“Ambition in Alabama” for Chicago District Golfer

Ambition in Alabama

How a father and son’s dream turned a sleepy beach town into a world-class golf destination

By Dave Finn as published in the April Edition of Chicago District Golfer magazine

Without determination and dedication, dreams don’t come true. It took time, effort and more than a little grit for farmer Robert Craft and his father J.C., to realize their ambitions. Thirty years ago, the pair opened Cotton Creek Golf Club in Gulf Shores, Ala and since then, the town has never looked back.

The Craft family understood that Gulf Shores had forever been recognized as a beloved summer vacation destination.

From Memorial Day until Labor Day, tourists and travellers flocked to their sunny shores. The problem was that come the fall, all the vacationers returned home. Restaurants and shops closed for the season and many condos and resorts stood empty until the following spring.

At first, the townspeople resisted the idea that golf could bring greater prosperity to their area, but when it was announced that Arnold Palmer would be the architect and builder of their future, they quickly embraced a new opportunity.

To read the entire article in Chicago District Golfer click here.

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