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Aloha Hospitality

Sweet Home Alabama: Where Golfers Won't Be Blue

Updated: Oct 16

Written by Phyllis Barone | Visit Mobile


The Crossings at Magnolia Grove, a Robert Trent Jones course


Life is good when golf is in it. 

I joined a Spring Tour that included Gulf Shores and Mobile, with the first stop being, the Short Course at the RTJ Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove in Mobile. Although a torrential rain prevented us from playing all 18, it was easy to visualize why this may be one of the best par 3 's in the country. Recently renovated, with newly designed greens and all-new putting surfaces, this par 54 with a length of 3140 yards, is as good as any collection of oneshotters on a championship course.


Lodging for two nights was at The Renaissance Battle House Hotel and Spa. One of the premier locations on the RTJ Hotel Collection, this historic landmark boasts luxury suites in downtown Mobile with historic and modern amenities. The hotel features a spa, fitness center a rooftop pool and several dining options.


If you are lucky, you will meet Mr. George, a 96 year old historian. He will enthusiastically escort you around the Battle House telling an encyclopedia of stories. Mr. George took us up to The Whispering Arch on the second floor where you face the wall at the end of the arch and whisper. Think before you speak as a friend at the opposite end of that arch is able to hear you clearly.


Dinner that evening was at Dauphin's, one of the best restaurant views in America. On the 34th floor of the RSA Trustmark Building in downtown Mobile, Alabama, you will experience panoramic views of the bustling port city and the highest water dining on the Gulf of Mexico from the Rio Grande to Key West. When I asked members of Alabama Tourism what to order, they all suggested Cobia, a relatively new kid on the block because most people, like myself have never heard of it. It's got a naturally mild buttery taste that's unlike any other fish with a flaky texture that stays moist. When Cobia was on themenu, that became my go to entree for the rest of the trip! Bread pudding, a culinary Alabama delight wasn't easy to refuse either.


Our next 18 was on The Crossing course at Magnolia Grove which has hosted both the LPGA Tour and The Korn Ferry Tour Championship. Several water features and crushed oyster shell waste areas were added to provide an exciting new look along with it's parkland-type ambiance. All holes feature the acclaimed Mini Verde Ultradwarf greens - a type of turfgrass or bermuda grass used for putting greens in warm seasons and transitional locations.


Following a delightful lunch at the course, we ventured to tour Mobile's delta, known as America's Amazon, via airboat to check out alligators and other wildlife. Our crew named our boat Captain "Crocodile Hunter" as he was quite knowledgeable about the delta and where to possibly site a gator. As we whisked through the edge of the wetlands at higher speeds, I leaned heavily into my colleague on my left, clinching onto their arm, fearing that one of those creatures would suddenly hop on to join usl Hunter also provided a set of headphones to deafen the noise of the engine. Worth the adventure, if you can handle the elevated heart rate throughout the ride!


Our group of golf journalists enjoyed a tour of the Delta with Airport Express and Visit Mobile


Felix's Fish Camp was on the agenda for dinner that evening. Live music and a premier choice for fresh Gulf seafood, and fried green tomatoes, the breath-taking views on the Mobile Causeway add a toast of the town experience. Cobia was on the menu so I looked no further. Our server suggested to try a Bushwacker Cocktail - a yummy dessert alternative that was shared by all.


The evening was still young so our hosts from Visit Mobile suggested we visit the unique Las Floriditas for after-dinner cocktails, located across the street from out hotel. This prohibition era speakeasy was designed in tribute to the birthplace of the daiquiri- El Floridita in Havana, Cub, one of Hemingway's favorite bars he frequented for his cocktail of choice.

To build intrigue, the entrance is located behind a secret library wall where you are greeted by a doorman. A password, which changes daily is posted to followers on Facebook, lnstagram or Twitter at 12 pm on Thursday. Once inside the concealed bar, you will also find a bank vault which opens up to a dining area reserved for private groups.


Our 7:20 departure to make an 8:30 tee time came around too quickly. The Dogwood Course at The Lakewood Club situated at The Grand Hotel in Point Clear was on the docket. Host to the 59th Senior Women's Amateur Championship in 2020, the course winds in and around marshes and features a spectacular collection of demanding holes. After we found the beverage cart, all play improved!


Lunch was hosted by The Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa followed by a tour of the property set on 5 50 acres of stunning natural beauty on Mobile Bay. An enchanting destination filled with gracious Southern charm for over 17 5 years, this is another exceptional RTJ Golf Trail Resort Hotel.


Read the article in its entirety, as it appears in NYGolf Magazine's Fall 2024 Destinations

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