Category: Gulf Coast Golfing

Tips for Planning a Hassle-Free Summer Vacation

Posted on by cturner

Tips for Planning a Hassle-Free Summer Vacation

Today’s technology makes planning a vacation a lot easier and stress free. When it’s time to book your beach getaway, try using the many available resources to save time and money. Let us help you find the best accommodations, show you the best places to dine, and help you plan an unforgettable Alabama Coastal Getaway.

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Travel Apps

Use the multipurpose mobile apps provided by Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism to help you navigate your way around Coastal Alabama. Download the app to find specials on beach houses and condos, to find live music, and to learn about the area’s history or to just find a peaceful walking trail.  Apps include the Gulf Beaches App, the Scenic Byway App, and the Backcountry App.

Alabama Gulf Coast Vacation Guide

Enjoy hassle free planning with the Alabama Gulf Coast Vacation Guide. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism makes it easy with two options including the online version or a free copy that can be sent to you by mail. They also offer the Alabama Civil War Trail Guide, Orange Beach Fishing Association Charter Directory, Gulf Shores Golf Guide, and the E-Tiding Newsletter.

TripAdvisor

Read reviews on TripAdvisor to see what experiences other people have had. Find inside information from previous patrons on accommodations, entertainment, and attractions. All contributors are unpaid, and TripAdvisor has one of the largest collections of user-contributed pictures from more than 45 countries. Look for the owl of approval at your favorite destinations.

Travel Bloggers

Ask the experts. Do your research and find travel bloggers and writers who are social media enthusiasts. Bloggers are bloggers because they can tell you about their experiences and relay them in a manner in which you can almost picture yourself there. The art of penmanship is great when looking for the perfect vacation.

We also recommend looking at social media outlets including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.  Most businesses have at least one social media channel and general response times are quick and informative. Have a relaxing summer and please let us know your tips for planning a hassle-free vacation.

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Pack Your Clubs: The Gulf Coast is a Golfer’s Paradise

Posted on by pfarris

Taking a golf vacation on the Gulf Coast is like having an open invitation to play all the best country clubs you need a membership to play on back home. There are seven championship golf courses within a short drive, and all are open to the public. Throw in the fact that the weather is conducive to playing almost year-round, and it’s literally a golfer’s paradise.

Most courses are open seven days a week with low fall/winter rates and even lower rates for playing in the afternoon.

Kiva Dunes

One of the most acclaimed golf courses on the Gulf is Kiva Dunes.  Among the numerous designations it has received are Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 Best Public Golf Courses”  and Golf Week’s “No. 1 Golf Course in Alabama.” Designed to sit along the Gulf of Mexico by former US Open Champion, Jerry Pate, the course fits beautifully among sand dunes, lakes and the natural wildlife areas. Since it’s one of the more windy and difficult courses to play on the Gulf Coast, Kiva Dunes may be frustrating for high handicappers. Located on Fort Morgan Road in Gulf Shores, rates range from $64 – $92 depending on the time of year and time of day.

Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club

Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club is one of the more beautiful and popular courses in the area. Consistently rated Four Stars by Golf Digest, this Earl Stone designed 27-hole course is nestled beside Bon Secour Wildlife Preserve and winds through cypress, live oaks and other vegetation native to the area. There are three nines to pick from –the Marsh, Lakes and Cypress. The Champion Ultra Dwarf grass greens are big and fast. Set on Mobile Bay and located on Fort Morgan Road, rates range from $69 – $99.

Craft Farms

There are two Arnold Palmer Signature Championship Golf Courses at Craft Farms.  Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend are the only courses in the state designed by the golf legend. Both course are generally considered challenging, but fair. Rates ranges from $59 -$99

Gulf Shores Golf Club

Gulf Shores Golf Club was one of the first golf courses built in the area. It was redesigned in 2005 by Jay and Carter Morrish to lengthen it’s almost 7,000 yards and add numerous water features and bunkers. It’s one of the more female-friendly courses in the area. Fall/winter rates range from $49 – $69.

Glenlakes Golf Club

Glenlakes Golf Club is a Bruce Devlin/Robert Von Hagge designed 18-hole course in Foley.  Glenlakes has the feel of Scottish links golf featuring extra bunkering and postage-stamp sized greens. Considered one of the best values in the area, rates range from $30 to $65.

Lost Key Golf Course

Lost Key Golf Course has been nicknamed “Lost Ball” for the tightness of the course and number of balls lost to water features, wind gusts and other natural vegetation. However, golfers who play a precision game will enjoy the challenge and beauty of the course. Redesigned by the Arnold Palmer Group in 2006, Lost Key was the first golf course in the State of Florida to be certified as an Audubon International Silver Signature Sanctuary. Located in Perdido Key, rates range from $50 – $99.

Considering the natural beauty of the area, it’s no wonder some of the top designers in golf have chosen the Alabama Gulf Coast to construct their masterpieces. So, next time you are headed to the beach, don’t forget your clubs!