The Gulf of Mexico covers plenty of coastline along the American coast and there is a specific are, involving two states that have made a major push on the golf side. Southern Alabama and the far northwest area of Florida are looking to make a name for themselves – a location where golf is becoming more and more a central feature.

Many visitors to Florida usually include the same general locations: Miami, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Tampa, Fort Myers / Naples. The panhandle area of The Sunshine State is generally less known and provides exceptional value, amenities and attractions for the non-golfer. What many do not realise is that neighbouring Alabama has a very thriving coastal area in the likes of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach is not easily accessible via air transportation. You must fly either to nearby Pensacola or Mobile. In all likelihood that necessitates a stopover, most likely via Atlanta. From those airports the drive is roughly anywhere from 60-90 minutes via mid-level state roads. For golfers the best time to access the area is either Spring or Fall, when temperatures and humidity levels are tolerable. Even winter months can reap good deals as many of the facilities have more tee times available and better prices to offer.

 

Kiva Dunes

Gulf Shores, AL

Architect: Jerry Pate / Opened: 1995

7,092 Yards, Par-72

73.9 CR & 132 SL

www.kivadunes.com

When Kiva Dunes celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2015, a major effort was put forward that few facilities contemplate doing in today’s very competitive golf landscape. The course closed down in July 2015 and did not reopen for several months until early November so that course renovations could be implemented. A number of bunkers were changed to enhance playability and to assist in getting rounds finished in just over four hours.

Smartly, the facility returned to designer Jerry Pate to provide key counsel on the necessary steps. Kiva Dunes possesses a beautiful piece of terrain, free of disturbances. Unfortunately, even with water on both sides of the property, you never catch even a glimpse when playing. Just be prepared for the influence of winds whipping across the property with varying intensity and direction.

One of the more interesting dimensions of Kiva Dunes is the putting surfaces. They are clearly differentiated throughout the round. Kiva Dunes made the most in closing. Many facilities, in the immediate area, and elsewhere, should consider a re-look at what they provide; plenty of courses have become tired and in need of a healthy makeover. Course conditions at Kiva Dunes are uniformly good and will likely only to improve as time proceeds. Kiva Dunes is the flagship course in the area, more than your basic resort and very capable in providing an appropriate challenge for all types of players. Few can say that – even fewer deliver. Kiva Dunes does.

 

CRAFT FARMS GOLF CLUB

Gulf Shores, AL

Architect: Arnold Palmer

Cypress Bend – 6,848 Yards / Par-72, 71.8 CR & 122 Slope (front nine opened 1993 – back nine completed 1998)

Cotton Creek – 7,127 Yards / Par-72, 73.7 CR & 128 Slope (1987)

www.craftfarms.com

Having two 18-hole layouts provides a high degree of elasticity in being able to properly service the full range of golfers and activities. The Cypress Bend Course is the shorter of the two and is geared towards providing a less intense course. There are bunkers and water hazards, but the presence is often more cosmetic than strategic, save for one or two moments. The terrain is nearly dead flat so there is little in terms of hole distinction that really spikes inspiration when playing. Cypress Bend is by no means an inferior course, it is just not a superior one.

Fortunately, the facility has the benefit in having a big brother layout called Cotton Creek. After a benign opening hole, you are quickly introduced with back-to-back holes far more rigorous and hardly suffer any foolish plays that might be attempted. There is a good degree of water that is not simply eye candy, but can be quite devilish for those lacking the wherewithal to play quality golf shots. Case in point: holes such as #6 and #7 where water hugs the right side of each hole.

Both nines are relatively equal in terms of hole qualities. The key aspect that makes Cotton Creek memorable is a number of the holes have slight turning points, where shaping a tee shot to get to the most favourable position is called upon time after time. Cotton Creek has width in its fairways but to score effectively you have to get to the most optimum areas in order to have the best angle into the putting surfaces. Bunkering is also artfully done with real impact as well on a number of holes. Creating quality golf on utterly flat land is no small feat. Cotton Creek, may not be the best course in the area – Kiva Dunes holds that top spot – but the gap between first and second is narrower than Cotton Creek and the third place contenders.

 

THE PENINSULA

Gulf Shores, AL

Architect: Earl Stone

Opened: 1995

Cypress: 3,606 Yards / Par-36

Marsh: 3,579 Yards / Par-36

Lakes: 3,397 Yards / Par-36

www.peninsulagolfclub.com

It may behoove The Peninsula to follow a page from the Kiva Dunes playbook. The 27-hole layout is a formulaic layout stuck on dead flat property. When you get flattish fairways with matching putting surfaces the net result in a word is dull. The facility does provide all the customer service amenities and the turf quality is good, but from a standpoint of architectural heft there is little to hang one’s hand upon.  

There is nothing bad per se of the three nines, but neither is there something that goes beyond the mere basics. The best holes include the par-4 9th on The Lakes, the par-4 1st on the Marsh and the par-4 6th on the Cypress. A concerted makeover could mean a vastly improved golf product. The need to upgrade does not mean upping the meter in terms of overall difficulty, but it does mean adding strategic elements that would enhance overall shotmaking for all levels of players. A predictable course is one that loses interest for players. A sensible smart makeover can rejuvenate a layout in so many ways.

 

LOST KEY GOLF CLUB

Perdido Key, FL

Architect: Arnold Palmer

Opened: 1997

6,801 Yards / Par-71; 73.9 CR & 145 SL

www.lostkey.com

Lost Key faced major destruction when Hurricane Ivan, a category 3 storm, hit the immediate area in September 2004. The impact was significant. A tidal surge completely covered the golf course and much of the surrounding area. In late 2006 the course reopened after being redesigned by the Arnold Palmer group and the turf changed to Seaside Paspalum for better playability and overall resilience. The layout is done well, but there is one main deficiency: in order to keep play moving, management decided to line the fairways with lateral water hazard stakes – even when water is not immediately at issue.

