DaveFinn recensione di Craft Farms Golf Resort

Without determination and dedication, dreams don’t come true. It took time, effort and more than a little grit for farmer Robert Craft and his father J.C. to realize their ambitions. Thirty some odd years ago, the pair opened Cotton Creek Golf Club in Gulf Shores and since then, the town has never looked back. As Robert explained, over a recent dinner at Nolan’s steakhouse, his family understood that the Gulf Shores had been “forever” recognized as a beloved “summer vacation destination”. From Memorial Day until Labor Day, tourists and travellers flocked to their sunny shores. The problem was that come the fall, all the vacationers returned home. Restaurants and shops closed for the season and many condos and resorts stood empty until spring. Robert was adamant that something had to be done to ensure that the local community would not only survive but thrive and with the help of his dad, set his sights on turning the area into a year-round destination. At first, the townspeople resisted the idea that golf could bring greater prosperity to their area but when it was announced that Arnold Palmer himself would be the architect and builder of their future, they quickly embraced a new opportunity. The Crafts believed that Myrtle Beach “was a good example of how golf was used to expand the season using the inventory that was already in place” and were instrumental in organizing an association to collectively combine golf and accommodations. As Robert said “We copied the best”. Today, the Alabama Gulf Coast boasts seven championship golf courses and more than 15,000 rooms ranging from modern hotels, fully-equipped villas and beach homes to quaint B&B’s and numerous camping and RV options. Craft Farms Golf Resort with two 18-hole championship courses designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer. Both are well-manicured, resort-style layouts that are easy to walk and with five sets of tees provide fair play for any caliber of golfer. Unfortunately, this time around I did not get to play the original Cotton Creek, but I found Cypress Bend to have wide, subtle fairways that meandered through live oak and towering pine groves, but beware water is evident on every hole. Positioning and accuracy are much more important than distance. The 18th is a great finishing hole and epitomizes the beauty and playability of this course.

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