Now That It’s Summer, Let’s Keep Cool on the Golf Course

No matter how big a golf enthusiast you are, you can’t deny this one fact: it’s hot. Summer is finally here, and although we do love the heat in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach (there’s no better way to enjoy a swim in the Gulf), playing golf in the heat can be tough.

While keeping your cool on the golf course can be equally as tough—sometimes that slice just won’t go away no matter how many adjustments you make—simply keeping cool is a little more manageable if you follow these basic tips.

If possible, play during the coolest temperatures—in the morning before the sun beats down on the course. You’ll at least start your round before the heat really sets in. Dress in light, comfortable clothing, and stay hydrated with plenty of cold water. Hats help too—anything to ward off the sun. And avoid overly salty and sugary foods and snacks that might dehydrate you.

Several Gulf Shores & Orange Beach golf courses also offer special features to help you beat the heat on the course. Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend at Craft Farms, for example, offers ice-cold towels. And they’re mango-scented, which helps you feel extra refreshed. And Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club offers chilled apples at the first tee of all three nines.

Finally, follow up your game with a refreshing drink and a little air conditioning in the golf club’s clubhouse. Then retreat to your condo or hotel for a dip in the pool.

And that’s how you enjoy a golf vacation in the summer.

Gulf Coast Golf and SEC Football Make an Excellent Combination

Golf and SEC football—two of the greatest sports ever. Both are great to watch and…well we know golf is great to play, but probably most of us never had the chance to play SEC football, though you very well may have attended a college with an SEC football team.

And no, this is not completely random rambling. Just a little more than two months away is the SEC BeachFest in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach. If you’re eagerly awaiting the return of SEC football this fall and want to kick-off the start of the season Gulf Coast style, then plan to be here August 15^th – 18^th. Live concerts, alumni happy hours at several Gulf Shores & Orange Beach restaurants, and appearances by legendary SEC coaches and players are some of the things you can expect at this event.

Then there’s the SEC BeachFest Golf Scramble on August 16^th and 17^th (see, I told you it wasn’t

completely random). Not only do participants get to enjoy playing golf at Craft Farms, Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club, or Gulf Shores Golf Club (and Kiva Dunes if they’re part of a qualifying team), they also get four free tickets to the SEC BeachFest, complimentary breakfast and lunch on both days, a gift bag, and the chance to meet legendary SEC coaches. And that’s just for playing—imagine actually winning!

Could be a good week to take that Gulf Shores golf vacation. Gather up your best golfing buddies and get to planning!

Golf Courses in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach—Which Is the Best?

So Kiva Dunes was ranked number 3 according to GOLF Magazine’s state-by-state public access courses in America. I have to disagree with them—it’s number 1 in my book. A beach-front layout on the Gulf Coast, the beauty and challenge presented by the course…it’s just hard to beat that!

But here’s what I love about golf in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach: nine signature golf courses to choose from, each with its own special qualities. Like the mango-scented, ice-cold towels offered by Cotton Creek at Craft Farms, and the chilled apples at Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club—both are really nice features when playing golf on a hot summer day! And the marshland hazards at Rock Creek Golf Club in Fairhope offer a unique scenic quality that I just love.

Plus, Kiva Dunes isn’t the only Gulf Shores & Orange Beach golf course to win accolades and high ratings. Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend at Craft Farms, Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club, and Rock Creek Golf Club have each received a four and a half star rating by Golf Digest. And most of the courses were designed by golf greats like Earl Stone, Arnold Palmer, and Jerry Pate.

I’ve played all of these courses, and looking back at all of them, I’m actually not sure which I would rank as number 1. Think I better book a Gulf Shores golf vacation so I can re-assess.

Summer is a Great Time for a Golf Vacation!

Yes, it’s hot, but like any true hard-core golfer, I will not let the heat keep me from the green. I have a Gulf Shores golf vacation coming up in July, and I have every intention to get out on those courses.

First of all, I plan to golf in the morning and avoid the afternoon heat altogether. I’ve always enjoyed morning golf better, anyway—the courses in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach are gorgeous anyway, but there’s something about being out there first thing in the morning that just enhances their beauty.

Second, I plan to take advantage of the different perks offered by the courses. For instance, ice cold towels can make a world of difference when the temperature really starts to rise, and Cotton Creek at Craft Farms even offers mango-scented ice cold towels—talk about refreshing! Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club offers chilled apples on the first tee of all three nines, and of course there’s always the option of a nice, cold drink at a club’s restaurant/clubhouse.

Finally, when the round of golf is complete, I have every intention of returning to my Gulf-front condo and taking a refreshing swim in the pool or even venturing out for a dip in the Gulf itself.

