus a $23 cart. That made a 12:36 PM time about $89 against $95 at rack, and a 2:42 PM time about $70.
Badge rate. First responders, active or retired military, teachers and clergy pay the POA member rate.
Nine holes. About 30% off, only after 12:30 PM.
Snowbirds. A 2026 snowbird offer was posted as an image, and its terms were not read; ask the shop.
Cardinal vs Pine: how they differ
| Cardinal | Pine | |
|---|---|---|
| Opened | 1978 | 1969 (the original course) |
| Style | Wooded parkland with water | Pine-lined parkland |
| Blue tees | 6,729 yds, 72.4 / 131 | 6,784 yds, 72.8 / 136 |
| Hardest slope on card | 132 (Blue/White, 6,572) | 140 (Blue/White, 6,640) |
| White tees | 6,128 yds, 71.0 / 128 | 6,324 yds, 70.5 / 134 |
| Shortest tees | Black, 4,084 yds, par 71 | Black, 4,120 yds |
| Reviews | Usually rated the better course | Rated harder on paper |
Both are credited to Earl Stone (GolfPass also lists John LaFoy), and both have bermuda greens.
The Cardinal
The Cardinal is the newer course and the one reviewers usually prefer. It is wooded with water, 6,729 yards from the Blue tees, and it has eight rated sets from 4,084 to 6,729 yards. The forward Black set plays as a par 71. With that spread, every player in a mixed group can find a fitting length. See the Diamondhead Cardinal course guide.
The Pine
The Pine is Diamondhead's original course, pine-lined and a touch longer at 6,784 yards from the Blue tees. The USGA rates it harder than the Cardinal from the back: 136 slope from the Blue tees and 140 from the Blue/White combo. From the White tees the Pine is 134 against the Cardinal's 128, so it is the stiffer test at middle lengths too. See the Diamondhead Pine course guide.
A 36-hole day. At rack, a morning round at $115 plus the $35 same-day replay comes to $150 for 36 holes. Ask the shop whether the replay includes a cart, and book the second round on the other course.
Which to play? If you play one, take the Cardinal for the better-reviewed course. If your group is strong, or you want 36 holes, play both; the two courses share one clubhouse.
The Golf Academy of Diamondhead
The academy is billed as the only indoor/outdoor golf academy on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It is run by Hoppy Smith, PGA (228-669-5742), and offers lessons, weekly clinics, K-Vest swing analysis, club fitting and gapping. It sits next to the full practice facility, and range balls are included before play at the rack rate.
The indoor side makes it a useful option on a wet day; July, the wettest month on the coast, averages rain on about 14 days. See our guide to a rainy day in Biloxi for other indoor ideas.
The practice facility is closed on Monday mornings until 1 PM for maintenance.
How to book Diamondhead tee times
- Use the public tee sheet on theclubatdiamondhead.com (Golf, then Public Tee Times). It opens about 14 days ahead and lets you filter The Cardinal or The Pine.
- Book online rather than paying rack: every online price checked on October 26, 2026 was below the matching rack rate.
- Call the shop (228-255-3910) to confirm which course is in play on your date. On some days the public sheet shows only one.
- Expect carts until 2:30 PM in daylight saving; walking is allowed after that.
Times are also sold on GolfNow and TeeOff. Our Biloxi tee times guide compares booking windows across the coast.
Food and the clubhouse
The shared clubhouse has the Latitude 30 Patio and Grill, The Oak Room, banquet space and a pro shop stocking TaylorMade, Titleist, Ping and FootJoy. Dress code is appropriate golf attire with no metal spikes.
Where to stay for Diamondhead golf
| Hotel | Drive to Diamondhead | Rate seen (Tue Nov 10 / Sat Nov 21, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Ramada Diamondhead | 6 min | 2 queens $87 / $93 (taxes and fees included) |
| Pearl Hotel | 22 min | 2 queens $129 weekday; premier $259 weekend |
| Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast | 25 min | $63.98 Tue / $283.98 Sat |
| Hilton Garden Inn Gulfport Airport | 29 min | King $138 / $88 |
Drive times are routed estimates; rates change daily. The Ramada is the budget pick, with free breakfast and parking for trailers and RVs, though reviews are mixed. Our Bay St. Louis golf guide covers the whole west-end cluster, and where to stay in Biloxi for golf compares every base.
