Nestled on the beautiful Fort Morgan peninsula between Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, rests one of Alabama’s most spectacular golf resorts – Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club. Golf course architect Earl Stone, who was well known for his playable designs, crafted more than 40 courses, largely in the Southeast. His layout at Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club, a 27-hole facility located in an upscale residential community, is a standout and one of his favorites. About Peninsula Located directly next to the Bon Secour Wildlife Preserve, Peninsula offers three distinct nines that wind through more than 800 acres of beautiful moss-covered oaks and cypress trees. The Lakes nine was unveiled first and is the shortest of the three.
“It is hard to pick only one signature hole on this beautifully crafted, 27-hole golf course, but I feel it would be the par-5 seventh on the Lakes nine, which bends along the Bon Secour and Mobile Bay, said Anthony Vaughn, Director of Golf and Club Manager. The marsh nine is the most challenging, with numerous forced carries, and the Cypress nine is the newest of the trio. There’s a pier between the second and third holes that winds through a wetland area out to a dock. You can drive your cart out there (ideally after your round, so you don’t slow down play) and it’s a great place for a happy hour or to catch sunset over Mobile Bay. Centrally located between Pensacola and Mobile, Peninsula Golf Club is renowned for superior course conditions.
Course Conditions Ranked #9 Nationally
In fact, Peninsula was recently nationally recognized by Golf Advisor as one of the Top 10 Conditioned Courses in the U.S. Golf Advisor asked golfers to rate golf courses in six categories related to their overall satisfaction while playing a round of golf. Peninsula was featured at #9 for the category of Best Course Condition, which most golfers will argue is the category most directly tied to the overall satisfaction of their round.
“It’s a great award for all of Peninsula,” said Superintendent Jamey Davis. “This type of recognition is a direct reflection of the all-star team and the hard work they put in that I am fortunate to work with at Peninsula. We continue to control the things we can control, and each day we get a little better.”
On a regional level, the awards keep rolling in. Peninsula was also recently recognized by Golf Advisor as one of the Top 15 golf courses to play in Alabama. After conducting research on the top-rated courses in each state for 2017, Golf Advisor featured Peninsula at #3 in he Top 15 courses to play in Alabama.
Never Cart Path Only – Or Free Round!!!
Similar to that of Shinnecock Hills, home of the 2018 US Open, Peninsula has the benefit of being located on a barrier island, which is the equivalent of large sandbar. Its’ soil subsurface is comprised of straight beach sand; 14 feet to be exact. Course Architect Earl Stone considered the water flow during rainy periods, and designed the course to disperse it efficiently. The course surface drains extremely well. Additionally, the maintenance crew executes exceptional irrigation practices. Superintendent Jamey Davis says they only irrigate when necessary, which lends to superior turf health as well as a responsible environmental approach.
Due to its’ location and design, Peninsula stays dry when the rest of Gulf Shores feels like the rainiest place on Earth. With 14 feet of sand underneath, Peninsula is never cart path only, or you can request a FREE ROUND!
Peninsula believes its’ exceptional customer service attributes to the 4 ½ star rating by Golf Digest. Selected as one of the “most memorable and enjoyable” courses in the southeast, Peninsula provides a golfing experience that is rivaled by few.
Quick Facts to Know About Peninsula:
• Designed by golf course architect Earl Stone in 1995.
• 27-hole Golf Course with three distinctive nines: Cypress, Lakes and Marsh.
• Top 10 Conditioned Course in the U.S. by Golf Advisor
• Course boasts over 7000 yards from the championship tees
• Provides an enjoyable playing experience for all skill levels.
• The course is spread over 800 acres next to the Bon Secour Wildlife Preserve
Sweet Summer Specials
With summer in full force in Gulf Shores, Peninsula is delivering exceptional golf specials for locals and visitors alike. As families take their summer vacations, Peninsula is opening its’ doors for junior golfers to take a swing at golf.
