Craft Farms, Gulf Shores, AL

The Gulf Shores, Alabama area is a beachgoer's dream: pristine white sand beaches, all kinds of beach bars, shopping and OWA, an entertainment park with a downtown area, restaurants, and an amusement park.

Gulf Shores is also known for its fantastic golf courses which are some of the nicest in the country. Honours Golf, which is part of Troon Golf, the largest and for my money, the best golf course management company in the country, has two facilities here, the 27-hole Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club and the 36-hole Craft Farms. Each course has its own distinctive coastal feel; both are must plays if you’re in the area.

There are two 18-hole championship golf courses at Craft Farms; both designed by Arnold Palmer. Cypress Bend has received a 4-1/2 star rating by Golf Digest and, as you play your way around the course, you’ll find plush conditions from tee to green, sprawling bunkers and undulating greens that can leave you scratching your head. The course has a coastal feel to it with water coming into play on every hole. Wide fairways and generous landing areas make this Palmer masterpiece a joy for players of all levels.

There were a few holes that I won’t soon forget. Number 4 is a 372-yards par 4 that is a challenging golf hole! You’ll need a long accurate tee shot that avoids the bunkers on either side followed by a pinpoint approach shot into a T-shaped green with bunkers on either side. A back-right pin placement can be especially trying.

Number 13 is my favorite hole on the course. It’s a risk/reward par 5 that plays 517 yards from the Blue tees. The hole doglegs sharply to the right with water down the right side and a long bunker at the turn. If you can carry the bunker on to the elevated fairway or hit your tee shot just right of it over the water and you can have a go at the green. More water guards each side of the elevated green and three bunkers protect the front. Par is a good score here.

With 27 holes of golf at Peninsula and another 36 holes at Craft Farms, either one is the perfect venue for your next outing or tournament. The staff at either course will help with everything from pre-planning and setup, to food and beverage and the awarding of prizes. The tournament staff will see to it you and your guests are well taken care of while the culinary team will create a menu that tempts your palettes.

Speaking of palettes, Chef Kurtis Krum heads up the culinary staff at both courses and uses his creative expertise to create delicious dishes from scratch. After all, how many golf courses bake their own bread? It makes the fresh sandwiches taste that much better!

This is just an overview of what’s in store for you and your group at either facility. For more information, check them out online

An absolute must play if you're in Gulf Shores. Greens were in immaculate condition and challenging to read correctly. To score well you must drive the ball straight but the rough is forgiving enough to score well. You also have to hit the ball straight in order to avoid water hazards and out of bounds (both on the same hole often). The greens hold well if your approach shot is accurate. Some of the tee boxes needed some work but still in good to moderate condition. The course becomes a lot more difficult in windy conditions...which is farly often in the afternoon. The course offers a true test of ones overall game (driveing, iron play, chipping, bunker play and putting. I'd play the course again and again and again because it is worth the price.