Book a Golf Vacation and Attend a Hot Air Balloon Festival

I know of a good reason to plan a Gulf Shores & Orange Beach golf vacation in mid-June: the 8th Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival, scheduled for June 15th to 17th in Foley. It’s an excellent event to attend if you have a family—or if you simply enjoy Gulf Coast festivals.

Here’s a good festival/golf plan: The balloons are in the air at 6 a.m., so show up nice and early to catch a glimpse of the 50 brightly colored balloons floating in the morning sky. Then head off to a morning round of golf—Glenlakes Golf Club is close (also in Foley) but all of the area’s nine signature golf courses are easy enough to get to.

The great thing about the Hot Air Balloon Festival is it’s an all-day event, so when that round of golf is done you can head back for the live music, food, arts and crafts village, and the Disc-Connected K9’s World Famous Frisbee Dogs—these dogs alone are worth the trip back to the festival. And if you’re there with the family, take the kids to the kid’s village and check out Babin’s House of Party, Alligator Alley exhibits, and other fun activities. Stay for sunset and watch the hot air balloons make their return.

You have to see it for yourself to really appreciate it, so go ahead and book that Gulf Shores vacation package.

What’s Your Favorite Group for Golf?

I’ve played golf with many different group types—including work groups. I’ve actually played several times with people from work (during conferences and company gatherings), thus I can say from experience that golf can help bring any group together in camaraderie.

Then there are those much-loved, much-needed buddies golf vacations on the Gulf. Just a group of friends, a condo on the beach, and several days of golf—the group golf experience doesn’t get much better than this.

But I think it might come close to as good this summer, when a large group of family and friends will gather on the beach for a wedding between two people who actually met at the beach. That part of the story is good enough, but it certainly doesn’t hurt that a group of us will be hitting the golf course the day before the wedding. And a large group it will be—several relatives, friends, and friends of friends will be participating in this “mini-tournament.”

Whatever the group, making Gulf Shores & Orange Beach the golf location is a must. You can’t beat the beauty of the area’s nine signature golf courses. And with a variety of accommodation options—from hotels to beach houses to luxurious Gulf-front condos—it’s easy to find a golf vacation deal to meet the needs of all golfers in the group.

How Much Gulf Shores Golf Could You Play in One Day?

I know spring has fully arrived when all I want to do is play golf—and seriously, all I want to do is play golf. All day. I played a round last weekend with a couple friends, and felt so invigorated by the end (though still fairly tired) that I could’ve played another round. But the “real world” demanded I return, leaving me no time for another round.

So I’ll just have to hit the Gulf Shores Golf Association website and book a golf vacation. Here’s the beauty of the GSGA website: it makes it so easy to put together a Gulf Shores & Orange Beach golf package, and you can even plan ahead for a double round of golf—or even unlimited golf!

The later I’ve never actually tried, but I think the next golf trip will have to include at least one day of unlimited golf. I would love to see just how much golf I could play at a given course in one day—golf in the morning, a little after-lunch golf, and since the days stay lighter longer this time of year, I could probably squeeze in some early-evening golf.

I’d love to spend an entire day on the course—it would be the ultimate golf getaway!

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.

Best Ways to Wind Down after Golf on the Gulf

It’s finally here: spring. And it’s brought some ideal golf conditions in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach—unquestionably warm weather that lacks the searing heat of summer. This time of year, a Gulf Shores golf vacation is an absolute must.

Between the beautiful weather and the area’s nine signature golf courses, you’ll likely be inspired to play a lot of golf—I know I always am. So having ways to wind down and relax afterward is important. What I do after usually depends on what time of day I play.

For instance, by the time I’m done with a morning round of golf, it’s often beach time—and lunchtime. Usually, I’ll do one of two things: head back to my Gulf-front condo, make a quick lunch and grab a book, and go down to the beach for a while, or I’ll go find a beach-side restaurant.

After a round of afternoon golf, I’m usually ready for a cool-down and will return to my condo or hotel for a swim in the pool or a trip around the lazy river.

But spring, for me, is a favorite time of year for early evening golf, and there are a few ways of winding down in the evening. Dinner out is a good option if it’s not too late, preferably somewhere with some live music. If I’m still feeling energized, I might even try to catch a concert if one is scheduled. On the other hand, if I’m pretty tired (more and more the case the older I get), I’ll return to my condo for a soak in a hot tub, or enjoy a cold drink on my balcony while gazing out over the moonlit Gulf.

Want a Good Reason to Play Kiva Dunes—or Any Other GSGA Golf Course?

I remember the first time I played golf at Kiva Dunes in Gulf Shores. My first impression was how beautiful the place was—a Gulf-side golf course winding its way through sand dunes, lakes, and other scenic views. Playing it was amazing (even though I lost half a dozen balls that day).

With this memory in mind, it’s easy to see why it was recently rated the number one Alabama public golf course by Golfweek Magazine—and why Golf Digest ranked it as one of the 75 best golf resorts in North American in 2009, and one of the top 100 courses in 2003….Bravo, Kiva Dunes. Not that I needed it, but this validates my playing this GSGA golf course every time I visit Gulf Shores & Orange Beach!

But of course it’s not the only worthy golf course in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach. There’s a reason why the area is my top pick for a golf vacation: nine signature golf courses (I guess that’s really nine reasons), each with its own appealing set of qualities. Combine this with white-sand beaches, a variety of accommodations, excellent dining options, and an active events schedule and there’s really no reason to look elsewhere.

Indulging Your Active Side on a Golf Vacation

Golf is an interesting sport. It’s active, but it’s relaxing. It makes a golf vacation a perfect balance between relaxation and action—whether you enjoy a toned-down, easy-going round of golf or a more active game with a competitive edge.

And if it’s more the active aspect that (paradoxically) contributes to your relaxation, a Gulf Shores & Orange Beach golf vacation is ideal. Plan a Gulf Shores Golf Association golf package with a group of friends and turn the vacation into a tournament—the competition will be fun and friendly.

In addition to golf, the area is full of activities to keep you busy. Take the group on a deep-sea fishing trip out on the Gulf—spend just a few hours or make it an overnight fishing trip. Or find a nature trail and check out the Gulf Coast nature scene—places like the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge and the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail are excellent places for hiking and biking.

And your Gulf Shores condo may provide plenty of activity itself. Several accommodations offer amenities like pools, tennis courts, basketball courts, and exercise rooms. Many also offer hot tubs and saunas—necessities after all this active relaxing.