Gulf Shores Alabama

[bcflyguy1]

Course is in fine shape, but Lost Key will look much different from the last time you saw it due to many trees being lost during the slow moving hurricane a couple years ago.

[Scootre]

Any suggestions besides Kiva Dunes? Will be in the area in a couple of weeks.  Good greens and someplace we won't get stuck on the cart paths would be great.

One round will be with my son (6 index) another will be with my daughter  (she's hoping to break 100.)

[me05501]

2 minutes ago, Scootre said:

Any suggestions besides Kiva Dunes? Will be in the area in a couple of weeks.  Good greens and someplace we won't get stuck on the cart paths would be great.

One round will be with my son (6 index) another will be with my daughter  (she's hoping to break 100.)

 

The Craft Farms courses are solid.

[Abh159]

1 minute ago, Scootre said:

Any suggestions besides Kiva Dunes? Will be in the area in a couple of weeks.  Good greens and someplace we won't get stuck on the cart paths would be great.

One round will be with my son (6 index) another will be with my daughter  (she's hoping to break 100.)

 

The Craft Farms courses have always been in decent shape when I've played them. Of course there is a fair amount of water and houses are in play on a lot of the holes, but that is somewhat to be expected when playing anywhere on the AL/FL coast.

 

FYI we're approaching that time of year where courses start to aerate their bermuda greens so that might be something you want to ask about when making tee times.

[Scootre]

5 minutes ago, Abh159 said:

 

The Craft Farms courses have always been in decent shape when I've played them. Of course there is a fair amount of water and houses are in play on a lot of the holes, but that is somewhat to be expected when playing anywhere on the AL/FL coast.

 

FYI we're approaching that time of year where courses start to aerate their bermuda greens so that might be something you want to ask about when making tee times.

Thanks, I'll be sure to do that. 

[me05501]

Sometimes you can get nice rates at Lost Key online and you'd probably enjoy that with your son. It's sort of tight with lots of water, so it might be more frustrating for your daughter. 

[pearcebarr]

32 minutes ago, Scootre said:

Any suggestions besides Kiva Dunes? Will be in the area in a couple of weeks.  Good greens and someplace we won't get stuck on the cart paths would be great.

One round will be with my son (6 index) another will be with my daughter  (she's hoping to break 100.)

Is there a reason you're avoiding Kiva? Location? Price? Difficulty?

[Scootre]

1 hour ago, pearcebarr said:

Is there a reason you're avoiding Kiva? Location? Price? Difficulty?

I may not avoid Kiva, it was the course I had heard the most about and didn't know if there were other good tracks in the area. Just looking for more feedback. Probably not going to spend over $100 each for me and my daughter. 

[Abh159]

2 minutes ago, Scootre said:

I may not avoid Kiva, it was the course I had heard the most about and didn't know if there were other good tracks in the area. Just looking for more feedback. Probably not going to spend over $100 each for me and my daughter. 

 

You can ask about junior rates at places and see if they offer one for your daughter. Honestly though with it being tourist season on the gulf coast I'm not sure you're going to find a lot of green fees under $100 on a course that is in good shape.

[Rosco1216]

I played kiva when I was there in 2019. I’m going to be in Gulf shores again in a couple weeks from the 16-23rd. Going to have to figure out where to play. I enjoyed kiva last time so may do it again. 

[icegator337]

Spending less than $100 during the middle of tourist season is going to be tough, especially in the morning.  I consider Kiva to be the best course in the area, then Lost Key, Peninsula, Craft Farms, and Gulf Shores Golf Club to all be about the same in the next tier.  All generally have good greens and are well kept.  I'm pretty sure GSGC has decent jr. rates

[Scootre]

I got a morning tee time at Peninsula for my son and I. They have a $69 junior rate. After noon it would've been free but we needed to get in before dinner time. I'll let everyone know how it was. 

[rtr16]

I've lived in GS for 4 years, 64 year old.  Kiva is on the top of my list.  Every time I've played it was in great shape. Then Peninsula. Look around carefully, Morgan Freeman has a place there.  Craft Farms has two courses, Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend.  The Cypress Bend course is the more popular one.

 

However, since I'm retired, I mainly go to Glen Lakes in Foley.  Nice course with 3 nine hole courses. About 8 miles from the island.  Super nice people.  After 2, 18 holes are 38.99.  Always in nice shape.

 

I'd hit Kiva and Peninsula and as the money runs low, go to Glen Lakes.  One of those nice courses no one hears about.

