Thursday, December 29, 2011

Don’t Just Dream of a Golf Vacation—Plan One!

I admit, I was dreaming of a white Christmas last week—it’s the one time of year that I actually long for cold weather—but now I’m back to dreaming of sunshine and warmth. And if I were to head down to Gulf Shores & Orange Beach right now, my dream may actually come true. They’re looking at some warm weather the next couple of days, with highs around 70 degrees.

That is simply perfect golf weather, and tempting enough that I’m thinking of calling in sick to work and squeezing in a quick trip to the Gulf. The weather certainly is one enticing reason to visit Gulf Shores & Orange Beach this winter, but it’s not the only reason.

For instance, several Gulf Shores Golf Association golf courses are offering winter rates—there are some excellent deals on golf packages to be found at places like Craft Farms and Gulf Shores Golf Club. And golfers looking to improve their skills might want to attend one of the winter golf clinics being offered at Kiva Dunes every Tuesday and Thursday through January and February. It could be a good way to brush up on those golf skills before spring.

It’s easy enough to plan a golf getaway—just visit the Gulf Shores Golf Association website to start putting together that winter golf vacation.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

The New Year is Almost Here, Plan for Spring Golf

Here’s what’s I love about Gulf Shores & Orange Beach: it’s the perfect place to escape to when the weather gets cold, and it provides something to look forward to for when the weather turns warm again.

Next year is only a little more than two weeks away—before we know it, the excitement of the holidays and New Year celebrations will be over, and we’ll be left with an entire winter season to drudge through. To me, this marks the perfect time to start planning the spring golf getaway.

And the Gulf Shores Golf Association website is an excellent place to begin this process. You can browse the nine signature golf courses and variety of accommodations in the area to determine where to play and where to stay, and you can even view sample rates and get a customized quote on a golf vacation package. I’ve also found that the many pictures of the golf courses help me think warm thoughts on cold days.

In the meantime, if you just can’t wait until spring, a winter golf getaway may be in order. “Cold” on the Gulf is quite mild compared to areas further north and makes for some very comfortable golf conditions.