Golf Isn’t the Only Reason to Head to the Gulf Coast This Fall

Ah, September. The month when fall begins. It feels good to get to this point of the summer—the end of summer. It will feel even better when actual fall weather sets in.

But the best feeling will come with the arrival of that fall golf vacation in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach. Gulf Coast golf in the fall is such a welcome change from summer: cooler, comfortable weather compared with the heat of summer. Morning golf is still very much an option—we’re certainly not talking cold weather here. But take away the brutal summer heat and afternoon and evening golf becomes even more of an appealing option. The area is also less crowded in the fall, which is a big golf bonus in my opinion—much less pressure to let others play through when I’m lagging on the course.

Plus you get so much more than just golf when you visit in the fall. Gulf Shores & Orange Beach events like the 42^nd Annual National Shrimp Festival (October 10^th – 13^th) make a nice addition to a golf vacation—fine arts, arts and crafts, live music, and lots of shrimp (and other seafood). It’s just an all-around good time. Other upcoming fall events include the 10^th Annual John L. Borom Alabama Coastal Birdfest (October 3^rd – 5^th), the Alabama Festival of Flavor (October 18^th – 19^th), and the Original German Sausage Festival (October 26^th).

It’s a good time of year for golf and, apparently, eating. Plan to be there and see for yourself.

Gulf Coast Festivals and Golf—It’s All Possible in October

October just might be my favorite month for a golf vacation in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach. The weather is a major draw, of course—absolutely ideal for some Gulf Coast golf.

But there’s also so much going on in October. And as much as I love golf, I won’t be playing from sun-up to sun-down (believe me, though, I have considered it). I like to have other things to do, other places to go…like maybe Fort Morgan during the upcoming Fall Bird Banding Session. I could start the day observing and learning about Coastal migratory birds, then finish up the afternoon with a round of golf.

There are also a couple festivals coming up that have caught my eye, partly just because they are festivals in the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach area, and partly because they involve food (always a wonderful complement to golf). The first is the 41st Annual National Shrimp Festival, taking place October 11th to the 14th. If you’ve never attended this event, I highly recommend it—continuous live music from two different stages, fine arts and crafts to browse and buy, and lots of delicious shrimp and other seafood (and non-seafood). There’s also a Children’s Activity Village, making it a fun event for the kiddos, too, so bring the entire family down for an October golf vacation.

The other is the Original German Sausage Festival in Elberta, scheduled for October 27th. This is a good one if you love sausage and are looking for “the best German sausage you have ever tasted.” Plus you’ll find more arts and crafts and live music, carnival rides, and a Bier Garten.

Beer, sausage, and golf—sounds like a heavenly vacation trio to me. Just visit the Gulf Shores Golf Association website for more information on Gulf Shores & Orange Beach events and planning a golf getaway.

Why October in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach is Great for Golf

Even though it’s a “golf getaway,” you likely don’t engage in one for the sole purpose of playing golf the entire time, sunrise to sunset. I consider myself to be a passionate golfer, and while I’m willing to play (and have played) a couple rounds in one day, I’m not going to play golf day in, day out through an entire vacation—I simply must have other activities to do.

This is what makes a golf vacation in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach so appealing: there are many other ways, in addition to golf, to entertain yourself. And October in particular is a good time for Gulf activity, with Thunder on the Gulf, the National Shrimp Festival, and other activities scheduled throughout the month.

You could schedule your vacation to coincide with the four days of Thunder on the Gulf (October 6th to the 9th), play golf on a different course each morning, then head over to the Gulf State Park Pavilion to check out the race boats, teams, and live entertainment. The Shrimp Festival is also a good time for a four-day golf package intertwined with fine art, crafts, live music, and fresh Gulf seafood. Other October events include the 17th Annual Bayfest Music Fest October 7th to 11th, the O.A.R. concert at The Hangout on the 20th, and the Original German Sausage Festival on the 29th.