The
Fort Morgan Peninsula stretches 21 miles along the Gulf of Mexico from Gulf
Shores to Fort Morgan at the mouth of Mobile Bay. The area is home to pristine
beaches on one side and to a vast, calm bay on the other, never more than a
couple of miles apart. Kiva Dunes is a spectacular
golf resort about half way out. This is the kind of property golf course
architects would kill for. Rolling sand dunes, native brush and seaside
wildlife combine to give this course a true links feel reminiscent of Melbourne,
Australia or The Hamptons on Long Island.
Kiva
Dunes is the creation of Jim “Scrappy” Edgemon, a
well known amateur golfer in Alabama. He hired former US Open Champion Jerry
Pate to carve out this masterpiece. The two met in a memorable way as the young
Pate waived Edgemon up on a par-three hole while in
college. To Pate’s amazement, Edgemon made a
hole-in-one on the hole and they have been great friends since.
The Kiva course starts from the
Resort and winds its way out from east to west. Kiva
Dunes has so many good holes it is hard to choose one to write about. There are
two great and unusual par-threes on the back nine.
Number 13 is a short par-three of no more than 160 yards. However, this hole
will give you all the excitement you will need. It usually plays slightly
downwind right to left. The green is a true “Rodan”
style green which pitches severely right to left and falls off to a hazard 20
yards or so down an embankment. The more you look at this one the more you
realize how accurate the approach must be. Number 17 plays about 210 yards from
way back. The tee shot must clear a canal which crosses diagonally in front and
runs up the left side of the hole. A slight draw is the preferred shot. Kiva Dunes is perennially ranked at the top of golf course
rankings. Number 1 in Alabama and Top 100 of both Golf Digest
and Golfweek. The course was in fantastic
shape and the greens were the best that I found in all of Southern Alabama. It
can be a tough course from the tips, especially with the wind up, but moving up
a bit will make it fair for all players. This is a real golfers’ paradise with
a large practice area that features multiple putting greens, chipping areas and
a large range.
The Resort at Kiva Dunes is an
elegant high-rise perched right behind the 18th green. You can tell that a
serious golfer put this together. The pro shop and restaurant occupy the first
floor and are decorated with memorable photographs of famous golfers who have played
here. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and looks out over the
18th green. The rooms are condominium style and very large. They offer sweeping
views of the golf course, the Gulf of Mexico and Mobile Bay. We had a corner
room with a large balcony. It was a great spot for breakfast in the morning or
cocktails in the evening watching golfers on the finishing hole. For a
diversion from golf, guests can use the private beach and pool area normally
reserved for Kiva Dunes property owners. The sand is
very white and stretches endlessly in either direction. Hours can be peacefully
passed collecting the abundant sea shells. Little ones will find the crabs fun
and amusing. In all my travels, I have never visited a golf and beach resort
set up so conveniently. The Gulf of Mexico offers great fishing opportunities,
and boat charters are available nearby. For more information, visit www. kivadunes. com
and make sure to watch the video.
Fort Morgan is about 7 miles west of Kiva
Dunes and at the end of the peninsula. This is where the Battle of Mobile Bay
was faught during the Civil War in August, 1864. The
Union Navy’s Rear Admiral David Farragut decided to charge into the bay
ignoring the mines, which, fortunately for him, had not been maintained properly.
The Fort has been well preserved, and it gives us a look at what things might
have been like a long time ago. Gulf Shores offers an abundance of restaurants
and shopping as well as other golf venues. The Peninsula Golf Club is just a
few miles down the road from Kiva Dunes and worth a
visit. A little farther and closer to shopping is Craft Farms with 36 holes.
The Mobile Airport is less than an hour away, with Pensacola Airport about the
same. Gulf Shores Airport also offers selective service.