Entrepreneurs pitch floating 'hole-in-one' golf challenge off Biloxi beaches; board takes proposal under advisement

Dustin McGarry and Nate Knight of Jewel Drive LLC asked the Harrison County Board of Supervisors to allow a beach-based "hole-in-one" golf attraction that would place a nonpermanent floating green offshore and award a $10,000 prize for a regulation hole-in-one.

McGarry told the board the idea — which he said has been discussed with the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce — would be family-oriented and unique to the region. "It's best fitted for this community," he said, noting the group has been in contact with the Department of Marine Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to "work with all the compliance regulations and policies to make sure that we do it in a safe manner." Knight added the structure would not be permanent and could be removed ahead of storms.

Board members questioned how the proposal would fit with existing vendor bidding rules and who controls activities in state waters. Staff and board members pointed to an ordinance requiring open bids for vendor spots every four years and emphasized the board has no jurisdiction over state waters, where DMR or the Corps would have authority. Trey, a beach staff member, said available shoreline vending locations are typically offered through the county's annual bid process.

During a detailed Q&A, presenters described three cup sizes — two smaller vendor-target holes (approximately 12- and 18-inch diameters) and a regulation cup for the $10,000 prize — and suggested charging about $25 for a bucket of 15 balls. They said the operation would use buoys and a retrieval system to collect balls daily and train staff to maintain a safety corridor on the beach and in the water.

Rather than approve the project immediately, the board voted to take the proposal under advisement and asked staff to pursue state approvals and, if authorized, to explore adding a vendor spot to the county's bid schedule. There was no formal approval to operate in state waters at the meeting; board members repeatedly noted any activity in the water would require DMR or Corps authorization and compliance with the county's vendor-bidding ordinance.