3840 Cotton Creek Circle,
Gulf Shores, Alabama AL 36542
Office
+1 (800) 327 2657Pro shop
+1 (251) 968 7500Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Rick Gehr (Director of Golf)The Course:
18 holes. Tree-lined & open parkland. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk but some long tee-to-green walks.
Surroundings:
Woodland, marshland and residential.
Designer:
Arnold Palmer
18-hole par-72 Cypress Bend course (6848 yds from back tees).
30.305074
-87.666875
45 miles SE of Mobile
From the I-10 (20 miles east of Mobile) take exit 44 onto the 59 South direction Loxley. After 25 miles (and 7 miles after Foley) turn left onto CR-4 (Cotton Creek Drive). After o.6 miles turn left into Craft Farms Blvd, and follow road for o.6 miles to golf clubhouse.
Craft Farms (Cotton Creek)
Craft Farms Golf Club (Cotton Creek course): Craft Farms, where gladiolus flowers were cultivated in their millions, is home to two Arnold Palmer championship golf courses, the more natural and impressive of which is the Cotton Creek layout.
Whereas the more recent Cypress Bend course is quite open and dominated by water, Cotton Creek contains a more varied mix of holes, some with small lakes, others swamp-lined, while the majority have trees and forest never far away. The terrain here is essentially flat, but included in the layout are some nicely rolling fairways and good earthmounding, especially around the well-bunkered greens.
Now and again there are tight drives to make, not least at the par-5 3rd, the long par-4 5th and the equally long dog-legging par-4 15th - trees, swamp and lakes all combine to define and narrow your outlook from the tee.
Housing is less noticeable here on the Cotton Creek course, mainly appearing on the front-nine, with the back-nine allowing you to focus attention on avoiding the swamp that lines several holes. Small lakes also threaten more seriously as the round draws to its conclusion. Plenty of flowering trees and shrubs add additional splashes of colour during different times of the year - particularly the crepe myrtles in early summer.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance.
Golf carts compulsory.
Good
The golf courses at Craft Farms are managed by Honours Golf, the Southeast's leading golf course development and management company.
3750 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores, Alabama, AL 36542
+1 (251) 968 1113
Visit websiteCourtyard by Marriott is located at Craft Farms Resort, home to the Cotton Creek and Cyress Bend golf courses, and in close proximity to many other golf courses in the area.
Craft Farms Resort (Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend courses)
No
Peninsula; Kiva Dunes; Lakewood -Dogwood and Azalea courses (25 miles).
PO Box 2288, Craft Farms Resort, Gulf Shores, Alabama AL 36547
+1 (251) 968 7532
Visit websiteThe luxury Cypress Point Condominiums overlook the Palmer-designed Cypress Bend golf course and offer spacious floor plans.
Craft Farms Resort (Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend courses)
No
Peninsula; Kiva Dunes; Lakewood -Dogwood and Azalea courses (25 miles).
Chevron Championship: Carlton Woods near Houston in Texas provides the stage for the first women’s major championship of 2025, where Nelly Korda defends her title. (April 24-27).
Soudal Open: successor to the Belgian Open, the Soudal Open takes place on the quiet, wooded North course of Rinkven Golfclub. Belgian stars Thomas Pieters and Nicolas Colsaerts will be vying for top honours. (May 22-25).
Rory McIlroy: with his 2025 win in The Masters, Rory joined the pantheon of golfing greats who have achieved a career Grand Slam of men’s majors ... Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are the only others in this select band.
Bernhard Langer: he may have played in his last Masters Tournament, but the 67-year-old German will be trying to extend his own record, and win a 13th senior major title at the 36th Regions Tradition. (May 15-18).
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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