A new golf course designed by Gil Hanse in the US state of Mississippi is to open for play on 2 September.

Mossy Oak Golf Club has been constructed on a site near the city of West Point, in north-east Mississippi. The 7,500-yard course lies in the Mississippi Black Prairie, and features a range of native grasses and local wildlife.

Hanse, the architect behind the course that will host the 2016 Rio Olympic competition, has said that the Mossy Oak layout has been designed to help golfers connect with the outdoors and the local environment.

“Each design element of Mossy Oak Golf Club was carefully considered to heighten the golfer’s awareness of the outdoors and accentuate the area’s natural resources,” said Hanse.

In addition to the 18-hole course, Hanse has also designed a practice facility at Mossy Oak, which will serve as the new official home of the Mississippi State University men's and women’s golf teams.

The practice facility will include five-green driving range, short-game training areas and a 16,000 sq ft putting green.

The Bryan family, founders of Old Waverly Golf Club and leading outdoor lifestyle and conservation brand Mossy Oak, are behind the project.

The new course has been built adjacent to the Old Waverly GC, and visitors to Mossy Oak will have the opportunity to stay and play at both courses once the course opens in September.