The inclusion of such a technique is a contrivance and clearly not in the spirit of the rules of golf. No doubt pace of play is important because the course would be a likely parking lot if too many stray balls were hit necessitating re-loads from the tees. It might prove useful for at least one side of each fairway to be thinned out so people can miss on one side without encountering twin lateral stakes on so many holes.

The front nine is the more demanding side. A bit longer and more intense so you will need to both be accurate with sufficient distance. The back nine is much shorter, but the tightness of several of the holes is still present. The ending trio brings you home in fine fashion with a quality mid-length par-3, long dog-leg left par-4 and risk/reward closing par-5. Lost Key provides all the key elements with service and conditioning at the forefront. Playability is central to any golf course – if Lost Key can add this feature, without resorting to lining each fairway with lateral hazard stakes.

 

PERDIDO BAY GOLF CLUB

Perdido Bay, FL

Architect: William W. Amick / (R) Bill Bergin

Opened: 1963

7,052 Yards / Par-72; 74.4 CR & 133 SL

www.perdidobaygolf.com

This has a solid layout, which hosted from 1978-1987 the Pensacola Open on the PGA Tour, and featured such winners as US Open champions Curtis Strange and Jerry Pate. The main issue with Perdido Bay is that it needs a really good makeover. Having level tees would be a real bonus on a number of the holes. On the plus side, the holes do move in different directions and you get tested fairly early in the round with the superlative par-4 3rd. Here you have to decide how aggressive you wish to be since fairway bunkers are in play with water lurking just to the right. The same holds true a bit later in the round with the demanding 450-yard par-4 10th. Again, water is strategically placed for the tee shot and approach. Conditioning does not need to be perfect but it must be more than the bare minimum. A bit more attention to the overall details and the designed elements would mean an even more meaningful and memorable golf experience.

 

OVERALL GOLF ASSESSMENT — Good

The golf is not uniformly exceptional but it has much more than fleeting moments. To its considerable credit, Kiva Dunes leads the way. Ownership is to be saluted in making the key decision to revamp the course in the second half of the ’15 season. The finished product demonstrates the value in thinking long term. The same can be said for Long Key. After enduring Hurricane Ivan, it would have been very easy to conclude no future golf of any quality would be doable for the site. Quite the contrary has happened. The Gulf Shores / Orange Beach area is a vacation mecca for families and the golf connection has been one that has come to life as a key add-on to its main purpose. The challenge is getting the golf to an even higher calibre and overall consistency.

The totality of the golf here does not rise to the level of America’s upper echelon locations. That is not to say it is pedestrian in what is provided. For the non-affiliated golfer, the area provides a good cross section of golf options beyond the banal level far too many other destination locations are offering, and often charging much more for.

The key is following what Kiva Dunes and Lost Key did. There is plenty of quality non-golf things to do when in the area. The golf side can be even better – but that will take some active ownership at the respective properties to decide what they will individually do. Core golfers are being sought by a plethora of key destinations in America. Is the Gulf Shores / Orange Beach interested in competing at that level? Nothing says it must, but then nothing says such golfers will see being there as something that is more than a day on the sand enjoying the view of the Gulf of Mexico either. It will be very interesting to see how the golf product here evolves. The potential is present.

 

WHERE TO STAY …

 

The Beach Club —

If you wish to stay near to Kiva Dunes, The Peninsula, Gulf Shores Golf Club, head to The Beach Club in Gulf Shores. Spanning over 86 acres at the doorstep of the Gulf of Mexico, the facility features full-service resort amenities. There are four Gulf-front condominium towers and spacious lakeside cottages. Keep in mind that The Beach Club is roughly 12 miles to Gulf Shores Parkway (Highway 59). Driving the road during night time can be challenging given the lack of street lights. Be sure to stack up on one’s supplies if staying there. TheBeachClub.SprectrumResorts.com

 

Turquoise Place —

Somewhat more central to all the key locations is Turquoise Place in Orange Beach. Very easy to spot the twin towers as they share the same colour – one is 24 floors hig,  the other 30. The facility provides three to five-bedroom condos with massive square footage – 2,300 up to 5,600 – and breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico. 

TurquoisePlace.SpectrumResorts.com

 

WHERE TO EAT …

 

Buffett’s Lulu’s

Owned by Lucy Buffett, sister to the famed singer / songwriter brother Jimmy. The vibe is clearly family friendly and sports an authentic realism with southern hospitality at its core. Good range of various food dishes coupled with live music and a real down-to-earth approach when there. LuLuBuffett.com 

 

Tacky Jack’s / Orange Beach

Offering menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner, providing you with a range of interesting and delicious options no matter what time the time. Established in 1980 in Orange Beach, it is one of the area’s oldest and well-known restaurants. www.tackyjacks.com.

    

Fisher’s at Orange Beach Marina

Houses two restaurants under one roof – Upstairs and Dockside – both providing superior food and top tier service. Fisher’s Upstairs is upscale and beautiful, yet very comfortable with unique details, such as reclaimed heart pine floors from the Godchaux Sugar Mill mule barn, built in 1892 in Raceland, La. Upstairs is adorned with linen draperies, antique cypress tables, an onyx bar top lit from the bottom and incredible light fixtures. In addition to its breathtaking design and culinary excellence from seafood to steak, Fisher’s Upstairs offers craft cocktails, as well as a carefully curated wine list. Fisher’s Dockside is noticeably more casual with an equally thoughtful design. Fisher’s Executive Chef, Bill Briand, spent seven years with Emeril Lagasse and nine with James Beard Award-winner Donald Link. www.FishersOBM.com.

 

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For more info go to: www.gulfshores.com/golf/