Here’s how I see myself this spring: living it up in a Gulf-front condo and playing golf at some of my favorite golf courses in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach while sporting some new fancy shirts, new shorts, new Air Zoom shoes, a new set of clubs and a new bag.
No, I’m not going on a shopping spree. I’m planning—or hoping—to win the latest Gulf Shores Golf Association sweepstakes. All you have to do to enter is book a golf vacation (minimum two-night stay) for sometime between March 1st and May 8th, 2011. The golf package must be booked no later than February 28th. The winner will be randomly selected on March 4th.
In addition to the items listed above, the winner also gets a hat, belt, glove, two pairs of socks, and a dozen Nike Tour One balls. The new set of clubs includes one VR Tour Driver, one VR Fairway Wood, one VR Hybrid, one set of eight VR Pro Cavity Steel Shaft Irons, two VR-V Rev Wedges, and one Method Putter.
More information is available on the GSGA website.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Physical Activity
One main reason I enjoy golf is I love being outside. I would much rather sit staring at the sky from my back porch than sit staring at the television in my living room. And more than either of these, I would prefer to be doing something active while outside (although staring at the sky is often a relaxing alternative).
This is what makes the Alabama Gulf Coast ideal for people like myself. Not only is the golf excellent—you can hardly beat nine scenic, challenging signature golf courses—but the opportunities for outdoor activities abound. Swimming in the Gulf, walking the beach, and hiking/biking a nature trail supplement a golf vacation nicely. Fishing is another popular option that also works well during a group golf trip—hit the greens one day and fish the Gulf the next.
I also enjoy staying at a condo or hotel with amenities like pools and tennis courts, and there are plenty of these types of accommodations in the area. Visit the Gulf Shores Golf Association website to learn more about area lodging options.
This is what makes the Alabama Gulf Coast ideal for people like myself. Not only is the golf excellent—you can hardly beat nine scenic, challenging signature golf courses—but the opportunities for outdoor activities abound. Swimming in the Gulf, walking the beach, and hiking/biking a nature trail supplement a golf vacation nicely. Fishing is another popular option that also works well during a group golf trip—hit the greens one day and fish the Gulf the next.
I also enjoy staying at a condo or hotel with amenities like pools and tennis courts, and there are plenty of these types of accommodations in the area. Visit the Gulf Shores Golf Association website to learn more about area lodging options.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Championship Tees
The year is coming to an end and yet another is beginning. This always gets me thinking about starting fresh, changing for the better, goals and accomplishments, etc. This can (and does) apply to many aspects of my day-to-day life, but being golf-obsessed as I am, I’m once again putting much emphasis on golf goals for the New Year.
I was looking at the course lengths of some of my favorite golf courses in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Kiva Dunes appears to be the longest, with 7,092 yards from the gold tees. Timber Creek, Peninsula Golf & Racquet, and Cotton Creek at Craft Farms are also over 7,000 yards from the championship tees.
I know I’ve never played this distance before. I did manage to work my way to the blue tees a couple times this year—the next step up would be the championship/gold/black tees (depending on where you play). So that’s my goal for 2011: play a 7,000-plus-yard course from the big tee boxes. (And maybe next year I’ll add “with a good score” to that goal.)
Here’s to golf in 2011!
I was looking at the course lengths of some of my favorite golf courses in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Kiva Dunes appears to be the longest, with 7,092 yards from the gold tees. Timber Creek, Peninsula Golf & Racquet, and Cotton Creek at Craft Farms are also over 7,000 yards from the championship tees.
I know I’ve never played this distance before. I did manage to work my way to the blue tees a couple times this year—the next step up would be the championship/gold/black tees (depending on where you play). So that’s my goal for 2011: play a 7,000-plus-yard course from the big tee boxes. (And maybe next year I’ll add “with a good score” to that goal.)
Here’s to golf in 2011!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Several Reasons to Visit
This time of year, many places are simply too cold for golf. For the avid golfer, the return of tolerable temperatures can seem like an eternity. This is just one of many reasons to visit Alabama’s Gulf Coast for a fall/winter golf getaway.
Though obviously cooler than spring and summer, the weather is still mild and very tolerable for golf. The Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area is a perfect location for golfers looking for a reprieve from the season’s chilly temperatures. Not only will they be greeted with comfortable temperatures, they’ll also have their choice of nine signature golf courses.
And with the arrival of the holiday season, a trip to the Gulf could make a nice gift for a spouse or other loved one. A wide array of accommodations—from hotels to luxurious condominiums—plus excellent dining and other activities make it an ideal vacation spot, golf or no golf. Visit the Gulf Shores Golf Association for more information on area golf and other information.
Though obviously cooler than spring and summer, the weather is still mild and very tolerable for golf. The Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area is a perfect location for golfers looking for a reprieve from the season’s chilly temperatures. Not only will they be greeted with comfortable temperatures, they’ll also have their choice of nine signature golf courses.
