Gulf Shores golf courses offer some of the most exciting golf challenges throughout Gulf Shores' scenic coastlines and wildlife preserves – a true golfer's paradise! Designed by pros Arnold Palmer, Bruce Devlin, and Jerry Pate, among others, there are more than 15 world-class championship 18- or 9-hole courses that offer challenge and variety for all skill levels. Plus, the rolling fairways and sprawling bunkers meander through some of the most scenic landscapes along Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
Photo Credit: dskciado
As you may know, most of the Gulf Shores golf courses lie about 3-5 miles inland and are concentrated in and around Craft Farms although there are some that offer seaside golfing along the Fort Morgan Peninsula. Below are some of the best in Alabama and most are public courses:
- Golf Club of the Wharf tops the list with a 5-star ranking and offers golfers a brand new challenge with completely redesigned fairways, challenging bunkers, and some of the most picturesque landscapes in Gulf Shores. Plus an elegant club house rounds out the entire experience. Note that this is a private course.
- Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend at Craft Farms, the only two Arnold Palmer courses in Alabama, offer challenge among the winding greens and bunkers at every hole. Both courses are rated 4½ stars by Golf Digest and Cypress Bend was even awarded "No. 1 most playable course" by Golf Digest when it opened. After a round or two, enjoy lunch or dinner at the Cotton Creek Grill or the Arnold Palmer Dining Room overlooking the 18th hole.
- Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club offers three 9-hole golf courses surrounded on two sides by the Bon Secour Wildlife Preserve and located further west along the Fort Morgan Peninsula. The Marsh, Lakes, and Cypress courses, rated 4 to 4 ½ stars, feature fairways that wind around live oaks, cypress, and more than 30 lakes.
- Kiva Dunes lies the furthest west along the Fort Morgan Peninsula and is Alabama's only beach-front golf resort. Currently rated 3 stars, this course offers fairways that meander through dunes, lakes, and wetlands. Plus you'll find a club house, three pools, and 3,000 feet of private beach to enjoy after a morning on the greens.
To book your tee times for the Gulf Shores golf courses, check out teetimes.com for availability, pricing, and the occasional special offer. I also recommend visiting some of the individual sites for special savings on day rates and club rentals.
If you need accommodations, check out the Bel Sole and the Seacrest by Youngs Sun Coast located nearest to Craft Farms and if you're heading out to the peninsula, then a stay at the The Beach Club is a must.
Finally, if you're wondering what to do with your family while you're putting the morning or day away, don't worry because Gulf Shores golf courses are conveniently located near the local attractions including water parks, mini-golf for the young and aspiring, and let's not forget 32 miles of white sandy beaches! Well on its way to becoming one of the finest Gulf Coast golf destinations, you'll find the Gulf Shores golf courses stack up against the country's best.
