Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, Alabama
Tucked along the turquoise waters and white sands of the Gulf of Mexico, the vibrant seaside communities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach provide a diverse range of boutique shopping, mouthwatering seafood and family attractions.
“There is live music every night up and down the coast,” said Kay Maghan, public relations manager at Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism. “You can play golf, have a dinner somewhere with live music and really enjoy yourself.”
Golfers can choose from over a dozen first-rate golf courses in the area. The award-winning Kiva Dunes Golf Course is considered the No. 1 course in the state, with a challenging and beautiful layout design by Jim Edgemon and U.S. Open champion Jerry Pate. Lost Key Golf Club is situated just across the state line in Florida near historic downtown Pensacola. Lost Key was the first course in the state to be designated an Audubon International Silver Signature Sanctuary, meaning that it protects the area’s natural resources while displaying incredible views.
North of the beach in a serene wooded landscape, Craft Farms Golf Resorts offers two exceptional courses — Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend — designed by golf legend Arnold Palmer. Peninsula Golf Club, Timbercreek Golf Club and Rock Creek Golf Club are popular choices as well.
Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is a colorful college town nestled amid West Virginia’s steep, rolling hills. The city provides a good home base for golfers as they visit some of the state’s most outstanding courses in the surrounding area.
Pikewood National Golf Club was ranked as number 40 in Golf Digest’s “Top 100 Greatest American Golf Courses of 2017-18.” Dow Finsterwald, a former Ryder Cup captain and PGA champion, called it “the most challenging, fair and beautiful course in the world.” The course takes full advantage of West Virginia’s richly forested terrain, weaving around natural features such as a waterfall, rock bluffs and rapids.
Lakeview Golf Resort and Spa is another of the most popular golf destinations in the Mid-Atlantic region.
“The nice thing about Lakeview is that there are two courses,” said Dave Plevich, sports and special events sales manager at the Greater Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau. “People in groups love that because they can come in on the weekend and play two different courses while they’re there.”
Spanning nearly 500 acres, the Lakeview course challenges players with sloped, narrow fairways encircled by towering oak and maple trees.
During their stay, guests can also enjoy the resort’s amenities, including the Fitness and Sports Complex, a full-service spa and two restaurants overlooking Lakeview’s 18th green.
