Gulf Coast Golf Guide
Alabama + Florida Gulf Coast Golf Course Info
The Gulf Coast may be known first for white-sand beaches and emerald water, but golfers have another reason to pack their clubs. From championship layouts surrounded by dunes and coastal habitat to traditional tree-lined courses, coastal Alabama and Northwest Florida offer plenty of ways to work a tee time into your vacation.
Stay in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Fort Morgan, Perdido Key, Pensacola Beach or Navarre Beach, and you can spend the morning on the fairway and the afternoon beside the Gulf. Some courses are destinations in their own right, while others make it easy to add golf to a family beach trip without turning the entire vacation into a golf getaway. Use this guide to find some of the top Gulf Coast golf courses near Pointe South vacation destinations and discover which ones fit the way you like to play.
Golf Near Gulf Shores
Gulf Shores is one of the most popular areas for a golf vacation on Alabama's coast. Several championship courses sit within easy reach of the beach, giving serious golfers enough variety for multiple rounds while still keeping restaurants, attractions, and the Gulf close by.
Craft Farms Golf Resort
Great for Multiple Rounds & Loved by Arnold Palmer Fans
With 36 holes of championship golf, Craft Farms is particularly well suited to travelers planning more than one round.
The resort features two 18-hole courses, Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend, both designed by Arnold Palmer. Cotton Creek has a more traditional feel with rolling fairways, large greens and plenty of risk-and-reward opportunities, while Cypress Bend brings more of the coastal landscape into play with lakes and expansive landing areas. Craft Farms identifies them as Alabama's only Arnold Palmer Signature Design courses.
Having two distinctive courses at one property also makes Craft Farms a practical choice for golf groups who want variety without coordinating drives to a different club every morning.
Course Style: Two 18-hole championship courses
Gulf Shores Golf Club
Best for a Traditional Round Close to Town
As the original golf course in Gulf Shores, Gulf Shores Golf Club has been welcoming golfers since 1964. The 18-hole, par-71 course offers a traditional golf experience just minutes from the beach, with tree-lined fairways, mature landscaping and a relaxed coastal atmosphere.
Redesigned by Jay and Carter Morrish in 2005, the course features strategically placed bunkers, water hazards and multiple tee options that accommodate a range of skill levels. Golfers can also enjoy a well-appointed clubhouse, pro shop and restaurant overlooking the fairways, making it a great choice for a leisurely round during a Gulf Shores vacation.
Course Style: 18 holes, par 71
Golf Near Orange Beach
Orange Beach has a different golf personality. Guests looking for a championship 18-hole round will generally find more options a short drive toward Gulf Shores and surrounding Baldwin County, but there is an easy local option when you want to practice or fit in a quick game closer to Orange Beach.
Orange Beach Golf Center
Great for a Quick Round & Working on Your Game
Not every vacation round needs to take half the day.
The Orange Beach Golf Center features a nine-hole, par-3 course, along with a lighted driving range, putting and chipping greens and a practice bunker. Tee times are not required, making it a convenient option when the family schedule suddenly leaves a little room for golf.
It also works well for newer golfers, families introducing someone to the game or experienced players who simply want to work on their short game before heading back to the beach.
Course Style: 9-hole par-3 course and practice facility
Golf Near Fort Morgan
Fort Morgan is where the connection between golf and the coastal landscape becomes especially noticeable. Two of Alabama's standout golf experiences sit along the peninsula, making this quieter beach destination particularly appealing to golfers.
Kiva Dunes Golf Course
A Must for Gulf Coast Golf Getaway
If golf is one of the main reasons for the trip, Kiva Dunes belongs near the top of the list.
The course opened in 1995 and was designed by U.S. Open champion Jerry Pate with developer Jim Edgemon. The public course winds through a coastal setting shaped by native grasses, dunes and Gulf breezes, creating a distinctly different experience from a traditional inland layout.
Kiva Dunes has also earned extensive recognition over the years and remains one of the best-known public golf destinations on Alabama's coast. The course is a par-72 layout playing 7,092 yards from the back tees.
Course Style: 18-hole championship public course
Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club
Best for Variety and Golf Groups
Just down the Fort Morgan Peninsula, Peninsula gives golfers 27 holes rather than one standard 18-hole layout.
Designed by Earl Stone, the course is divided into three distinctive nines: Marsh, Lakes and Cypress. Different combinations create a changing 18-hole experience, while the property itself incorporates live oaks, cypress, lakes and views influenced by neighboring Mobile Bay and Bon Secour wildlife habitat.
That variety makes Peninsula especially attractive for groups planning multiple rounds. Peninsula and Craft Farms are also sister properties and actively accommodate multi-course group play between the two clubs.
