Is the Dauphin Island Golf Course Open?
Also see our article on things to see and do on Dauphin Island
The Dauphin Island golf course was originally part of the Isle Dauphine Club. Constructed in 1957 as an effort by local boosters to make the island a “Modern Vacation Mecca,” similar to resorts then going up in Florida and California, the club’s modernist style embodied the optimism and prosperity of post–World War II America. The complex included an extensive sand beach on the Gulf, a swimming pool, large clubhouse and restaurant, and the golf course and pro shop.
But for a variety of reasons the 18 hole golf course had been closed for several years and had fallen into disrepair.
Now owned by the Dauphin Island Property Owners Association, it was reopened with the help of a group of retired volunteers who have been maintaining the course. The group hopes to restore the irrigation system and re-build the greens.
My wife Jo and I played the course in late March of 2022.
It was a beautiful sunny day with gentle breezes off the Gulf of Mexico. The course is fairly level with modest terrain changes so we opted to walk the course.
Golf Course Condition
Overall the course is a pretty setting with several holes along the ocean and mature pine trees bordering several fairways. (See overhead drone shot below)
The tee boxes were a bit rustic, still in the construction stages. But the sandy soil allowed easy placement of your tee. The fairways were in OK condition. Where ever the grass was thin wasn’t an issue because the underlying soil is sand. Some of the fairways are quite open while others are lined with Pine trees. The rough adjacent to the fairways was playable. Water comes into play on several of the holes of the front 9, adding variety and interest, as well as a ready source for irrigation of fresh water. It is evident the course has “good bones” and was once considered a top course along the Alabama Gulf Coast.
Upon reaching the first green, we discovered the #1 needed course upgrade. The greens are sand mounds with patches of green ground cover. Forget about trying to spin the ball on the green and putting is quite a challenge. On some of the sand greens, the ball ran fairly true, but on others a clump of grass or chunk of soil would defer your ball from its intended course. So if you are keeping score, you need to create a modified scoring system to account for the nature of the “greens.” Most of the time, we just chipped up towards the flagstick but didn’t waste our time trying to hole the putt.
2023 Dauphin Island Golf Course Update
I’ve just learned that under the direction of the new course manager, Dale Snellman, that there have been great strides in the repair & restoration of the greens (see pictures below). They are now “puttable” and more improvements are planned. We look forward to a return visit.
Overall Golfing Experience
While we missed being able to putt, we had an enjoyable round of golf. Blessed to be outside, enjoying the fresh air, sunshine, scenic views of the Gulf, and getting some great exercise walking the course and swinging the clubs. We had no problem driving the ball off the tee, nor playing from the fairways or bunkers. Except for getting little exercise of the putter, it was a satisfactory golfing experience. The green fee was $10, a fair price.
The Isle Dauphine Golf Course has great potential. Having a group of volunteers working on course maintenance is a good start. But it will take some larger sums of money, as well as volunteer labor, to restore those greens (Article Update: Greens have been restored). And long term, restoring the irrigation system may be another big call for construction funds.
The Isle Dauphine Golf Course is open 6 days a week from 8am to dusk; closed on Tuesdays.
Contact Information:
- email ldsnellman1@yahoo.com
- phone 251-533-0398
BTW If you are staying on the island and want some putting exercise, there is a cute 18 hole mini-golf course on the North shore of the island.
Restaurants, Lodging, and Dauphin Island Attractions
Fun things to see and do on Dauphin Island
A friendly island community with beaches and attractions, with no huge resort hotels
Dauphin Island Campground
A great location, near the East Beach, other attractions, and on the bike trail
More on Gulf Coast Scenic Travel
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Scenery and attractions from Bay St. Louis to Ocean Springs
Campgrounds along the Alabama Gulf Coast Drive
Beaches and Attractions from Dauphin Island to Perdido Beach
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Scenic Drives, Things of Interest and RVing from Pensacola to Cedar Keys
Gulf Coast Golfing Reviews – coming soon