Golf Courses Near Gulf Shores, AL

Gulf Shores, located on the Gulf of Mexico some 33 miles west of Pensacola, Florida, is Alabama’s southernmost spot. It’s not only a sun and sea destination, it’s also a bonafide golf destination. The 1963-vintage Gulf Shores Golf Club, the first course built in the area, offers Hot Deals and remains one of the most popular tee times. Gulf Shores began appearing on golf travel maps when Craft Farms Resort opened its two Arnold Palmer-designed golf courses—the traditional Cotton Creek and the more links-style Cypress Bend. Golf Advisor perennially rates picturesque Peninsula Golf Club, a 27-hole facility that winds around 30 lakes and the Bon Secour National Wildlife Preserve, one of Alabama’s top courses. Surpassing that, Kiva Dunes not only annually vies to be Alabama #1 course, it is also one of Golf Advisor’s prestigious “Golfers Choice” selections. The brawny, links-style layout features wide fairways but packs a punch with its large elevated greens, big bunkers, extensive sandy waste areas, and scrub vegetation.

Gulf Shores has 32 miles of glorious white sand beaches. It is also a prime deep sea and back-bay fishing destination. The Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, renowned as a bird watching spot, has hiking and walking trails. To get up close and personal with up to 199 species of animals, visit the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. The area’s top historic attraction is Fort Morgan State Historic Site. It was here during the 1864 Battle of Mobile Bay that Admiral Daniel Farragut famously said, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.” If he were around nowadays, the Admiral would likely tell you to “play more golf.”