Course Style: 27 holes across three nine-hole courses
Golf Near Perdido Key
Perdido Key offers a wonderful combination of championship golf and laid-back beach living. Golfers can choose between two excellent public courses, including Lost Key Golf Club, located right on the island, and nearby Perdido Bay Golf Club, known for its championship layout and professional tournament history. Both offer beautiful surroundings and challenging play, making it easy to enjoy a morning on the fairways before returning to the beach.
Lost Key Golf Club
Best for Staying Close to the Course
Lost Key Golf & Beach Resort is a well-planned resort community offering guests an opportunity to make golf part of where they stay.
The 18-hole, par-71 public championship course was redesigned by the Arnold Palmer Design Group in 2006. Five sets of tees provide options for different skill levels, while the course's coastal environment creates a combination of strategic golf and natural scenery.
Lost Key was also the first golf course in Florida certified as an Audubon International Silver Signature Sanctuary, reflecting the emphasis placed on protecting the natural environment surrounding the course.
For golf guests, the biggest advantage is location. Vacation rentals within Lost Key Golf & Beach Club place guests inside the master-planned resort community between the golf course and Gulf of Mexico. We currently offer a substantial collection of Lost Key vacation rentals.
Course Style: 18 holes, par 71, Arnold Palmer Design
Perdido Bay Golf Club
Great for Championship Golf with a Little History
Perdido Bay Golf Club brings tournament history to a public course that remains convenient to Perdido Key.
The course served as the site of the Pensacola Open for 10 years, welcoming professional golfers including Jack Nicklaus, Payne Stewart, Tom Kite and Curtis Strange. Today it remains open to the public and includes a substantial practice facility with a driving range, putting green, chipping green and practice bunkers.
The layout rewards thoughtful shot-making, making Perdido Bay a good complement to Lost Key for travelers planning more than one round during their stay.
Course Style: 18-hole public championship course
Golf Near Pensacola Beach & Pensacola
Pensacola Beach itself is about sand, water and island life, but several golf courses are available once you cross into Pensacola and the surrounding area. This makes it easy to build a golf day into a Pensacola Beach vacation while also exploring more of the city.
Scenic Hills Country Club
Best for Golf History with Varied Terrain
Scenic Hills has one of the most interesting golf histories in the Pensacola area.
The semi-private club welcomes non-members and features an 18-hole championship course with multiple tee options. Most notably, Scenic Hills hosted the 1969 U.S. Women's Open, giving the course a place in national golf history.
Rolling terrain, elevation changes and pine-lined fairways also give Scenic Hills a visual character that feels different from the flatter coastal layouts closer to the beach.
Course Style: 18-hole championship course
Marcus Pointe Golf Club
Great for an Easygoing Pensacola Round
Marcus Pointe offers a comfortable option for golfers who want to combine time in Pensacola with a round away from the busiest coastal areas.
Designed by Earl Stone, the course occupies approximately 600 acres of rolling woodland and emphasizes playability along with natural scenery. The club also offers golf instruction, practice opportunities and casual dining.
Course Style: 18 holes, par 72
A.C. Read Golf Course
Best for a Unique Pensacola Golf Experience
A.C. Read is one of the most distinctive options in the region, but it requires a little more planning.
Located aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola along Bayou Grande, A.C. Read offers 27 championship holes plus an additional 18-hole executive course. The facility is open to the public and includes a driving range, practice greens and club and cart rentals.
Because the course is located on an active military installation, public visitors must follow current NAS Pensacola access procedures. Visit Pensacola currently advises golfers to enter through the main gate, visit the Visitor Information Center with appropriate identification and allow extra time for the required access process. Guests should confirm current requirements before their tee time
Course Style: 27 championship holes plus 18-hole executive course
Which Gulf Coast Golf Course Fits Your Trip?
For a Golf-Focused Getaway
Start with Kiva Dunes on the Alabama side or Lost Key Golf Club on the Florida side. Both offer championship golf in environments closely connected to the classic coastal golf vacation experience.
For Multiple Rounds
Craft Farms gives golfers two Arnold Palmer courses at one location, while Peninsula adds three nine-hole layouts that can be combined into different rounds. Together, the two sister properties offer particularly strong options for groups.
Golf Close to Your Rental
Lost Key Golf Club is the standout for Pointe South guests because vacation rentals are available inside Lost Key Golf & Beach Club itself. Access to the Golf course is quick and easy, and in some cases, is outside your rental.
For A Quick Round
Orange Beach Golf Center works well when you want to play without setting aside most of the day. Typically easy to book and quick to play, this is a fun, fast option for golfers.
For Golf History
Consider Perdido Bay Golf Club, former home of the Pensacola Open, or Scenic Hills, host of the 1969 U.S. Women's Open. Golf history worth experiencing.
For Coastal Scenery
Kiva Dunes, Peninsula, and Lost Key each bring a noticeable connection to the local landscape, whether through dunes, wetlands, native vegetation, Mobile Bay or Santa Rosa Sound.
A little planning goes a long way when golf is part of your beach vacation.
