If you’re a couple that connects on the course, the Alabama Gulf Coast should top your list for your next golf getaway. Alabama’s beaches offer the perfect destination for couples to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life at work and home. Here, you’ll enjoy a little relaxation while enjoying a collection of fantastic golf courses, pristine white sand beaches, and excellent restaurants to indulge in fine local fare.
Whether you’re enticed by the prospect of navigating the sand traps in the morning before relaxing on the beach sands in the afternoon or perhaps relaxing at the 19th hole in the clubhouse, a golfing retreat to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach is an experience that should be on every couple’s radar. Both golfing and non-golfing couples will be able to enjoy the courses along this stretch of Alabama coastline. If you are looking to teach your better half this game or learn together, there are options for every standard of golfer and plenty of opportunities to accommodate your needs.
To help plan your golfing getaway, let’s look at some of the best golf courses for couples in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. From luxurious full-scale resorts to immaculate fairways designed by the most significant architects in golf, any of these courses are sure to fit you both to a tee.
Kiva Dunes Golf Course
Kiva Dunes is the perfect destination for the golfing couple who wants it all, offering private beachfront access, luxury resort amenities, and the highest-rated golf course in the state. Located along Fort Morgan Road, this golfing paradise epitomizes everything there is to love with Alabama’s Gulf Coast.
Guests can relax in rental homes or condos while admiring the coastline's spectacular stretch before heading to a links-style course with an award-winning design sure to challenge even avid golfers. Ranging from 5,000 to 7,100 yards, course designer Jerry Pate offers golfers of all standards an opportunity to enjoy one of golf’s best and most unique challenges.
Couples can enjoy a leisurely round at Kiva Dunes before relaxing with various amenities, including a full-service bar, restaurant, saltwater pool, and hot tub. Visit the onsite restaurants at Kiva Grill inside Kiva Lodge or Kiva Beach Club Restaurant to indulge in chef-tailored menu items that will satisfy all appetites.
Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club
Located directly next to the Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge and meandering through over 800 acres of gorgeous natural vegetation, Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club has breathtaking natural scenery making it the perfect backdrop for couples who love the great outdoors. While enjoying the 27-hole course, guests will likely encounter a myriad of local wildlife that have made this area their natural habitat. Designed by renowned golf architect Earl Stone, Peninsula is a golfing haven that is a serious test for every golfer.
A visit to Peninsula is much more than just the golf course. For couples local to the Gulf Coast and considering joining a golf club, Peninsula is an ideal choice with many amenities that create an all-inclusive experience for all the family. Members have access to a full-service club and facilities that include tennis courts, pickleball courts, indoor and outdoor pools, and a fitness center.
After a round of golf at Peninsula, unwind by enjoying a relaxing massage before enjoying a delicious lunch or dinner with a variety of regional features and pub fare on a seasonal basis at the Bar & Grill inside the clubhouse. With epic views overlooking the course and surrounding wildlife preserve, this is undoubtedly a great spot to enjoy a romantic meal.
ONE Club
For couples looking to enjoy the quiet thrill of golf and the louder fun of a night out, ONE Club is the perfect combination.
Visitors staying on-site can lounge by the pool in a private cabana before trying out a game of pickleball or heading to the club’s restaurant to relax with great happy-hour specials and fun events like live music and karaoke. If the trip's focus is all about both of you working on your swing, the challenging 9-hole course featuring a collection of water hazards will certainly test your skill and patience.
One of the unique aspects of ONE Club is the “Golf After Dark” experiences that showcase the game of golf in a whole new light. This is an excellent way for you and your loved one to enjoy a lighthearted game in a cool setting.
Honorary Mentions
While these great Gulf Shores golf courses don’t offer a full couples experience, they still offer a challenging round of golf for your trip.
Craft Farms Resort. Here you can play the only two courses in Alabama designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer. Cypress Bend and Cotton Creek are consistently rated as two of the Best Places to Play by Golf Digest, each offering 18 dynamic holes framed by some of the area’s most beautiful coastal scenery.
Orange Beach Golf Center. For the golfing couples that are perhaps starting out, head over to the Orange Beach Golf Center to visit the driving range and work on your games together. The practice putting green is a great way to have a free contest, perhaps with the winner deciding which of the amazing local restaurants to dine at later that evening.
Glenlakes Golf Club. Widely regarded as one of the premier golf courses on the Gulf Coast, Glenlakes Golf Club is a 27-hole complex that is a great place for couples to showcase their abilities. After a round, try out an alternative to traditional golf – FootGolf (if you have ever contemplated playing golf and soccer at the same time, this game is for you)! Glenlakes is also located close to the nearby Tanger Outlets in Foley, offering the perfect compromise for those who want to also enjoy a little retail therapy.
Gulf Shores Golf Club. Gulf Shores Golf Club is the area’s original golf course designed by renowned father-son team Jay and Carter Moorish. It offers 18 challenging holes that include hazardous water features, strategic bunkers, and sharp doglegs.
Grab your clubs and plan a romantic getaway to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach to enjoy the 15 fabulous courses in the area!