Diamondhead golf through the year
The rate card has no seasonal tiers, so the time of year changes the weather and the hotel bill rather than the green fee.
| Season | Beach highs | Hollywood Casino room prices seen | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter (Dec-Feb) | 60-63F | Dec-Jan midweek mostly $63.98 | Mild; check the snowbird offer |
| Spring (Mar-May) | 69-83F | Feb-Mar Saturdays $243-$513 | Peak demand; book 14 days out |
| Summer (Jun-Sep) | 87-90F | Not read | Storms on 9-14 days a month; tee off at 7:30 AM |
| Fall (Oct-Nov) | 69-79F | Tue Nov 10 $63.98; Sat Nov 21 $283.98 | October is the driest month |
Hollywood prices are from the official booking calendar read on October 25, 2026, including the $13.99 resort fee and before tax. Mardi Gras parades also run in Bay St. Louis from late January, and Fat Tuesday is February 9 in 2027. For Diamondhead golf in winter, a midweek stay at the west end is about as cheap as the coast gets.
Pair Diamondhead with the west-end courses
Diamondhead is the hub of the west end. The Bridges, Arnold Palmer's marsh course at Hollywood Casino, is closed on Tuesdays, so Tuesday is a natural Diamondhead day. The Oaks in Pass Christian is about 15 minutes from the Ramada. See The Bridges Golf Club and The Oaks Golf Club guides.
One timing note: Diamondhead is a stop on Cruisin' the Coast, the classic-car week in early October that is the hardest hotel week of the year. See Cruisin' the Coast golf.
Plan it on the map
Open the Biloxi golf map to see both Diamondhead courses in 3D, with their tees and the drive time from your hotel. The $30 plan can build a west-end trip around a Diamondhead 36-hole day, The Bridges and The Oaks, with Tuesdays and Saturdays handled for you.
Courses in this guide
Questions golfers ask
How much does it cost to play golf at Diamondhead?
The 2026 rack rate at both courses is $115 before 12:30 PM, $95 after 12:30 PM and $75 after 2:30 PM (daylight saving), including cart, tax and range balls. The online public sheet ran lower on October 26, 2026: about $107, $89 or $70 all-in with the $23 cart.
Which is better, the Cardinal or the Pine at Diamondhead?
Reviewers usually call the Cardinal the better course; it opened in 1978 and plays 6,729 yards and 131 slope from the Blue tees. The Pine, the original 1969 course, rates a little harder on the USGA card at 6,784 yards and 136 slope.
Is Diamondhead golf open to the public?
Yes. The courses are owned by the Diamondhead Property Owners Association, but the club runs a public online tee sheet and posts public daily rates. The restaurants and the Golf Academy are open to the public too.
How far ahead can I book a Diamondhead tee time?
About 14 days. The public tee sheet showed dates from October 26 to November 8 when checked on October 25, 2026. Times are also listed on GolfNow and TeeOff.
What is the Golf Academy of Diamondhead?
It is billed as the only indoor/outdoor golf academy on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, run by Hoppy Smith, PGA (228-669-5742). It offers lessons, weekly clinics, K-Vest, club fitting and gapping, next to the full practice facility.
Can I walk at Diamondhead?
Only after 2:30 PM during daylight saving time, per the club's 2026 terms. Before that, carts are required.
Are both Diamondhead courses open every day?
Not always in play for the public. On Monday, October 26, 2026 the public sheet showed only Cardinal times from 12:27 PM, so call the golf shop (228-255-3910) to confirm which course is in play on your date.
How far is Diamondhead from Biloxi?
About 47 minutes and 36 miles from downtown Biloxi on our routed estimate, via I-10 west to the Diamondhead exit (exit 16).
Keep reading
CoursesThe Bridges Golf Club at Hollywood Casino: rates, golf packages and how to play itThe Bridges Golf Club in Bay St. Louis: green fees seen October 2026, Hollywood Casino unlimited-golf packages, the Tuesday closure, tees and booking tips.7 min read
CoursesBiloxi golf courses: every course you can play on the Mississippi coastBiloxi golf courses compared: 12 courses visitors can play, from $28 Bayou Vista to Fallen Oak, with par, length, slope, access and rates seen October 2026.9 min read
AreasBay St. Louis golf: the west-coast cluster of five coursesBay St. Louis golf guide: The Bridges, both Diamondhead courses, Pass Christian Isles and The Oaks, with rates seen Oct 2026, drive times and where to stay.7 min read