Family Golf Specials at Peninsula:
• Juniors 17 and under play FREE with regularly priced adult round
• Juniors receive a free lesson with paid adult lesson
• FREE rental clubs for juniors all day
Let’s say you’ve been given a hall pass during your week in Gulf Shores. You have one day to spend on the golf course. Peninsula has that covered, too. With 27 holes, you can play all day long for $109 this summer.
If one day isn’t enough, Peninsula is also running two specials in a span of seven days. With the Double Play special, golfers can play two rounds within seven days of each other for $129. Through the Weekly Pass, golfers can also play a full week of unlimited golf for $169, which includes greens fee and cart fee. But if you can sneak away during the afternoon, you can golf as low as $49 starting at 2:00 p.m. every day with Peninsula’s super twilight rate.
Locals Play for $39 on Weekends
Peninsula hasn’t forgotten about the locals this summer either. Every Saturday and Sunday locals are welcome to play for only $39. Residents with a valid id from Baldwin, Escambia and Mobile County are invited to spend the weekend at Peninsula.
Summer Specials Recap:
• Super Twilight: Golf as low as $49 starting at 2:00 p.m.
• Play all day at Peninsula for $109
• DoublePlay: Play two rounds of golf within seven days of each other for $129
• Locals play for $39 on Saturdays and Sundays
• Weekly Pass: One week unlimited golf for $169, which includes greens fee and cart fee!
• Juniors17 and under play FREE with regularly priced adult round
• Juniors receive a free lesson with paid adult lesson
• FREE rental clubs for juniors all day
Managed by Honours Golf, a division of Troon, Peninsula rises to the highest of expectations. A tradition at Honours Golf facilities, Peninsula features chilled apples on the 1st tee on each of its 3 nines, and iced-cold towels delivered on sweltering days. Beyond the golf course, guests enjoy the Southern Hospitality at Peninsula where you’ll find friendly, experienced staff always willing to make your visit as enjoyable and complete as possible.
New Menu, New Chef, New Taste of Peninsula
In addition to excellent course conditions, Peninsula also boasts a remarkable dining experience. The Clubhouse restaurant has recently hired new Sous Chef, Connie Patmalnee. Chef Connie has 36 years of experience as a chef, and spent the last 28 years at Shoal Creek Country Club.
While at Shoal Creek, Chef Connie learned the value of cooking from scratch. She’s reviving the Peninsula restaurant by creating her own homemade breads, pastries, pies and biscuits. She’s bringing people into the clubhouse, which is open to the public seven days a week.
“When you work for a golf club, you’re able to know your clientele really well,” said Chef Connie. “You’re able to try things and be creative, while giving your customers what they want. Eventually, I want everything to be from scratch. These little things make everything taste so much better. If you’re going to call yourself a chef, you shouldn’t be opening a box all the time. I think a true chef should know how to do everything.”
With a new chef in town, Peninsula decided it was time for a new menu too. The golf club recently launched a new menu featuring techniques Chef Connie is (literally) bringing to the table. With fresh breads made from scratch, every sandwich has been taken up a notch. Members and guests alike are noticing the difference.
Members since 2009, Joe and Nancy Lapinsky have been coming in to the restaurant more frequently. They’ve even stopped in the kitchen to welcome their new chef. “After happy hour, we enjoyed her specials so much that we went to the kitchen to congratulate her. We welcomed her to Peninsula and told her we enjoyed the food and liked what she was doing,” said Nancy Lapinsky.
They’re not alone. Tom and Sue Davis, members for three years, said they always ask if Chef Connie is in the kitchen when they come in. “The first time we tried Connie’s food, we asked our server if she would bring the Chef to our table,” said Sue Davis. “We personally wanted to thank her and tell her how great it was.”
Some of the new menu items include a local shrimp po-boy with fresh in house bread, a deli style hero sandwich with salami, capocolla, provolone, and ham, a chicken bacon ranch wrap, a fresh grouper sandwich, and a summer berry salad.
Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club is alive and well on the Fort Morgan Peninsula. As summer continues, so do the Peninsula golf specials and exquisite cuisine. It’s an ideal time to be on the course.
For more information about Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club visit online at peninsulagolfclub.com.