Best courses to play around Orange Beach

Kiva
Craft Farms
GSGC
Peninsula

This is my Gulf Shores Golf post that I've posted and added to over the years:



Soldier’s Creek- Never played it, but it is owned by the Woerner’s (Turf company), so I assume the grass is green.

Peninsula- If you are going to drive there, play Kiva Dunes. if you can’t afford Kiva, play Gulf Shores Golf Club, but if you play Peninsula, enjoy an apple from the barrel between nines. It's the third best golf course on Ft. Morgan Road. The positive is that it has 27 holes and is always in really good shape. I just don't find it to be anything to write home about.

GSCC- Great course, one of my favorites in Alabama. Difficult layout, but fair. Last summer it was in the best shape I'd ever seen it. It's a park style golf course.

Craft Farms- Nice but nothing special. You will leave your round and say “wow, that was a well-kept course, but something I could have played in Baton Rouge.” That statement applies to both courses. It is a neighborhood course well off the beach.

Kiva Dunes- It is the quintessential gulf coast golf course. It’s just off the beach and is home to some of the most picturesque holes in the South. It is unbearably difficult from the tips with the wind, but from up a tee, it becomes manageable and fun. It is always in good shape and has an excellent practice facility.

Perdido Bay Golf Club- Nice, but I found it to be somewhat difficult. It is in close proximity to Lost Key. I've only played it once because it's on the other side of town from where we stay.

Lost Key- known as Lost Ball. That should tell you everything you need to know. Every person I know that plays this course complains about it.

GlenLakes Golf Club- you can book four people for like $17 a person. It’s a niceish course as well. Definitely the best bang for your buck, by far. No where in the same league as Kiva or GSCC, but for $17, you can't beat it. This is where I'd play if I played with people who don't golf and didn't want to spend $80-$100 a round.

State Park- walked off after 18 and said, we'll, it was still golf. Too many other options to play around town to play the state park.





Definitive Ranking of all East Alabama, West Florida Golf Courses



1- Kiva Dunes
2- Gulf Shores Golf Club
3- Craft Farms (either)
3- Glenlakes Golf Club
3- Peninsula

6- Perdido Bay Golf Club
7- Lost Ball



The tie for three is based on what you are looking for out of your golf round.




You can also, somewhat consider Rock Creek. Some people will travel to play it, but I'd rather play it on the way up or back. I've really enjoyed my rounds at RC.

Great memories from 20 to 30 years ago at the state park course. It was cheap and usually in excellent condition back then despite the fact that it was constantly busy.

The course was mostly easy with some minor elevation changes. The only bad hole was #12 with the uphill approach and a tree smack dab in front of the green.

I haven’t been there in close to 20 years and I suspect that the course was heavily damaged by several hurricanes. Too many trees were lost.

Played down there just before the Pandemic restrictions - Peninsula was outstanding, Craft Farms was good, Lost Key was very good. Heard GSCC was in good shape and Kiva was perfecto. Lots of folks bash Lost Ball (Key), but I really love the course - a shot makers course with lots of risk reward. Greens a little softer and slower with the grasses they have but is perfect once you get use to it with the wind, small targets and hazards.

Playing Peninsula Tuesday.