JACKSON, MISS. - The sun broke through a cluster of tall pines as we made our way up a winding road in the direction of a Mississippi golf resort nestled in the rolling hills area of the state’s idyllic east central region.

As we approached the rustic-looking white clubhouse with the porch wrapped around it, a small rabbit jumped in front of our car, looked us over for a moment and danced back into the thick brush.

“This must be Dancing Rabbit,” exclaimed a member of our traveling foursome as we pulled into the parking lot of a resort offering what Golfweek magazine once described as “America’s Best Resort Courses.”

The courses here, known as the Azaleas and Oaks, are 7,000-yard masterpieces carved out of the dramatic valleys and ancient pines and hardwoods that define this ecological wonderland. Here small streams and spring-fed creeks weave through courses featuring Bermuda and Zoysia fairways and Bentgrass greens.

This is Heaven on Earth. And if you don’t believe me, listen to what former Chicago Bears’ coach and NFL analysts Mike Ditka had to say about the resort’s courses: “Dancing Rabbit is a rare jewel – two of the finest golf courses and the most efficient and cordial staff I have ever met. If you don’t like Dancing Rabbit, you probably won’t enjoy heaven either.”

That’s some pretty high praise, for heaven’s sake. But Ditka is not alone in his admiration of the Dancing Rabbit complex, which rates among both Golf Magazine’s and Golf Digest’s top 100 courses.

The par 72, 7,128 yard Azaleas was the first of the Dancing Rabbit duo to open in July of 1997. The course is considered the state’s greatest conception since Mississippi’s favorite son Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo. Golfers quickly got all shook up by the Azaleas’ dramatic design, one that takes you on a good walk through an enchanting forest.

The peaks and valleys you reach on this course are hard to match anywhere else. Fazio and Pate used the landscape to their advantage and most average golfers have been cursing them ever since.

Those menacing ponds and spring-fed streams come into play on nine holes and the par 4, 8th is rated the club’s No. 1 handicap challenge. Keeping it straight is essential off No. 8. The fairway falls off to the right and filters errant balls into a large bunker that is hard to escape. Over hanging trees block approach shots and, like all the holes here, the greens are super fast. Off the tee, the 8th looks welcoming but you quickly discover looks are deceiving.

The Oaks arrived on the scene in 1999 and is the perfect compliment to the Azaleas. The 7,076 beauty, while cradled in the same rustic landscape, offers golfers a completely different look.

Water plays a much bigger role on this course – streams and ponds are larger and provide a greater degree of difficulty. Ironically, the top rated hole, 12, does not have any water. The challenge on this par 4 wonder is to stay left off the tee to avoid a troublesome valley – my Death Valley – where hanging trees block your approach shot to a compact green that’s tucked away on the right. Right or long from the fairway will result in a sure bogey or worse. Just play it straight down the centre like a politician looking to get reelected.

For my money, the par 4, 7th is the Oaks’ signature hole. The large pond that stretches from tee to mid fairway is enough to make your legs shake like Elvis. Your line here is a fairway bunker on the right. The approach shot into a deep green requires distance control. No. 7 supplies lots of eye candy and it’s a real treat so stay focused.

There’s no use to gamble on either one of these two great courses – save that for the Pearl River Resort casino later.

The Dancing Rabbit courses are built on ancestral lands once ruled by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, where the Big and Little Dancing Rabbit creeks flow gently through sacred land.

Now, Dancing Rabbit is sacred to golfers.