And these are the reasons why I love a summer golf getaway.

Why Golfing on the Gulf is Ideal in February

Here’s why I love golfing this time of year: you can actually golf in the afternoon, something I personally can’t tolerate in the heat of summer. And golfing in the afternoon usually means paying afternoon (lower) rates.

Of course, ability to play golf in the afternoon (or any time of day) really depends on where you are. Obviously, if you’re in an area that’s actually experiencing winter, golf may be out of the question until spring. But in a place like Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, it is absolutely an ideal time for golf. And you’ll find some excellent afternoon golf rates among the area’s nine signature golf courses. Courses like Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend at Craft Farms and Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club currently offer an afternoon rate of $59; Rock Creek has an afternoon rate of $49, and Lost Key drops down to $40, to mention just a few.

And there’s an additional reason why February is a particularly good time for a Gulf Shores golf vacation—Mardi Gras! Several Mardi Gras parades and celebrations are coming up later this month. It’s a good time of year to play a little golf, catch some beads, and make the most of winter.

Burn Off that Turkey Dinner with Golf

I always mislead myself after Thanksgiving—now that the big meal is over (and the leftovers are eaten) I can get back to a sensible diet and start shedding some holiday pounds. Right?

Not exactly. Now come the home-baked cookies brought in to work by coworkers, and my Mom’s fudge, and the various Christmas treats that catch my eye every time I enter the grocery store. The holiday calorie fest is anything but over.

My solution: play more golf. True, golf isn’t exactly an aerobic activity, especially with the convenience of golf carts. But it’s activity. And it’s outside, which can motivate you to do more activity outside. And there are ways to make it a little more aerobic—I know a lady who would bring her non-golfer husband along and have him drive the cart while she walked to each ball.

If you’re playing golf in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, it’s all the better. Nine signature golf courses provide an abundance of appealing options for golf. Play from the championship tees and you’ll get a course length longer than 7,000 yards at several courses, such as Cotton Creek, Kiva Dunes, Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club, and TimberCreek—that’s a good bit of walking using the above-mentioned method! Plus, the weather this time of year is comfortably mild and perfect for golf—and for staving off that extra holiday weight gain.

Keeping Cool on the Golf Course

Well, the hot weather seems to have officially rolled around again, which means keeping cool on the golf course will involve more than just deep breaths and restraint from throwing the golf club. Personally, I prefer the weather-related heat to the steam I feel when I can’t seem to avoid the dreaded golf shank. And thankfully, my favorite Gulf Shores golf courses have some excellent—and sometimes creative—ways for golfers to cool down on a hot day.

An old time favorite cool-down method of mine is a nice cold drink at the club bar after a solid round of 18 holes. Some of the clubs have really nice restaurants that are perfect for lunch or dinner with the golf buddies.

But often halfway through a round you’re already in need of a cool-down—how about trying a chilled apple? Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club and Rock Creek offer these at certain tees along their courses. It’s cold, refreshing, and a nice pick-me-up. They also deliver ice-cold towels to golfers.

And going a step further with the ice-cold towels is Cotton Creek at Craft Farms with their mango-scented ice-cold towels. It doesn’t get much cooler than that.

And, of course, you can return to your condo or hotel for a cooling dip in the pool. Be sure to visit the Gulf Shores Golf Association website for information on golf packages and accommodations.

May Golf Tournaments and Fundraising

Seems like the theme for May golf is “May I help?” Golfers in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach will get three opportunities in the first couple of weeks in May to both participate in a golf competition and help raise money for good causes.

The first is this Sunday, May 1st, at the Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club. The 18 Holes for Ecuador Golf Tournament and Fundraiser is intended to help a group of student missionaries traveling to Ecuador in June. Their goal is to raise $23,000 to help build a daycare that will provide safety, medical and dental care, and food for children of working parents; the money will also help with travel, housing, and food for the missionaries.

Next is the 12th Annual Benefit Golf Outing for Habitat for Humanity at Craft Farms Cotton Creek on May 6th. Besides contributing to the building of safe and affordable housing for low-income families, you’ll have the fun of competing for prizes for low gross, low net, closest to the pin, and longest drive.

Then on May 13th and 14th is the First Annual Alabama Gulf Coast Christian Academy Golf Tournament at Cypress Bend. On Friday, May 13th is dinner with Nancy Lopez at the Magnolia Court Restaurant. In addition to the tournament, which benefits the Alabama Gulf Coast Christian Academy, golfers also get a continental breakfast, hitting exhibition, golf clinic, and box lunches.

Get that feel-good feeling of being charitable while doing something you enjoy! More information about these tournaments is available on the Gulf Shores Golf Association website.