The rebirth of golf in Mobile, Alabama

By Tim McDonald

National Golf Editor, Golf Publisher Syndications

updated 5:52 p.m. ET May 9, 2006

MOBILE, Ala. - Most of the media attention given to the post-Hurricane Katrina survivors has centered — and rightly so — on New Orleans and coastal Mississippi.

But, the Gulf of Mexico, where Katrina picked up most of its energy as it pumped itself up to become the most devastating storm in U.S. history, is a wide, wide place, and all that water the storm churned up had to go somewhere.

It went as far as Alabama and the Florida panhandle, causing widespread, although not catastrophic, damage. The historic city of Mobile is not that far from New Orleans and coastal Mississippi, and sits on exposed Mobile Bay. It took a hard right hand from Katrina, as the hurricane pushed storm waters far up into the bay and even into the city itself. (Click here to listen to a free podcast about golf in Mobile, Ala.)

The good news, if it can be called that, is that many of the city's attractions were spared while others were slammed. The better news is that the city is pretty much completely recovered from the storm, and business has returned to normal.

The Mobile Bay ferry between Dauphin island and Gulf Shores has been opened for months. So has the Museum of Mobile, which had been closed for six months after nearly two feet of polluted Mobile River water found its way into the Southern Market/Old City Hall area, depositing mud inside the building.

Battleship Memorial Park has re-opened after having been closed for more than four months, as has Alligator Alley. In fact, all of Mobile's attractions are back up to speed, including nearby Gulf Shores, a short drive or ferry ride away.

Gulf Shores started a beach restoration project after the storm hit, harvesting more than 7.1 million cubic yards (about 470,000 dump truck loads) of white sand from Gulf beaches. The replenishment project was completed in February, and the American Beach and Shore Preservation Association named the areas one of the six top restored beaches in America for 2006.

All this is great news for golfers, who have known for years Mobile has a number of excellent golf courses:

• Lakewood Golf Club: The two courses, the Dogwood and Azalea, sit right across the street and are part of the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort in Point Clear. The hotel has that tucked-away, semi-isolated feel.

It's located along the Eastern Shores, down a long, scenic road away from bigger small towns like Fairhope. It overlooks the bay, and most guests are right above a small marina, with sailboats bobbing in the bay winds.

The place is lucky just to be here. It sustained quite a bit of damage from Katrina, mainly from the surge, and is still rebuilding, though it is obviously open for business, and expects to be 100 percent resorted by the end of this year.

If you like the classic designs of Robert Trent Jones, you'll like both of these courses. Neither is as difficult as, say the two layouts at Magnolia Grove. The two courses both have a nice, open feel and complement each other, the Azalea being more of an inland course and the Dogwood affording a few brief glimpses of Mobile Bay.

Both are festooned with creeks, ponds and spring-fed lakes, and travel through pines, magnolia, dogwood and oaks. Both have natural routing, and sport natural sand areas and bulkhead walls. Watch for No. 14 at Azalea and its 10,000-square-foot island green surrounded by a four-acre lake.

Call (800) 383-4148 for tee times and more information.

• Magnolia Grove: A Robert Trent Jones Trail facility that also has two courses, the Crossings and the Falls. This is one of the better facilities in the Mobile area — maybe the best — and a fine representative of the RTJ Trail. Just don't come out here expecting to shoot a career low.

First of all, both are beautiful layouts, with creeks, marsh and lakes decorating the rolling land. All three courses — there is also a short course — are nicely wooded with hardwood forests and showcase the classic Jones stylings.

With green fees in the $40-$62 range, this is another example of the excellent deals to be had in the Mobile area. Magnolia Grove is a first-class facility, with an excellent clubhouse and practice facilities and service.

You want to test your game sometimes, and this is the place to do it. Besides, if you're accurate off the tee on either course, you can still shoot good numbers and know that you've done it on a tough test.

Call (251) 478-5617 for tee times and more information.

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