Destinations

Alabama's Gulf Coast 3rd in Top Ten U.S. Destinations For Overall Golf Value

Championship caliber golf courses of the Alabama Gulf Coast recently ranked third in the "Overall Value for the Money" list, as compiled in Golf Digest's 2008 Travel and Destination Study. This study measured consumer's awareness and experiences in 37 golf destinations. The Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area ranks alongside Alabama's Robert Trent Jones Trail and Myrtle Beach as one of the nation's top value golf destinations.

"We are extremely gratified by this honor, but not surprised," said Mike McArthur, Executive Director of the Gulf Shores Golf Association. "With nine signature golf courses, resort-style accommodations, great dining and nightlife opportunities and 32-miles of the world's whitest beaches, Alabama's Gulf Coast has all the right ingredients to rank among the top golf destinations but still reasonably priced to be a great value."

Interestingly, one part of this study asked golfers to rank the important factors that go into the decision of where to take a golf vacation, and "value for the money" and "quality of accommodations" ranked first and second among affluent travelers and avid golfers.

"We're blessed to have a great variety of lodging options here along Alabama's Gulf Coast," said Herb Malone, president/CEO of the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau. "A golf group can choose between gulf front condos, luxury beach homes, onsite golf villas or a broad array of national chain or resort hotel properties."

Malone added that "a good number of our property management entities and hotels have partnered with the golf courses to promote the area through affordable stay-and-play golf packages. The shared expenses of the lodging, combined with reasonable golf rates, are just some of the attributes that make our golf destination a great value for the money!"

In addition to being a great value, the quality of golf along Alabama's Gulf Coast is second to none with signature designs from world-renowned architects like Arnold Palmer, Jerry Pate and Robert Von Hagge to local legends like Earl Stone. To compliment the quality is the true variety of designs including seaside layouts, rolling terrain, low lying wetlands and links-style golf.

"With our diverse collection of signature courses, golfers enjoy a uniquely different experience each day they tee it up," McArthur said. "Golfers are telling us they want variety. The advantage to our destination is that courses do not have the same look or feel. Yet they are all conveniently located within as short drive of each."

McArthur added that "beyond the great value and variety, one of the aspects that golfers love about the Alabama Gulf Coast is the convenience of everything being right-here together. Once settled into their accommodations, the golf courses, restaurants and favorite night-life spots are all within just a few minutes of each other."

The golf courses along Alabama's Gulf Coast offer 180 holes of variety and beauty that challenge serious golfers from the championship tees while delighting fun-loving resort golfers of all skill levels. In addition to superb golf, the area has clean, safe beaches, thousands of acres of nature preserves, historic sites, deep-sea fishing, great shopping, and fine restaurants. Whether it's an annual trip with the buddies, a romantic getaway weekend for two, or a week with the entire family, the Gulf Shores Golf Association offers easy golf vacation planning at www.golfgulfshores.com or by calling 1-888-815-1902.

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