Not impressed! After playing here and discussing it with several other golfers who had played there, our consensus was they should have named it "Lost Ball". I though the entire course was in terrible shape. I liked the design, but it was tight and a good shot was sometimes lost in a hazard very close to the fairway. I've played better for 1/2 the price.

Customer Service

Starter was helpful and very friendly. liked his character.

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Reminds me of several courses in the Tampa area

After reading several reviews on here (that were all over 2yrs old), and talking to a few locals, I had just about decided not to play at Lost Key, but their website intrigued me. I decided to go there and check it out. I told the pro about all the bad things I heard and he offered to give me a tour of the course. It is absolutely beautiful. They have a new grass called Paspalum that is really dark green like rye, but plays like a cross between bermuda and zoysia. This course is tough for high handicappers, but I highly recommend!

Customer Service

Everyone at this course was extremely nice from the people in the shop, the starter, and the food and beverage people. Also, they have a new, beautiful facility (clubhouse, dining, condos, etc.).

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Craft Farms Cotton Creek, Kiva Dunes, Penninsula

Natural surrounds. Fairly unpredictable weather, with wind or a shower here and gone quickly. Well designed greens.

Most fairways are extremely tight from the backs, and not very long from the middle tees. Can be penal.

First, the wetlands preserve aspect of the course is controlled by the Audubon rules. Played point A to point B to point C, the course can be a pleasure. Too difficult for beginners, too hazardous for long hitters, but great for those who control distance. Club selection is a must.

Customer Service

Quite good, especially considering the permissions required for any further development and a hard time pleasing any 'resort golfers'.

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The trailer has to go .. in favor of a clubhouse of some sort. I hope permissions are granted for construction for that.

Few redeeming social virtues

Bad design and layout = architorture

Lost Key is the closest I have ever seen to "architorture". I have played another Arnold Palmer course, Fossil Creek in Fort Worth, which I really like a lot. I think the problem here was they carved the course out of protected wetlands. The fairways are like bowling alleys, with impenetrable thickets on either side. If you can get around this track without hitting one OB, you are really hitting it straight. Leave your woods at home and play it with a 2 or 3 iron. Sorry, Arnold, I love you man, but I just didn't have fun. It's just too narrow and intimidating on every long shot. I did shoot 86 with a quintuple bogey 9 on the last hole, so its not total sour grapes. The clubhouse is a lame trailer.

Customer Service

Staff was courteous, probably lonely

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Clubhouse is fairly pitiful

Twilight rate was only 50 dollars...whoopeee.

Too many to mention.

Well....where do I begin? First of all, the course is nothing like what you think it is when you visit the website. This is all the information that I had when I made my tee time. The drive from Gulf Shores isn't that long, but when you get to the course, you have the feeling of being at a municipal golf course. The clubhouse is a trailor and the parking lot is white gravel. The course slope is 139 from the "green" tees and there is a reason for that, because any shot that is mis-hit is going to be in a hazard. The fairways are not "fair". The course is barely playble from the white tees if you have never seen the course. Of course, once you actually see the course, I doubt you will ever go back. If you go and have just quit smoking, you will start back at the turn. There is just not too much positive I can say about this course.

Customer Service

They had a guy on the #1 tee telling you about all the snakes on the course and how you shouldn't look for balls. I think it was all BS so they could go get your brand new balls. I lost at least 15 balls and looked for all of them and never saw a snake.

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Sub par for the price you pay for green fees.