Golf Mecca

Sports Illustrated article spotlights Baldwin courses

Sunday, January 23, 2005

By DEREK BELT

Sports Reporter

A recent series of maps in Sports Illustrated breaks down which U.S. counties house the most golf courses, and Baldwin County stands out like a luscious green at the end of a fairway.

In fact, Baldwin County holds it own in each of the four categories: public courses by county, private courses by county, courses per square mile and courses per capita.

The maps, part of the magazine's special "Great American Sports Atlas," also lists Baldwin County as one of only three counties in the state of Alabama with a high household income and a high number of courses.

With 15 public courses and three private courses to choose from, Baldwin County offers a wide variety of options to golfers of every stripe, from those looking for affordable prices and challenging play to those seeking a more expensive round with a truly Southern feel.

Either way, Baldwin County and Alabama's Gulf Coast are being hailed by many as one of the country's top golf destinations.

For example, a 2000 study by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators named Alabama one of the world's top 10 emerging golf destinations.

Several individual courses have garnered accolades as well, as Kiva Dunes is currently ranked by Golf Digest as America's 58th best public course.

Baldwin County's emergence as a top golf destination was nearly derailed Sept. 16 when Hurricane Ivan slammed into the Gulf Coast. The hurricane's devastating winds and rain uprooted trees and flooded courses across the county, resulting in the closure of every course for at least some period of time.

Thankfully for golfers, all of Baldwin County's courses sustained minimal damage during the hurricane and were open for business in about six weeks time. Nowadays, they're all pretty much back to normal -- except for a few missing trees here and there -- and ready for the arrival of Baldwin County's winter visitors.

Snowbirds are vital to the success of the area's golf courses during the winter months, and usually make up the majority of their daily play. However, since many of the snowbirds' accommodations in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach were damaged during the storm, course staffers are seeing fewer golfers from Northern states.

Michael McArthur, executive director of the Gulf Shores Golf Association, said the lower number of snowbirds will only have a minor effect on the area's golf courses and that business should pick up dramatically come springtime.

"It looks like we should have as many spring golfers as we did last year," said McArthur. "All of the courses in Baldwin County are open and in great shape. We have trouble convincing golfers that we had a hurricane or that we were damaged at all."

According to statistics released by the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, 41 percent of accommodations are currently open in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach with 76 percent expected open by March and 91 percent expected open by June.

With an increase in accommodations expected later in the year, the spring golf season looks to be right on track. However, the low number of accommodations now means fewer golfers and slower business this winter for many of the local golf courses.

Some courses are already feeling the effects of the decline. Craft Farms, for instance, let some of its staff go for the winter and has no plans to bring them back until business picks back up.

"We haven't done any changes we see as being permanent," said Craft Farms Director of Golf Rick Gehr. "But with the less number of golfers, you don't need as much help. Basically, it's labor expenses. You let your play dictate your labor."

Regardless of how many snowbirds are in the area, Baldwin County's golf courses are up and running and are ready for business. And while winter 2005 may not be as lucrative as expected, many believe the future looks as bright as ever for golf in Baldwin County.