Highlands Plantation sits in Starkville, Mississippi, a university town in the northeastern part of the state best known as home to Mississippi State University. The course was designed by Carl Middleton, a regional architect who has worked primarily across the southeastern United States. The layout occupies rolling terrain characteristic of the area, where the landscape transitions between the flatter Delta region to the west and the more varied topography of Alabama's foothills to the east. The course serves the Starkville community and likely draws members and visitors connected to the university and the surrounding Golden Triangle region, which includes Columbus and West Point. As with many courses in smaller Mississippi markets, Highlands Plantation functions as both a recreational amenity and a social gathering place for local residents. The design works with the natural land movement, incorporating elevation changes and wooded corridors that provide definition between holes. Starkville's golf scene reflects the rhythms of a college town, with activity tied partly to the academic calendar and football season. Courses in this area typically feature bermudagrass fairways and greens suited to the warm, humid climate. Highlands Plantation fits within this regional tradition, offering a layout that balances playability for a range of skill levels with enough strategic interest to engage regular members. The course remains a fixture in the local golf landscape, serving a community where Mississippi State athletics and university life shape much of the town's identity.