Kiva Dunes
It’s not very often that we get to go to a place that surprises us, but that’s exactly what happened during our trip to the Gulf Shores-Orange Beach Alabama.
Located on the “Florabama” border where the panhandle of Florida meets the Alabama state line, this coastal treasure was a welcomed find during a recent visit to the area.
The first thing that hits you is the setting. With beautiful white powder sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico Southern side, and the Mobile Bay of Alabama just to the North, you’re immediately struck with the beauty of what promises to be a great golf destination.
When it comes to planning a golf trip to this beachside retreat, there are a multitude of courses to choose from and we’ve highlighted a few from the area for you here as well as some lodging options we recommend and activities to enjoy.
Kiva Dunes delivers across the board
As the marquee golf course in the area, I must admit this was the course that I had circled on the agenda as I had heard great things about this special layout. And I’m happy to report, this place delivered. The course is beautiful, well maintained, and the staff was incredibly gracious delivering top-notch service. We’ve captured the beauty of this layout for you here with drone footage of every hole for you as this footage speaks for itself.
It’s easy to see why this course is consistently ranked as one of the top golf courses in the state on an annual basis, and it’s a must play on any golf package to this area. In addition to the amazing course, the resort offers a variety of lodging options including multi-bedroom condo units, as well as vacation home rentals onsite that are perfect for any size golf group. Guests of Kiva Dunes can enjoy access to 3,000 feet of private beach-front property or a dip in the zero-entry pool and hot tub at the Kiva Beach Club. It’s a great location to serve as your home base for your golf vacation to Gulf Shores.
Craft Farms Golf Club embodies the spirit of the region
Home to 36 holes of golf, Craft Farms is another staple in the golf travel itinerary of golf groups looking to visit Gulf Shores. Upon arrival you’ll instantly feel the casual, “home away from home” feel of this facility as the semi-private club gives visiting golfers that sense of belonging to a private club. The Cotton Creek Course provides a friendly layout as this Arnold Palmer design is known for its abundant landing areas off the tee and large, welcoming greens. While safety is rewarded here, there is a collection of great risk-reward holes on this course, especially the par-5s that can be reached in two by longer hitters, but that will require navigating your way around some substantial water hazards on 3 of the 4 par 5-s on this course.
The King is also responsible for designing the Cypress Bend Course at Craft Farms. This course offers a perfect complement to your experience on Cotton Creek as this layout embodies the coastal vibe of the area. Like its sister course, Cypress Bend is very playable with ample space off the tee to find the fairway, which is welcoming for a visiting player on a golf vacation. That being said, the Americanized links-style layout features some sort of water hazard on every hole on the course, so playing away from the danger will be rewarded by lower scores during your round here.
The Cotton Creek Course
Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club provides a challenging variety
With three different 9-hole layouts all under one roof, Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club provides you with top-notch conditioning on what could be considered the best greens in the area. Earl Stone and his team designed 3 distinct layouts with the Marsh, Lakes, and Cypress layouts. The Lakes 9 was our favorite of the day here as the course featured several stunning holes including the par-5 7th hole that gives you an amazing view of Mobile Bay, and the short par-3 8th hole that featured a well-protected, undulated green surrounded by water and vegetation that will swallow up any errant shot. The Marsh 9 is all about placement off the tee and it plays even longer than the scorecard indicates as the shorter par-4s require very precise placement versus length off the tee here. The Cypress 9 is the longest of the three layouts, and it will certainly test your mettle as it is also quite challenging off the tee.
Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club
Gulf Shores Golf Club makes you feel like a local
There’s something about playing a course that gives you the “local muni” feel in a destination that makes it feel a little more like home. Gulf Shores Golf Club provides you with that type of experience. It’s a perfect course to include on your itinerary if you’re looking for a fun and relaxing day on the course, or if you’re looking to get a round in where you knock the rust off in the winter season. While the course is gettable, it’s far from a pushover as it tips out at more than 6,800 yards and has plenty of bite in it.
Gulf Shores Golf Club
Beachside accommodations for the win
If you’re coming to the Gulf Shores, then getting your toes into the powdery white sand beaches during your trip is vital to immersing yourself in the laid-back feel of the area. There are a ton of beachside accommodations to choose from, and one that I experienced and can highly recommend is The Beach Club Resort & Spa. This massive property features multiple high-rise condo towers with units ranging from 1 to 5 bedrooms, as well as some 2- to 5-bedroom lakeside cottages if your group is looking for more of a private oasis set up. It was a perfect set up for a golf group of any size, and a stay here or at nearby Kiva Dunes will provide a perfect setting for your golf getaway to the area.
Rock Creek Golf Course
Can’t-miss activities
There are a few activities when it comes to visiting Alabama’s Beaches that are an absolute must on your itinerary. The first is the world-famous FloraBama bar that features live music on five different stages all year-long. This iconic venue has been a major inspiration for many country artists including the likes of Kenny Chesney and Morgan Wallen, and the unassuming front entrance versus what you see when you walk inside will blow you away. This place is massive, and we highly suggest you enjoy one of their famous Bushwackers while you take in some live music to get a full feel of what this area is all about.
When it comes to dining on your trip, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach boast some amazing culinary options but one that is an absolute must on any golfer’s trip must be at least one dinner at Jesse’s on the Bay. The Mobile Bay sunset that you’ll get to enjoy off the back of the restaurant here is breathtaking, and that’s where the delights begin during your meal here. The dry and wet-aged steaks are to die for, and they serve fresh fish that is brought in daily to create the kind of meal that you’ll be talking about still when you get back home. We had quite a crew with us during our meal here, and every single person was raving about their meal once we all cleaned our plates.
When you are in Gulf Shores-Orange Beach, you’ve got to schedule some time out on the water and a sunset sail on a catamaran with Sail Wild Hearts was just what the doctor ordered after a long, fun day on the course. The BYOB set up allows you to have a beverage or two as you set sail from Orange Beach and head out into the Gulf of Mexico where you can take in amazing views of the gorgeous beaches as well as witnessing some of the sea life in the area as our crew was able to see some dolphins swimming alongside our vessel.
Recommendation
As we are sure you can tell by now, we had an amazing time in Coastal Alabama and we were blown away at the value of what you get with a golf package here. More information about the area can be found here. And when it comes to booking a golf package to the area, we recommend you reach out to the team at Coastal Alabama Golf if you’re looking for an expert in the area as a whole, or directly to the team at Kiva Dunes. They can also book you at the other area courses we mentioned here as well.
No matter which company you choose to work with, we know you’ll have a great time here and we hope you enjoy this beachside sanctuary as much as we did.