Turn That Tennis Tournament into a Vacation Experience

In just a little more than a week (April 18 – 21), the 2013 Alabama Tennis Invitational, delivered by Spectrum Resorts, will descend upon Gulf Shores & Orange Beach. Whether you are playing or watching, this USTA tennis event is sure to be an exciting event.

It’s easy to see why Gulf Shores & Orange Beach is an ideal location for such a tennis event. There’s the George C. Meyer Tennis Center in Gulf Shores, with 12 hard-surface courts and 6 clay courts, and the Tennis Center in Orange Beach, which has 8 hard courts. And then there are the tennis courts at places like The Beach Club, Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club, and the Gulf Coast Tennis Center—which is where this latest tennis tournament will be played.

That’s just half the reason for holding a tennis—or any other sport—tournament here. Other reasons include the white-sand beaches, the variety of Gulf Coast activities, and just the fact that it’s a great vacation location—sports or no sports!

And with that in mind, we’d like to recognize a few of our Bronze sponsors who contribute to the vacation-friendliness of the area: Courtyard by Marriott in Gulf Shores and Island House Hotel, which are both excellent places to stay while visiting the area, and Honours Golf, which helps provide excellent golf experiences at places like Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club (perhaps a round of golf after the tennis tournament?).

Thanks to all three sponsors for their support!

Fall is the Perfect Time for Golf and Other Sports on the Gulf

Just because the weather has turned colder does not mean sports are out of the question—particularly if you venture down to Gulf Shores & Orange Beach. The action is still going strong thanks to three upcoming sports events scheduled for December: the Tourbeau College Soccer Showcase (December 3rd-7th), the USSSA Fall All State Baseball Tournament (December 8th and 9th), and the Gulf Shores Christmas Basketball Tournament (December 20th-22nd).

And there’s one other sport that warrants a trip to the Gulf: golf. While other areas of the country are growing too cold for an enjoyable round of golf, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach is experiencing mild, comfortable temperatures that are perfect for golf. In addition to ideal weather, the area offers a range of scenic golf courses designed by golf legends like Arnold Palmer and Earl Stone.

If a few rounds of Gulf Coast golf sounds appealing, you might try visiting the Honours Golf website, a sponsor of the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission. This organization operates four award-winning golf courses in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach: Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend at Craft Farms, Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club, and Rock Creek Golf Club. The website offers information on these championship golf courses as well as the chance to buy golf packages at any or all of the courses.

Check it out and start planning today!

Comfortable Weather and Apples Make an Excellent Golf Experience

As we come into fall in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, we come into an ideal time for one of the area’s most popular sports: golf. Imagine playing a round of golf in comfortable fall temperatures, feeling relaxed as you make your last putt on the 18th, then enjoying refreshingly chilled apple to finish out your day.

The apple is just a little perk offered at certain courses, thanks to Honours Golf, a sponsor of the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission.

A managing company of golf courses and clubs across Alabama and into northwest Florida, Honours Golf handles details such as course development and construction, marketing, turf care, and food and beverage services, among others. In the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach area, the company manages Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club, Craft Farms, and Rock Creek Golf Club—all members of the Gulf Shores Golf Association.

The company’s services benefit both the golf course and golfers, helping clubs maximize their course’s potential and providing enjoyable golf experiences for members and guests. And if you visit their website you’ll find some great golf deals, such as their double play and triple play fall rates and winter golf packages—a nice jump for those who are already planning ahead!