The Woodlands, Popular Gulf Shores Course, Closes for Good

Sunday, October 23, 2005

Most golfers in Alabama who have traveled to play in Gulf Shores know The Woodlands at Craft Farms. On Thursday, this course closed for good after 11 years.

Owner Robert Craft sold the course to Colonial Properties Trust, which plans a multi-use development on the 188-acre property. Viewed from Highway 59, also known as Gulf Shores Parkway, a white picket fence fronted part of the course and it will seem strange to drive into Gulf Shores and not see this landmark.

Craft Farms still includes Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend golf courses, both Arnold Palmer designs. Most staff from The Woodlands will move across Highway 59 to these two facilities, including teaching professional John Baas, who will now operate his golf academy there.

"It's a bittersweet time," Craft said. "This has been a special place with a lot of good times and great memories."

He explained his original purchase in 1994.

"When The Woodlands began, I was afraid of it. ... It was competition. The Japanese ownership group had some hiccups and I was able to justify in my mind buying it from them because it would be one less competitor. Back then there weren't enough golfers visiting to substantiate another course, but it was on a beautiful piece of property, with frontage on 59."

Craft said Colonial came to him informally initially and talks progressed. The deal was finalized Sept. 15. He said Colonial will develop both commercially and residentially on the property, with the existing clubhouse to remain, and become a community center for the development. But no golf holes will remain, as this was one of Craft's stipulations.

There are still many other golf options in Gulf Shores including the two other Craft Farms courses, Kiva Dunes, Peninsula, Glenlakes and Gulf Shores Golf Club, and further inland TimberCreek, Rock Creek and Soldiers Creek. But The Woodlands was enjoyed by many golfers because of its playability and price. Also, Lost Key in nearby Perdido Key is still closed until next spring after a redesign necessitated by Hurricane Ivan, so the golfing options have shrunk just a little.

Gulf Shores remains a popular destination for golfers from across the country, however, as attested by the success of the Gulf Shores Golf Association, a marketing cooperative of area courses and lodging now in its 11th year.