815 Plantation Road, Gulf Shores, Alabama 36542, US
(251) 540-7000
Location Map

About Kiva Dunes

Kiva Dunes Resort is set within a conservation area on the Fort Morgan peninsula minutes from the sugar-white beaches of Gulf Shores. Its vacation rentals range from full homes to fully furnished condos, each allowing guests access to the resort's four pools, two restaurants and private beach. The Kiva Beach Club is home to a salt-water pool and full restaurant service. Massage and yoga services are available. Kiva Dunes, a Jerry Pate design, is considered by many Alabama's No. 1 public course.

Facts

Price Range$$$
Property Class★★★★
Year Opened1995
Number of Units100-300

Amenities & Services

RestaurantsBar, Casual
Room TypesFractional Ownership
TennisYes
Fitness CenterYes
Practice FacilityYes
Beach AccessYes
Banquet SpaceYes

Rules

Is the resort pet friendly?No
Is resort stay required for a tee time?No

Golf courses at Kiva Dunes

Golfer Photos

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
739 Reviews (739)
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 4.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 5.0
Reviews 5
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Great Course

Great course and really fun layout. Greens were in amazing shape and staff was great!

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 4.0
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
3.0
3.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 3.0
Value 3.0
Layout 3.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 4.0
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 4.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 5.0
Reviews 51
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 4.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Difficulty 4.0
Reviews 21
Recommended
Played

The Course

Overall, great golf course. Not in full bloom at this time of year. Prices are a little too much for the conditions. Experienced heavier winds than previous round, but that what happens this time of the year.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 4.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Reviews 51
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 4.0
Pace 3.0
Amenities 5.0
Difficulty 4.0
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Windy Day

Beautiful course rained hard the day before and dried out with 90 degrees. It was a windy day.

First Time Playing
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 4.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 4.0
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Great conditions

Course is in great shape, fairways and tees are green and we’ll taken care of. Greens also in great shape, but I would say not the greatest for receiving a shot. I had a number of approach shots run through the green. Bunkers are excellent too, and lots of them!

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 4.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 3.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 3.0
Reviews 7
Handicap 25+
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 5.0
Difficulty 4.0
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Fantastic!!!

Second time playing this course and I would highly recommend it for anyone who happens to be in the area staff was super friendly layout is awesome and conditions were the best out of all the courses we played in the area will definitely be going back again

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 3.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 4.0
Amenities 5.0
Reviews 18
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Fair and challenging course

Played the course after 2 nights of rain, it was dry and the greens were perfect.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
Reviews 11
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Nice course

Nice course, greens are great and roll very nice, will play again when in the area.

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 4.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 4.0
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Windy, dry but fun

Great greens and wonderful bunkers. Super windy and dry conditions made for a unique round. Busy course but we still finished in well under 4 hours. Course is meant for advanced players.

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 3.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 3.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 3.0
T O P 250
Reviews 114
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
Recommended
Played

Best Condition in Area

In a week staying at the the resort I was able to play the course at Kiva Dunes twice. It was a cold and sometimes rainy week, but things turned out great for me and my group. In both rounds we had the course to ourselves. No pace of play issues as we were able to make our way around the grounds unhindered by other golfers.

Kiva Dunes Resort is an amazing facility with lots of great lodging options, fantastic dining (though limited in winter) and a very friendly staff.

The golf course is a fun stretch of mostly back and forth links style holes. There are plenty of lakes and swamps to avoid during the round. Fairways are quite wide and generous. Driver is a good option on most holes that are not a par 3.

Look out for a few directional posts in the fairway to guide blind tee shots. While the course is pretty flat, players have a few decisions to make off the tee. Especially on the great par 4 ninth and possibly driveable short 10th. The closing stretch gives a nice test leading back to the iconic clubhouse building.

Starting with the par 5 15th with a tough elevated green, hole 17 is a difficult par 3 with water all the way up the left, and the closing hole demands a good tee shot while avoiding water down the right side.

While the course lacks a variety of hole shapes, the green complexes are anything but boring. Many of the greens are elevated, large, and most have multiple levels to put hole locations. Shots left in the wrong spot are a three put waiting to happen.

Conditions at Kiva were very good, definitely the greenest we saw in south Alabama that week. Fairways and tee boxes were well manicured. The greens were very firm and rolled quite fast. There are some changes in grain making them difficult to read in some spots. Tricky, but quite fun to putt on!

Overall this is a very fun golf course. There is plenty out there for both novice and scratch golfers to enjoy. The course is not punishing off the tee and there are plenty of opportunities to score. All in a beautiful setting near the gulf. A must play when in South Alabama!

Top 250 Contributor
First Time Playing
Wet weather
Used cart
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 3.0
Layout 3.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 4.0
Difficulty 3.0
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 4.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 4.0
Reviews 4
Recommended
Played
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 4.0
Layout 4.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 4.0
Reviews 10
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Slow

Other then the slow play, everything else was great. Nice course, plays long, quick greens.

Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
4.0
4.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 4.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 2.0
Reviews 53
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
Recommended
Played

Top Notch

Hurricanes and staff have made this tract much more playable by removing wilderness trees. New greens are awesome as well. They are also the only course I have found with green dyed fairways. That is a welcome sight in winter.

Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
5.0
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conditions 5.0
Value 5.0
Layout 5.0
Friendliness 5.0
Pace 5.0
Amenities 5.0
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