[Scootre]

On our way back from GS, AL. Played Peninsula on Thursday. Fantastic shape, plush fairways, greens with some speed. It rained off and on all week and carts were off the path. This place drains well. Actually, some holes had no cart path between the beginning of the fairway cut and up to 40 yards or so from the green. We played the Lakes/Cypress 9s. Didn't see any difference between them really. My only complaint about the course was that were no memorable holes. We teed off in the morning and were done within 4 hours. Very enjoyable. 

The other day earlier in the week we had hoped to get out was a rain out. 

[Spankapotamus redux]

I live in Pensacola. My top in that area of Alabama would be Glen Lakes, Kiva, and Lost Key. More affordable options would be Soldiers Creek in Elberta (fun layout but not always in the best shape), Marcus Point (my home course which is in Fabolous shape), Tiger Point in Gulf Breeze, and Cypress Lakes (another fun if shorter layout that's always in good shape). I'm not all about $100+ rounds. Lots of fun golf in the area at $50 or less.

[Rosco1216]

Going to give peninsula a go this week. 

[gmayo11]

Played Peninsula on Tuesday (Cypress/Marsh).  Course was in great shape, and even with tons of rain during the week, very dry.  Grabbed the first tee-time out and were done in 3 hours.  First time playing the course and I enjoyed it.  It is straightforward, and everything is out in front of you.  Not the most memorable of courses, but great condition, quick pace, and good mix of clubs required made for a fun round.  

[Dyno4]

I’ll be in the Gulf Shores area this coming week. Plan to play Kiva on Monday morning 7/25 if anyone would like to join. It will be just myself and possibly my son who will be a rider for the day. 

[Rosco1216]

Played peninsula today and wasn’t a big fan. Greens were slow and bumpy. Fairways were in good shape but mow maintenance around greens were a little rough. 
 

Marsh was better than lakes IMO, better layout from the back tees as well. A couple holes on Lakes had tee shots with trees literally blocking your tee shot. #2 was just ridiculous. 

[Scootre]

On 7/21/2022 at 7:27 AM, Rosco1216 said:

Played peninsula today and wasn’t a big fan. Greens were slow and bumpy. Fairways were in good shape but mow maintenance around greens were a little rough. 
 

Marsh was better than lakes IMO, better layout from the back tees as well. A couple holes on Lakes had tee shots with trees literally blocking your tee shot. #2 was just ridiculous. 

Yeah half of the tee box on #2 Lakes was unusable because of that tree. We played the 2 tees, not the tips (1). 

Funny you mention the maintenance around the greens. As we were playing we noticed a guy mowing around a nearby green. He seemed to be scalping the grass. Lol

 

[Dyno4]

18 hours ago, Scootre said:

Yeah half of the tee box on #2 Lakes was unusable because of that tree. We played the 2 tees, not the tips (1). 

Funny you mention the maintenance around the greens. As we were playing we noticed a guy mowing around a nearby green. He seemed to be scalping the grass. Lol

 

 

On 7/21/2022 at 7:27 AM, Rosco1216 said:

Played peninsula today and wasn’t a big fan. Greens were slow and bumpy. Fairways were in good shape but mow maintenance around greens were a little rough. 
 

Marsh was better than lakes IMO, better layout from the back tees as well. A couple holes on Lakes had tee shots with trees literally blocking your tee shot. #2 was just ridiculous. 

Played Peninsula this weekend and had a similar experience. Underwhelming. Staff was super friendly. Found the greens very inconsistent though. Firm and fast on Cypress, then softer and slower on the Lakes course. Probably won’t play there again or recommend it given the cost and other options in the area. 

[Dyno4]

Played Kiva Dunes on the trip this week. Far and away a better experience than Peninsula and Craft Farms. Service from the staff was excellent, layout was really enjoyable and the condition was very good. Greens were rolling really well and fairways in good shape. The area has had a ton of rain this season, including a shower during the round and it remained off the paths. Plenty of watering and comfort throughout which was a welcome experience compared to Peninsula. Really wish I had played multiple rounds at Kiva this trip. 

[blangst1]

On 2/29/2016 at 3:56 AM, thejuice said:

 

On top of this great post, don't skip over the suggestion to play Cambrian Ridge in Greenville. I think it's a grossly underrated Trail site. I'm not saying they don't get busy, because they do, it's just not mentioned much but it's a real good site.

It is a great course!

[mrh64]

Bump. Going to be there in 3 weeks. Has anyone played any of the GS courses this summer?