Gulf Shores Golf Club, the original golf course in the beachside community of Baldwin County, AL., has new ownership. Tim Dunlap, founder of Regent Golf Partners and the owner of The Carolina Country Club in Spartanburg, S.C., recently concluded a purchase of the golf course, clubhouse and some surrounding real estate from the family of the late Larry Tomlinson, Jr. of Fairhope, AL.
“This is a wonderful place, and Gulf Shores Golf Club offers a tremendous opportunity to serve golfers in this region,” Dunlap said. “Everyone recognizes Gulf Shores as one of the best places to live and one of the friendliest and prettiest vacation destinations in America. Owning and operating what I consider to be the best course in the area is an honor and a responsibility I take seriously. We expect to provide the best golf experience and the best value.”
The first course in Gulf Shores opened in 1964 as Gulf Shores Country Club. It appealed to locals because of its challenging layout, beautiful tree inventory and the fact that the property was self-contained. The holes did not meander through a real estate development. In 2005, the father-son team of Jay and Carter Morrish embarked on a redesign that expanded the green complexes, added bunkers and water features and stretched the par-71 layout an additional 300 yards. Rebranded as Gulf Shores Golf Club, the course has been ranked in the Top 15 in Alabama by golfadvisor.com ever since…