How Easy It Is to Plan a Gulf Coast Golf Getaway

“How difficult is it to plan a golf vacation in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach?” This is the question a coworker asked me recently. He wants what we all want: a golf vacation at the beach in the spring. Perfect. And if it’s perfect, it must be difficult to put together. Right?

Nope. Not at all if you plan this getaway through the Gulf Shores Golf Association website. There you can browse the area’s signature golf courses and variety of accommodations, check out sample rates, and even request an estimate. Really the most difficult part is figuring out which golf courses you want to play during your vacation, and which type of lodging you want—hotel, condo, beach house. Do you want an upscale Gulf-front condo, or will a simple chain hotel work better? Will you play a different golf course every day, or will you keep it simple with just one or two courses during your stay?

The real question is, how easy is it to plan a Gulf Shores & Orange Beach golf vacation? Pretty easy. The hard part is waiting for your vacation time to arrive. And believe me—it’s worth the wait.

Need Some Last Minute Gift Ideas for the Golfer?

Only a week left for Christmas shopping. Are you lagging behind in your shopping, or did you manage to check everyone off your list before the one-week countdown? It’s those last few people who are the hardest to shop for—that’s why they are the last few people on the last-minute shopping list.

Unless they are golfers. There’s always a good idea for a golfer: golf gear from a pro shop, a gift certificate to a pro shop, or better yet, a gift certificate to the golfer’s favorite golf course. Any of these would make an awesome gift to the avid golfer.

If you really want to wow them, give a gift certificate to a pro shop or golf course in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, or even a gift card toward a Gulf Shores golf vacation—that would be the ultimate golf gift! If your recipient loves golf and loves the beach (and who doesn’t love the beach), a golf vacation would easily top all other gifts. If they’ve vacationed in the area before, they’ll love it. If they’ve never vacationed in the area, it’s time they do—they will love the variety of Gulf Coast signature golf courses, white-sand beaches, and the range of accommodations. 

Several of the area golf courses sell gift cards and golf packages. So there’s really no excuse—go ahead and cross the golfer off your list.

Golf and Football: A Perfect Combination for Fall

Well, the SEC BeachFest has come and gone—as has the SEC BeachFest Golf Tournament. A good time was had by all, and several legendary SEC coaches turned up to participate, like former Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson, pictured here at Craft Farms. The participation of all competitors is much appreciated!

It was a great way to kick-off the SEC football season. Now on to actual SEC football! I just love this time of year: the start of fall, the start of football…the two simply go hand-in-hand, almost like one could not exist without the other.

And I know right where I want to watch some of these football games: from the living area of my Gulf Shores & Orange Beach condo during my fall golf vacation. Because fall is also the perfect time of year for golf, especially on the Gulf Coast, with its cooler but still warm temperatures.

So there it is—the perfect fall vacation. Golf, the beach, and SEC football on the t.v. of a beach condo. Ready to book it yet?

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.

Dads and Golf Go Together Like Sand and the Gulf

If your dad is like mine, he loves golf and he loves the beach. These two factors practically scream “golf vacation in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach!”

So with Father’s Day just around the corner (June 16^th), you just might have a great gift idea for Dad here. Plan a golf trip for him, or plan one for yourself and bring Dad (and Mom, of course) along. It could even be a good opportunity for a little family reunion on the beach (beach houses and condos make great lodging for large groups…).

But best of all, he’ll get to play at any of nine signature Gulf Shores golf courses. Scenic and challenging—ideal for the golf-loving dad. And by planning a golf vacation package, not only can you pick and choose which golf courses to play, but you can also ensure you get the perfect accommodations to fit your needs. Stay right on the Gulf so when the golfing is done for the day, you can enjoy the area’s white-sand beaches.

There’s still plenty of time before Father’s Day. Stop over at the Golf Gulf Shores website and start planning that golf getaway for Dad!

Celebrate Mother’s Day on the Golf Course

Mother’s Day is less than a month away, and I’ve been scrambling to think of the perfect gift for my much-deserving mom. Sure, I could do another big, beautiful bouquet of flowers and a gift certificate to her favorite restaurant. But sometimes it’s nice to do something really special.

Then it dawned on me the other day: My mom loves golf too. I’ve done the gift-of-golf thing for my dad a couple of times—no reason why I can’t do it for my golf-loving mom as well.

There are a couple ways to do this. I could buy a couple of rounds of golf during their next Gulf Shores & Orange Beach vacation. (And yes, it does have to be golf in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach; you simply can’t beat nine signature golf courses.) This is an easy enough option thanks to the Golf-Only Teetimes feature on the Golf Gulf Shores website.

My other option is to plan an actual Gulf Shores golf vacation for them—Mother’s Day weekend would be an apt choice! And it doesn’t hurt that, with this plan, I could tag along—celebrate Mother’s Day with my mother, on the golf course.

No other gift could possibly top that.

Schedule That Gulf Shores Golf Vacation During Mardi Gras for Extra Fun

It’s that time of year again—time for beads and moon pies and Gulf Coast parades. One week from today is Fat Tuesday, and the Mardi Gras festivities are already underway.

If you’re headed down to Gulf Shores & Orange Beach sometime in the next week for a golf vacation, you’re in for a treat. If you’re not, why not plan for it now? A Gulf vacation involving both golf and Mardi Gras events can make for a fun and diverse vacation—and is only possible this time of year.

So your days could go something like this: enjoy a leisurely breakfast in your Gulf Shores condo (or have breakfast out), then enjoy a round of late morning/early afternoon golf at one of the area’s nine signature golf courses. (That’s one thing I love about golf in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach this time of year—the daytime temperatures are perfect for afternoon golf.) Next head off to whatever Mardi Gras event is scheduled for that afternoon/evening.

Some events that are scheduled include LuLu’s Krewe De Lu Roux Mardi Gras Ball on February 6^th, The Wharf Children and Pet’s Mardi Gras Parade on February 10^th, and the Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Parade on February 12^th. Hope to see you there!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Play Golf, Relax, or Get Active—The Choice is Yours

Every golfer has played that hole where a body of water, or thick foliage, or some other obstacle stands between you and the green at such a distance that you have a couple ways you could play it: lay-up and ensure the ball gets over on the next shot, or give it all you’ve got and drive the ball over that water in one swing.

A golf vacation in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach is very similar in that there a couple ways to play it. You could keep it very simple—golf and relaxation. A round of golf in the morning followed by an afternoon of relaxing on the beach, by the pool, in a hot tub, at a spa…the possibilities are many.

Or you might want to squeeze in as much activity as possible by checking out some of the local events. This is where I recommend visiting the Gulf Shores Golf Association’s “News & Events” page (under “Explore” on the website). Here you’ll find information on things like upcoming golf tournaments as well as non-golf-related events. Right now, for example, we’re approaching Mardi Gras, and several Mardi Gras parades are planned for next month. And then there’s the Under Armour Senior Bowl scheduled for January 28th—watch the country’s best collegiate and NFL football stars in live action during this nationally televised football game.

How you decide to play it is up to you—just be sure to play.