And with the arrival of the holiday season, a trip to the Gulf could make a nice gift for a spouse or other loved one. A wide array of accommodations—from hotels to luxurious condominiums—plus excellent dining and other activities make it an ideal vacation spot, golf or no golf. Visit the Gulf Shores Golf Association for more information on area golf and other information.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Take the Day Off and Play Golf
You could treat November 15th just like any other Monday—wake up early, rush around getting ready and make your way in to work. Or you could take a vacation day and participate in the Fall Celebrity Songwriters Golf Tournament at the Lost Key Golf Club in Perdido Key, Florida.
Be there for 11 a.m. and enjoy a gourmet lunch, then head over to the tees at noon to start the four-man scramble. Taking a vacation day for this tournament may well be worth it if you hit a hole in one, as you might win a 2011 Jetta (donated by Pete Moore) or $5,000 cash (sponsored by Vann Milheim of Edward Jones)—not to mention the bragging rights that go along with actually hitting a hole in one!
The cost is $75 per person or $300 per four-person group, which covers lunch, cart, range balls, free drink holes, and prizes. Visit the Gulf Shores Golf Association website (in the news & events section under “Explore”) for more information.
Be there for 11 a.m. and enjoy a gourmet lunch, then head over to the tees at noon to start the four-man scramble. Taking a vacation day for this tournament may well be worth it if you hit a hole in one, as you might win a 2011 Jetta (donated by Pete Moore) or $5,000 cash (sponsored by Vann Milheim of Edward Jones)—not to mention the bragging rights that go along with actually hitting a hole in one!
The cost is $75 per person or $300 per four-person group, which covers lunch, cart, range balls, free drink holes, and prizes. Visit the Gulf Shores Golf Association website (in the news & events section under “Explore”) for more information.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Choosing a Golf Course
When you visit an area like the Alabama Gulf Coast that has several options for great golf, deciding where to play can take some thought. Of course, this is a good challenge to face—I’ve been places where the options were few and not nearly as appealing.
The different golf courses have various characteristics that may help break down your decision. For instance, if design is important to you, you might like the fact that Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend at Craft Farms as well as the Lost Key course are Arnold Palmer designs, and other courses were designed by greats such as Bruce Devlin, Jerry Pate, Earl Stone and Robert Von Hagge.
Many of the courses have unique characteristics that make them appealing, such as the scenic marshland hazards at Rock Creek, chilled apples at the first tee of all 3 nines at Peninsula, and the mango-scented ice-cold towels at Cotton Creek.
Or perhaps ratings play an important part in the decision. Golf Digest has ranked Kiva Dunes as one of “America’s Top 100 Public Courses” and rated Cypress Bend as 4.5 stars.
Book a golf vacation package and play as many of the courses as you want. Check out the Gulf Shores Golf Association website for more information.
The different golf courses have various characteristics that may help break down your decision. For instance, if design is important to you, you might like the fact that Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend at Craft Farms as well as the Lost Key course are Arnold Palmer designs, and other courses were designed by greats such as Bruce Devlin, Jerry Pate, Earl Stone and Robert Von Hagge.
Many of the courses have unique characteristics that make them appealing, such as the scenic marshland hazards at Rock Creek, chilled apples at the first tee of all 3 nines at Peninsula, and the mango-scented ice-cold towels at Cotton Creek.
Or perhaps ratings play an important part in the decision. Golf Digest has ranked Kiva Dunes as one of “America’s Top 100 Public Courses” and rated Cypress Bend as 4.5 stars.
Book a golf vacation package and play as many of the courses as you want. Check out the Gulf Shores Golf Association website for more information.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Tournament Time
Oh, how I love a good golf tournament. Lucky for me, there a couple good ones right around the corner.
First up is the Mark Gottfried Celebrity Golf Tournament at the Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club. Basically, it’s golf with celebrities—more than 20 sports celebrities (former and current college coaches and players, former NBA and NFL stars, and several TV personalities) will be pairing up with four-player teams, with one celebrity per team. A pairings party the night before will include live music, hors d’oeuvres and, of course, the celebrities.
After that is the 17th Annual Shrimp Festival Golf Tournament on September 10th at Kiva Dunes. The per-person fee is $125 and covers green fee and cart, lunch, two mulligans, one red tee-buster, a gift bag and raffle prizes. Think of it as a prelude to the Annual National Shrimp Festival, which takes place in October. The proceeds of the golf tournament go to the Alabama Gulf Coast Educational Foundation—so it’s good fun and a good cause.
First up is the Mark Gottfried Celebrity Golf Tournament at the Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club. Basically, it’s golf with celebrities—more than 20 sports celebrities (former and current college coaches and players, former NBA and NFL stars, and several TV personalities) will be pairing up with four-player teams, with one celebrity per team. A pairings party the night before will include live music, hors d’oeuvres and, of course, the celebrities.
After that is the 17th Annual Shrimp Festival Golf Tournament on September 10th at Kiva Dunes. The per-person fee is $125 and covers green fee and cart, lunch, two mulligans, one red tee-buster, a gift bag and raffle prizes. Think of it as a prelude to the Annual National Shrimp Festival, which takes place in October. The proceeds of the golf tournament go to the Alabama Gulf Coast Educational Foundation—so it’s good fun and a good cause.
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