Kiva is fantastic. There is no other course like it in the Southeast due to the property it sits on. This is as close as one gets in the SE United States to a seaside links course. I've played 30+ rounds at Kiva in all weather conditions, from dead calm to gales. I would have to say it is my favorite golf course because of the natural beauty of the land, the firm course conditions, challenge, conditioning, and shot variety offered.

The course is a tremendous challenge when the wind gets up. The beauty of the design is apparent when the prevailing Southwesterly wind hits 30 knots because you quickly notice that the greens played into the wind are open in the front and allow run-up shots. The turf is very firm and lets the player be creative with shots around the green. I've putted from 20 yards off the green before, played bump and runs from 50 yards, etc. You just don't have to pull the lob wedge and flop it every time.

Conditioning: I have played mostly in June/July and the course is always in top shape. I think the reviews describing bad course conditions are in April/May when the course is transitioning out of rye grass to bermuda (they overseed wall to wall I believe). Kiva, it is worth noting, is the only course I play that lowers greens fees during the week of aeration/topdressing.

To enjoy your round at Kiva I suggest the following:

1. Leave the driver in the bag unless you hit it very straight. I believe Kiva is a first shot golf course and many of the tee shots are intimidating visually. Play your tee ball with whatever club you can keep in play.

2. The greens are very large, so just hitting the green isn't all that challenging and can leave you with putts much longer than you have at your home course. Bring a rangefinder and pay attention to the pin sheets and try to get the ball closer to the hole location rather than just "on the green".

Tees: White tees are for anyone who can't consistantly break 80-85. The line of play from the whites is much easier and avoids many of the forced carries. The blue tee is what I enjoy playing and offers plenty of challenge for single digit handicaps. I've never played the gold and don't want to - one is supposed to have fun playing vacation golf !!!

Kiva Dunes is not for the faint-hearted. I have played Kiva every year since is opened in 1994 and always look forward to returning. When the wind blows it is a tremendously challenging, but fair, test. The longer par fours, especially those facing west into the prevaling wind, are open in front so you can bounce the ball in. The par threes are terrific. The greens surrounds offer multiple shot options - I have putted from 20 yards off the green before - due to the firm turf conditions. Typically the greens are fast and firm.

Kiva is best played very conservatively. I play there usually with my father while on family vacation and frequently get paired with golfers playing their first round at Kiva. They typically grab the driver too many times instead of playing a tee shot that avoids trouble. Unless I am really driving the ball well or playing into a strond headwind I generally go with something less than a driver on most tee shots. Many of the par fours from the blue tees don't require a driver anyway - in fact the further you hit the tee ball the more accurate it needs to be due to the fairway narrowing and lateral hazards.

Advice - If you can't consistantly break 85 at your home course play the white tee. The blue tee is enjoyable for players that shoot in the 70s, and the golds are for scratch players and club pros looking to torture themselves.

I have read reviews here and elsewhere describing "terrible" conditinos at Kiva, but I have never experienced that. Perhaps when the course is in transition from rye grass to burmuda (May) it is scruffy and that is what some are seeing. This is the only course I have ever played that reduces green fees when they aerate and top dress the greens.

This was the last course that we played as part of a golf package because of the high ratings it got. We had to wait about 15-20 minutes on the first tee box because it was backed up so bad. For such a pricey golf club the tee times are too close together. Don't bother complaining to the staff. This course was shorter than I thought it would be and several landing areas are difficult to see from the tee box. several holes are side-by-side so be aware of the "fore"! It was in decent shape and well taken care of especially to be so heavily travelled. If I had not got such a good deal through the package I would have been really irritated. I will not return.

Customer Service

There is no other way to say this, the staff was snotty and rude. The only people that seemed they were glad to have us were the cart girl and the starter.

Similar Products Used:

The courses at Craft Farms and Peninsula are far better.

Played this course last October after hearing and reading about all it's great ratings, etc. The course was in really good shape and the piece of property was pretty, but I did not like the golf course. I played from the back tees as I often do the first time on a course to "see it all." There were several holes that had blind tee shots over a hedge keeping you from seeing the landing areas (and hazards in those areas). On one par three I could not see the right side of the green (where the flag was) from the tee because the tee was behind some hedge, forcing you to slice around it. Pretty place, good condition, not the layout I expected...disappointing.

Customer Service

Eaten alive by mosquitos on the course and they mentioned nothing about bug spray or bugs in the pro shop.

Similar Products Used:

Peninsula...better.

Played this course last October after hearing and reading about all it's great ratings, etc. The course was in really good shape and the piece of property was pretty, but I did not like the golf course. I played from the back tees as I often do the first time on a course to "see it all." There were several holes that had blind tee shots over a hedge keeping you from seeing the landing areas (and hazards in those areas). On one par three I could not see the right side of the green (where the flag was) from the tee because the tee was behind some hedge, forcing you to slice around it. Pretty place, good condition, not the layout I expected...disappointing.

Customer Service

We also got eaten alive by mosquitos, even through our shirts, and no one in the proshop mentioned the need for bug spray.

Similar Products Used:

Peninsula...better.

Plenty of sand, water, tight fairways and very,very fast greens.

None, enjoyed everything from the golf to the staff. All were a class act.

Without a doubt, this is the best course that I have ever played. It was in immaculate shape and very tough. I played awful, but still enjoyed the challenge and scenary.

Customer Service

Excellent!

Similar Products Used:

If you are in Gulf Shores near Fort Morgan, you must play this course.

Good design.

This course was in terrible shape when I played. They had lost the fairways and they just sanded them also. For a course that is supposed to be 58th in the country I am very disappointed. The design is very good and it is also very difficult. Do not expect to put a very good number up the first time playing the course because it has hazards everywhere and you can not tell where the fairways are on some holes. It is not a fair course to play the first time, but the next time should be a marked improvement. The wind is also makes the course play substantially longer. The day we played it was steadily blowing 30mph. This contributed to making it even more difficult.