Thaw out in Gulf Shores

Enjoy great golf in January

As I write this post, I'm feeling a little guilty. But only a little.

Last week saw brutal weather in the Midwest with frigid temperatures and snow. And this week is looking just as cold. Thursday's forecast for Milwaukee calls for a bone-chilling high of only 5 degrees with the overnight low dipping to minus 14.

By contrast here in Gulf Shores, we've been enjoying a very comfortable January. When our Wisconsin friends will be shivering on Thursday, we'll be on the golf course taking advantage of a sunny day with a forecast high in the low 60s. And from there the weekend looks even better with continued sunshine and highs reaching the upper 60s.

So it isn't surprising when I look around the parking lots at our nine signature golf courses that I see license plates from Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri, Indiana, Iowa and other Midwestern and northern states. These snowbirds wisely leave those cold winters behind to come enjoy the sun with us in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach.

If you're ready to escape the cold for a winter golf trip, the Golf Gulf Shores website has all the information you need. I hope to see you soon.

Golf Instruction Programs

My golf game has come a long way since I first started playing as a kid years ago. Now I’m actually halfway decent—some days, I’m even pretty good. And I’m always in favor of tips, advice, and even a lesson or two to improve.

So I was pretty happy to hear that Rock Creek Golf Club in Fairhope and Craft Farms in Gulf Shores are now offering instruction programs. The clubs are offering a variety of programs, including adult developmental clinics, ladies’ clinics, and junior programs. Tips to make golf more enjoyable and instruction on swing mechanics, specialty shots, and course management are some of the topics that are covered.

It’s a fun addition to a golf vacation and a great way to improve your golf game. I’m hoping to finally straighten out my slice and clean up my short game.

For more information, visit the Gulf Shores Golf Association website.

Gulf Shores Golf Association Showcases Bratton Brothers Invitational

What began in 1970 as a weekend trip from Birmingham to Gulf Shores by a small group of guys is still going strong 41 years later.

The Bratton Brothers Invitational Golf Tournament rolled to the Alabama Gulf Coast March 3rd through 6th and the original group of seven had grown to an impressive troop of more than 80 golfers. During their time in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, the golfers swung into action at the Orange Beach Golf Center, Peninsula, and the Golf Club of The Wharf. And the Gulf Shores Golf Association tagged along to capture the fun and camaraderie.

This group is used to coverage of their golf event. Last year their tournament was "ambushed" by Golf Digest magazine. This year, the Gulf Shores Golf Association went social covering their golf and fun time with photos, videos and posts on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and on the organization's blog.

"We wanted to utilize our social channels to welcome the Bratton Brothers Invitational," said Duncan Millar, executive director of the Gulf Shores Golf Association. "This allowed us to showcase how much fun it is to bring a golf group to the Alabama Gulf Coast. And it also gave us a way to thank these great guys for their long-term support of our area."

The group began their schedule with an afternoon tee off at the Orange Beach Golf Center on March 3rd. And they never slowed down. On Thursday they started the day with tee off at Peninsula and wrapped up with dinner at the Tin Top Restaurant.

On Friday they swung back into action at The Golf Club of The Wharf and wound down with a pizza party at Phoenix 10. The group returned to Peninsula on Saturday morning for a final round of golf.

In addition to the golf and food, the group shared the joy of time together. They laughed and joked and simply enjoyed each other's company. “It’s about way more than golf,” said Jimmy Lee of Andalusia, Alabama, "This is about fellowship and long-term friendships that have endured over time.”

To view the social coverage of the Bratton Brothers Invitational, visit these sites: Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Golf-Gulf-Shores/133920973528 Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/golfgulfshores/ Twitter - http://twitter.com/GolfGulfShores

And learn more about this great annual event at the Bratton Brothers Invitational website - http://bbitour.com/

Gulf Shores Golf Association Releases 2010 Golf Vacation Planner

The opening comments of the 2010 Golf Vacation Planner from the Gulf Shores Golf Association capture the mission of the organization and their new planner. "The challenging part of a great golf vacation should be on the course, not in the planning," says Mark Stillings, association president.

In one convenient 48-page package, the planner provides golfers with exactly the information they need to plan a golf vacation, whether it is a buddies' weekend, a couple's getaway or a family vacation.

Page after page highlights the important details of ten area courses. Handy charts showcase the vital stats for yardage, slope and rating for each of their Red, Silver, White, Blue and Gold tee options.

With each course description comes hints about the play like "postage stamp greens," " numerous risk/reward
opportunities," " area’s largest white-sand bunkers" and " magnificent seaside links layout."

To ensure the golfers are in the know, the planner provides all the necessary policy information on attire, check-in, carts, equipment, pace of play and weather.

After completely whetting the golfer's appetite for playing the Alabama Gulf Coast, the planner offers everything else needed to realize the experience. Because at some point even the most avid golfer has to leave the course.

For those times, the planner delivers accommodation information from select area providers. These hotels and resorts have partnered with the association to offer tailored Play and Stay packages and all are within an easy drive of the courses.

And when the appetite for golf turns into the appetite for a great meal, the planner serves up a sampling of area restaurants where the greens come on the salads and the clubs are sandwiches.

To receive a copy of the 2010 Gulf Shores Golf Vacation Planner, visit www.GolfGulfShores.com, or download a copy here on our blog.

Play: Gulf Coast Golf Courses

Our variety of signature golf courses is second to none. Creatively designed and strategically placed by some of the greatest names in golf course design, including Arnold Palmer, Bruce Devlin, Jerry Pate, Earl Stone and Robert Von Hagge.

The Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area offers everything from scenic coast lines to wetland preserves, to rolling hills, to links-style golf.

Our Orange Beach/Gulf Shores golf courses are challenging and picturesque, but conveniently close to all of our participating accommodations who offer very affordable "Stay-N-Play" Golf Packages, offering the best golf value on the Gulf.