Experience warmth and sense of a second home after entering The Club at Diamondhead. Whether it is the delicious food, beautiful landscape, championship-worthy golf courses, or one of the several other amenities, everyone can find something they will enjoy at The Club. Located at the center of Diamondhead, the Diamondhead Clubhouse holds social events on a weekly and monthly basis and provides members and guests alike with a meeting space that fits a variety of purposes.
     Chris Rahaim, Director of the Clubhouse and Food and Beverage, says the business is a “very active club, it’s very energetic and alive”, which appeals to many people, so much so that several “have moved here [Diamondhead] just because of the Clubhouse.”

     Though The Club caters to its members with different pricing and availability, most of its many unique, exciting events held throughout the year are open to the public along with the golf courses, tennis courts, and restaurants located within the Clubhouse. The Club’s goal is to “provide top-notch service to our members and guests” and that “top-notch service doesn’t just mean the food and beverage, it means us [the staff],” according to Nancy Perkins, Director of Sales and Marketing.

      The business works tirelessly to provide a friendly, fun atmosphere and accommodations for all members and guests, as both the owners and employees “want people to come in and feel like they’re home.” Rahaim and Perkins consider The Club to be a home away from home, as they have each worked there for the past several years. The majority of the staff seem to feel the same way, as the restaurant does not have a lot of turnover.
     When asked why, Rahaim said it’s because of “the pride we instill in our people. We want them to feel like they’re a valuable member, and they are.” From seasoned personnel, who have been there for five, 17, or 26 years, to individuals who have just recently joined, all staff take pride in their work, which allows them to enjoy what they do and provide the best service possible for the patrons of The Club at Diamondhead.

    Originally owned by the land development company Purcell Corporation, Diamondhead was created in 1969 as a resort-type retirement village and was marketed as a mid-way point between New Orleans and the Gulfport/Biloxi area. Said to be a “little sliver of Hawaii in South Mississippi,” Diamondhead became a popular location for “snowbirds” – visitors from colder states – to wait out the winter months, which meant that the residences and services offered needed to expand with the influx of people. As the village became more populous, a growing number of individuals were looking to move into the Diamondhead area, eventually succeeding in transforming it from a retirement neighborhood into the traditional community it is today.
     Gaining city-ship in 2012, the City of Diamondhead was reported by the U.S. Census Bureau to have increased to a population of 9,500. Now, the inhabitants number over 10,000. In 1970, the nonprofit organization known as the Diamondhead Property Owners Association (POA) was incorporated to manage, operate, and maintain the community amenities and sustain a high quality of life for the city’s residents. The Diamondhead POA is member owned and allows all property owners in Diamondhead access to The Club’s plethora of services, facilities, and amenities, which are run by a Board of Directors who oversee capital improvements and long-term direction for The Club at Diamondhead.

     Facilities that Diamondhead members enjoy include a country club, a yacht club, a marina, and an airport. But not all of the services provided are strictly allocated to property owners in Diamondhead: some are open to the public, such as the country club.
     Known colloquially as “The Club,” the country club boasts two championship 18-hole golf courses, three restaurants, and 10 tennis courts, all of which are available to members and nonmembers alike, though pricing differs. The enterprise started during the early 70s and has remained open seven days a week year-round, including on major holidays other than Christmas. Many fun events are held year-round on The Club’s grounds that everyone is encouraged to attend to foster a stronger Gulf Coast community.

     Within the main building – the Clubhouse – are the three restaurant venues of the business: Latitude 30 Patio and Grill, The Oak Room, and in the Emerald Ballroom, where specialty events are held. Each restaurant has a distinct menu with a high variety of choices for patrons to pick from. Latitude 30 provides a casual dining experience with ample outdoor and indoor seating, including a bar and space for a live band. The Oak Room exudes a more reserved atmosphere with its secluded dining area, ambient lighting, and reservation-only seating.

