Play a Little Golf, Throw Some Fish

A golf vacation in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach is a good thing any time of year, but a golf vacation later this month promises a little extra fun—in the form of fish tossing and a golf tournament.

Friday, April 27th is the beginning of the 27th Annual Interstate Mullet Toss & Gulf Coast’s Greatest Beach Party, which runs through April 29th. The Mullet Toss is exactly as it sounds: you get to toss a fish. You also get to enjoy good food, a keg toss, tug-of-war, and other fun activities. And let’s not forget the “Greatest Beach Party” part of the event—this alone is worth showing up for.

But of course we can’t forget about the most important part of a golf vacation: golf. Preceding the Mullet Toss Weekend by a couple days (April 25th) is the 15th Annual Mullet Swing Golf Classic at Lost Key Golf Club. The fee for this two-person scramble includes greens fee and cart, balls, food and drink, a golf towel and, my favorite perk, a tournament jacket. Not only do you get to play golf on a beautiful golf course, you’re also playing for a good cause—the event benefits the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

More information about this and other events is available on the Gulf Shores Golf Association website.

Water Hazards: Love Them or Hate Them?

I have a love-hate relationship with water hazards. I love them for the beauty and challenge they add to a golf course, but I hate the effect they have on my game. Because when I play a hole with a water hazard, my ball just seems drawn to it every time.

Ultimately, though, I love water hazards. It’s a great feeling when, on a good golf day, my ball actually sails past those waters and onto the green. If it’s a bad day—well, I make a stop at the clubhouse to buy a package of balls on my way out. But at least I’ve tried, and that’s the important thing—practice makes perfect, right?

And of all the places I could practice, the various courses in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach have some excellent options, especially when it comes to water hazards. Somehow, just being near the Gulf—the ultimate body of water—makes those hazards that much more appealing. I particularly enjoy courses like Kiva Dunes and Lost Key Golf Club, where the Gulf is just off in the distance. The beauty of these courses, water hazards and all, makes the distinction between a good day and a bad day irrelevant.

Check out some of the water hazards yourself—visit the Gulf Shores Golf Association website to view pictures of all nine signature golf courses in the area.