Reserve Tee Times Ahead of Your Trip
Popular courses can fill desirable morning tee times, especially during busy travel periods, tournaments and golf-group weekends. If there is a course you consider a must-play, make the tee time part of your vacation planning rather than waiting until arrival.
Consider More Than One Course
One of the advantages of staying on this stretch of the Gulf Coast is the variety within driving distance. A group staying in Gulf Shores or Fort Morgan can play a traditional course one day and a coastal layout the next. Perdido Key guests can easily pair Lost Key with Perdido Bay.
Traveling Without Your Clubs?
Rental clubs are available at a number of area courses, although availability, brands and pricing vary. Reserve equipment ahead of time when possible rather than assuming a set will be available when you arrive.
Watch the Weather
Morning rounds can be especially appealing during warmer months. Coastal weather can change quickly, so check current course conditions and forecasts before leaving your rental.
Confirm Current Course Policies
Tee-time windows, dress codes, rates, aeration schedules and other course policies change throughout the year. Check directly with each golf course before your round.
Golf Today, Beach Tomorrow
One of the best parts of a Gulf Coast golf trip is that not everyone has to be a golfer.
While part of the group heads for the first tee, everyone else can spend the morning on the beach, visit local attractions, shop, fish or simply enjoy the pool. Meet back at the rental afterward, then head out together for seafood and sunset.
That combination makes the region a strong choice for couples, families and groups with different vacation interests. You can plan several serious rounds or simply add one tee time to a week otherwise spent beside the Gulf.
Our Gulf Coast Beaches Guide can help you find the right stretch of shoreline for the rest of your vacation.
Stay Near Gulf Coast Golf
Where you stay can make a big difference on a golf getaway. Pointe South Vacation Rentals offers vacation homes and condos across the Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast, putting golfers within easy reach of championship courses, practice facilities, and quick vacation rounds.
Stay in Fort Morgan for convenient access to Kiva Dunes and Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club, or choose Gulf Shores to keep Craft Farms and Gulf Shores Golf Club nearby. Perdido Key is an especially strong choice for golfers, with Lost Key Golf Club and Perdido Bay Golf Club close to the island. Guests staying in Pensacola Beach can enjoy island time between rounds while exploring courses throughout Pensacola.
Whether golf is the focus of your trip or just one part of a beach vacation, choosing the right Gulf Coast vacation rental and location makes it easier to spend less time driving and more time on the course.
Stay at Lost Key Golf & Beach Club
Lost Key Golf & Beach Club places vacation accommodations inside the same resort community as Lost Key Golf Club. Guests can stay surrounded by the community's natural setting while keeping both the golf course and Perdido Key's beaches close to home. Numerous rentals are currently available in Lost Key, giving you easy access to the greens.
Lost Key Golf & Beach Club Rentals
Wake up close to the Gulf and keep beach days just mere steps from home.
Bring Your Clubs to the Coast
Your Gulf Coast vacation planning does not have to choose between tee times and beach time. Play championship courses surrounded by coastal landscapes, squeeze in a quick round between family adventures or build an entire getaway around some of the area's most memorable golf. From Fort Morgan and Gulf Shores to Perdido Key and Pensacola, every round gives you another way to experience the coast.
Find the course that fits your game, choose a Pointe South vacation rental that fits your trip, and start planning a Gulf Coast getaway with room for both fairways and white-sand beaches.
Gulf Coast Golf FAQs
It is a good idea, especially for popular morning tee times, weekends and busy travel periods. Courses such as Kiva Dunes use advance booking and dynamic tee-time pricing, so booking early can also help golfers find a time and rate that fit their trip.
Many of the courses featured in this guide welcome public play. Kiva Dunes, Lost Key Golf Club and several Pensacola-area courses are open to the public, while other clubs may be semi-private or have specific visitor policies. Always confirm access and tee-time requirements with the individual course before your round.
Yes. Several area courses offer rental clubs, so you do not necessarily need to travel with your own set. Kiva Dunes, Craft Farms and A.C. Read are among the courses that advertise club rentals. Availability can vary, so reserving clubs ahead of time is a good idea.
Dress codes vary by course. Many golf courses require traditional golf attire, which may include a collared shirt and restrictions on denim or certain styles of shirts. Check the course website or contact the pro shop before your tee time so you know the current requirements.
Yes, but additional planning is required because the course is located on Naval Air Station Pensacola. Public golfers need to arrange a tee time and follow current base-access procedures, which include visiting the Visitor Information Center and completing the required access process. Visitors should allow extra time and confirm the latest requirements before arriving.
Absolutely. One of the advantages of a Gulf Coast golf vacation is how close many courses are to the beach communities. Golfers can schedule an early round and still have much of the afternoon available for the beach, pool, dining or other activities. Alabama's Gulf Coast tourism organization specifically promotes the region as a place where visitors can golf and return to the beach the same day.