     No reservations or fancy clothes are required to get a table at Latitude 30 Patio and Grill. Just walk right in and grab a seat – though the venue fills up fast, so make sure to get there early. The food that can be found at Latitude 30 are burgers, wraps (the chicken bacon ranch being the most popular), and general pub and grill-style dishes, all high-quality food.
     The Clubhouses’ Oak Room is much calmer than the often-rowdy main area and a little more upscale. It is possible to snag a table without a reservation, but don’t be surprised if when you get there it’s already booked until next week. Top selling dishes off of the Oak Room’s menu include the mahi Oscar, chicken marsala, and 18-hour braised short rib. The different styles of filets and ribeyes are also popular with patrons.
     The Ballroom is used for weddings, golf tournaments, wine dinners, buffets or other one-time and/or seasonal affairs. The food available depends on the event hosts who can select from either a pre-set menu or work with The Club’s director, banquet manager, and executive chef to customize it to their liking.

     In addition to all of the services The Club provides to members and guests on a regular basis, it also offers fun events every week and month. There are a few outdoor events held each month and throughout the year that take place on either Latitude 30’s patio or across the sprawling lawn leading down towards the golf courses. Upcoming occasions comprise the monthly Bourbon and Cigar event and the substantial golf tournament known as the “The Big Kahuna” in April with the New Orleans band, “Chee Weez,” playing. Indoor affairs include bingo, trivia, and karaoke night which are occasionally accompanied by live bands. The Club also hosts four to five themed wine dinners a year that take place within the Ballroom.

     Holidays are popular occasions for The Club, as they hold major buffets for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Easter, as well as dinners for Valentine’s Day and Thanksgiving Eve. For the approaching Easter holiday, The Club at Diamondhead will have its Easter Buffet on March 31^st with seatings at 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m., and 1:30 p.m. Reservations for eating in the Ballroom and Oak Room are required with Latitude 30 being a first-come, first-served basis.
     But food and fun events are not the only incentives to visit The Club at Diamondhead. As recognition for all that The Club at Diamondhead does and provides for the Gulf Coast community, the Hancock County Chamber bestowed it the 2023 Diamondhead Business of the Year award. The Club assists multiple charities and organizations along the Gulf Coast on an annual basis. When asked what the business does for Mississippi residents, Perkins answered that “Along the Gulf Coast, we’re known as pretty good givers for charity events” because “you can’t be The Club at Diamondhead without being a good neighbor.”

     Many of the events hosted throughout the year are for the benefit of charities like CASA or the Chamber of Commerce. “We’re the venue” reported Rahaim, as The Club supports “charities that are local and help local people, whether they be from an older person to a younger person to someone who’s not even born yet.” The Club at Diamondhead’s golf tournament in April, the Big Kahuna, is in support of the Marine Corps League. There is a separate tournament for Vets of Foreign Wars (VFW) with a buffet and where raffle tickets to cruises are sold. The Club at Diamondhead also gives back to local schools and universities such as Hancock High and Jones Junior College through fundraisers. Sample-size dinners between the country club and other restaurants are held where the proceeds go to The Boys and Girls Club and Hancock Tourism.
     If you are interested in experiencing the variety of high-end amenities The Club at Diamondhead offers, stop by 7600 Country Club Circle A., Diamondhead, MS, between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday and from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. To learn more about The Club at Diamondhead, call (228) 255-2918 or visit their website and social media pages via Facebook and Instagram. Reservations and upcoming special events can be located and/or booked on The Club’s official website, theclubatdiamondhead.com.

Maya Wood

Southern Miss Gulf Scholar! Maya Wood is a native Mississippi resident currently working on obtaining her bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Southern Mississippi ‘s Gulf Coast campus. She plans to continue on to a master’s degree with an emphasis in literature or creative writing and is currently a member of the inaugural class of the nationally recognized Gulf Scholars Program, which is a program that focuses on supporting states and communities along the coast. This article is one of several stories for her Gulf Scholars project whose purpose is to highlight local businesses and their contributions to providing “the good life” for Mississippi residents and visitors. Maya’s long-term goal is to do what she loves full time: work as a writer and eventually become an author, as she finds great joy in reading and wants to spread that feeling to others.