Spring Golfing Trip
In Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
Are you ready to spring into the new golf season? Is your game in good shape after a long winter? Alabama's Beaches is the best place for a spring golf trip. The spring season is a sign of not just warmer temperatures and the dormant grass coming back to life, but a time for you to clean off those golf clubs and prepare to head to the course in the hope of achieving great things throughout the upcoming golf season.
For those who kept their golf game in shape during the winter, the goal is to kick-start their season and reap the benefits of the long hours they put in on the course or at the driving range. However, don’t worry if you opted to pack your clubs away during the winter months, as there are still plenty of ways to ensure you are ready to go early in the new golf season.
Plan a Spring Golf Trip to Alabama's Beaches
A Perfect Golf Destination
Maybe you’re intrigued by the prospect of being able to spend some time relaxing on the 32 miles of white-sand beaches, or perhaps you are simply ready to get your golf game in shape on the six local courses. Either way, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan are undoubtedly the best places to visit for a spring golf getaway.
Spring on the Alabama Gulf Coast boasts cooler mornings and comfortable afternoons - the perfect temperatures for an early morning tee time or a few rounds after lunch. You can spend all day on the course or break up golf games with beach time, waterfront meals, or outdoor excursions. The proximity of courses, restaurants, attractions, and beaches makes the area a perfect golf destination.
Book Convenient Lodging
The area has an amazing variety of lodging options, like spacious condos, private beach houses, beachfront hotels, and top-rated campgrounds. Most visitors stay along the shore for convenient beach access, but there are plenty of great accommodations near local golf courses to maximize play time. Alabama's Beaches boasts six courses all within a 40-minute drive, so no matter where you stay, you can conveniently hit up a nearby course or the beach.
Book Your Tee Times
Plan your golfing itinerary to ensure you don’t need to worry about last-minute tee times or scrambling to find the perfect time to play the various courses in the area. While the spring months are a great time to start the new golf season, you also need to be aware of the daylight hours that are still relatively shorter compared to the middle of summer.
If you prefer an afternoon tee time, be sure to plan accordingly and allow at least four hours to complete your 18 holes. Or perhaps you are organizing a trip to all the courses in the area. If so, you may opt to play only nine holes at certain courses. Regardless of your preference, booking tee times in advance of your visit is a smart decision.
Enjoy Friendly Competition
If you are heading on your spring golf getaway with a group of friends, add a little extra spice to the trip by creating a series of competitions at the various courses to ensure everyone has something to play for. Use a Stableford method of scoring so that those who may suffer a bad hole continue to have something to play for throughout the remainder of the round and especially if you create a longer tournament across multiple courses.
You can also add prizes and perks for individual rounds such as nearest the pin on a selected par 3, longest drive on a hole and even a putting contest on the practice green before or after the round. This friendly competition will allow everyone the opportunity to focus on their game while also having something to play for at the end.
Spend Time Off the Golf Course
Another benefit of heading to the Gulf Coast for your spring golf trip is the attractions and experiences awaiting you once you are off the golf course. While the focus of the trip may be to improve your golf game, having the opportunity to relax away from the course opens the doors to enhance the overall trip.
Taking time for new experiences such as kayaking along the Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge waterways or biking the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trails will give you the time to appreciate the natural beauty along Alabama's Beaches before heading to the beach to indulge in a little relaxation.
Indulge in Local Cuisine
A golfing getaway experiencing a collection of courses will leave you with an appetite at the end of each round. With the diverse array of local restaurants offering the fresh catch of the day among other local seafood specialties, you can be sure there will be plenty of opportunities to satisfy everyone’s taste palate.
Another great reason to golf on Alabama's Beaches is the on-site dining at many of the courses. Local courses, such as Kiva Dunes, Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club, Gulf Shores Golf Club, Craft Farms, and One Club, have clubhouses serving delicious bites and drinks, so you can enjoy the 19th hole without leaving the course.
Chris Boothman
Chris Boothman has been an avid golfer for over 20 years and focused on sharing his love of both travel (at A Brit & A Southerner) and golf with fellow enthusiasts across the globe. Originally from the UK (“The Home of Golf”) where he played with a low handicap of 2, Chris moved to the US on a collegiate golf scholarship in Kansas and has played golf in a number of countries.
