Thinking About a Golf School in Alabama? Here's What 3 Days at Craft Farms Looks Like

By Tyler Hall, Founder & CEO of Top Tier Golf

Key takeaways

Craft Farms Golf Club in Gulf Shores has the only Arnold Palmer designed courses in Alabama: Cotton Creek and Cypress Bend.
Top Tier Golf (TTG) runs 3-day golf schools there with PGA & LPGA instructor Kristi Jenkins, Craft Farms' Director of Instruction.
Every school has a max 4:1 student to instructor ratio.
The 3 days are the start of a year-long program, with 12 months of video coaching and monthly practice plans after you go home.
January through March is a great time to go. Gulf Coast winters are mild, and it's the off season for most northern golfers.

When we started looking for a partner course on the Gulf Coast, I kept coming back to the same place. Craft Farms has two Arnold Palmer courses, a Director of Instruction with more than 20 years of teaching, and it sits a few minutes from some of the prettiest beaches in the country. For a golfer who's tired of winter and tired of lessons that don't stick... that's a pretty good combination.

So here's an honest look at what a golf school in Alabama looks like with us, who you'll be learning from, and whether it makes sense for your game.

Are there good golf schools in Alabama?

Yes, and the Gulf Coast is one of the best spots for one. Alabama has a lot of great golf, but most of what you'll find for instruction is private lessons or junior programs. A true multi-day golf school for adults, with a small group, on-course coaching and follow-up after you leave, is harder to find.

That's where our Craft Farms golf school comes in. It's 3 days of focused coaching in Gulf Shores, with a max of 4 golfers per coach, and a full year of support when you get home.

Why Gulf Shores is a great place for a golf school

The weather works in your favor

If you live up north, your clubs probably sit in the garage from November to March. On the Alabama Gulf Coast, winter highs are typically in the 60s and 70s. That's comfortable golf weather without the heat and humidity of summer.

Winter is the right time to make changes

This one doesn't get talked about enough. In the middle of your season, nobody wants to mess with their swing before the Saturday game. In the winter you've got nothing to lose. Make your changes in January or February, follow your practice plan through the spring, and show up to your home course with a better game.

It's easy to get to

Craft Farms sits on Highway 59, about a mile north of the Intracoastal Waterway bridge, with easy access from I-10 and I-65. Pensacola International (PNS) and Mobile are both roughly an hour's drive.

There's plenty to do after golf

You're a few minutes from the beach, Gulf State Park and some great Gulf Coast seafood. If your spouse or partner is coming along and doesn't golf, they won't be bored.

A quick look at Craft Farms Golf Club

The story of Craft Farms is pretty cool. The Craft family bought farmland just north of the Gulf Shores beaches and grew gladiolus flowers there by the millions. In 1987 they brought in Arnold Palmer to design a golf course and help put Gulf Shores on the map as a golf destination. A second Palmer course followed in 1998.

Today Craft Farms has 36 holes of Arnold Palmer Signature Design golf, and they're the only Palmer courses in Alabama.

Cotton Creek

The original Palmer course. It plays over 7,000 yards from the tips, with rolling, tree-lined fairways and big, undulating greens. It rewards solid ball striking and smart decisions into the greens.

Cypress Bend

Rated 4½ stars by Golf Digest. Water comes into play on nearly every hole, with cord grass framing the lakes. It's a great test of course management, which is exactly what we work on during the last day of the school.

Both courses have dwarf Bermuda greens, staggered tees for every level and plenty of risk/reward decisions. When you're done, the renovated plantation-style clubhouse and Bar & Grill overlook the 18th green on Cotton Creek. Get the onion rings. You'll thank me.

Meet your coach: Kristi Jenkins

Kristi Jenkins is the Director of Instruction at Craft Farms and an LPGA/PGA Class A Teaching Professional with more than 20 years of teaching experience.

What I love about Kristi's story is that she didn't grow up on a golf course. She played softball, basketball and volleyball, and worked as an engineer before she ever picked up a club. Then she got hooked, and about a year after her first round she turned pro.

That matters if you're an adult golfer. Kristi learned the game as an adult too, so she knows what it's like to build a swing that works with your body. And that engineering background shows up in how clearly she explains why the ball is doing what it's doing.

She's learned from some of the most respected names in instruction, including Jim Flick, Mike Malaska, Manuel de la Torre and Hank Haney, plus sports psychologist Jay Brunza. Her coaching covers swing mechanics, golf fitness, mental toughness and course management.

What makes a TTG golf school different?

I started Top Tier Golf because I watched too many golfers spend money on lessons and end up right back where they started. Here's what we do differently.

Small groups. Every school has a max 4:1 student to instructor ratio, so you get all the personal attention you need.

Your body, your swing. We don't push anyone into a cookie cutter swing. A 70-year-old who's lost some flexibility shouldn't be swinging like a 25-year-old tour player, so we don't coach them that way.

A system, not random tips. Every school runs on the TTG Method™: Pinpoint the one or two things costing you the most strokes, Adjust your swing in a way that fits how you move, and Refine it until it holds up on the course.

Prep before you arrive. You get a custom pre-school training routine so your body is ready to make changes on day one.

A full year of coaching. The 3 days are the start, not the whole thing. When you get home you get 12 months of coaching through CoachNow, with unlimited swing video submissions, direct access to a certified TTG coach and a new 30-day practice plan every month.

A concierge. From the day you sign up, someone on our team helps you with travel, logistics and tech questions.

More than 1,000 golfers have been through a TTG school, and many of our teachers have been featured by Golf Digest, Golf Channel and GOLF.

What do the 3 days look like?

Here's the quick version. (The full day by day schedule is on the Craft Farms golf school page.)

Day 1: Full Swing. Swing analysis, the fundamentals and iron play, so you start hitting it more solid and more consistent.
Day 2: The Scoring Zone. Wedges, chipping, pitching and bunker play from every distance, plus competitive games that feel like real golf.
Day 3: Putting and Your Game Plan. Green reading, distance control and stroke consistency in the morning, then an 18-hole round with your coach on the course.

Breakfast and lunch are included each day, and you get range access plus 9 holes after the school day when tee times allow.

Is a golf school worth it if you're over 60?

I get this question a lot, and the answer is yes... maybe more than for anyone.

A lot of our students are retired. Many are losing some distance or struggling to stay consistent as their body changes. That's normal, and it's exactly why "your body, your swing" matters. We don't try to force a swing your body can't make. We coach around your flexibility and how you move, and your pre-school routine helps you move better before you show up.

And you don't need to be a great golfer to come. We coach everyone from newer golfers to low handicappers.

Planning your Gulf Shores golf trip

Address: Craft Farms Golf Club, 3840 Cotton Creek Circle, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
Flying in: Pensacola International (PNS) and Mobile are both roughly an hour's drive.
Your clubs: TTG partners with Ship Sticks, so you can ship your clubs ahead and skip the airport hassle.
Where to stay: Gulf Shores has everything from beach condos to hotels near Craft Farms. Lodging isn't included in the school, but your concierge will help you find a spot.
Bring someone: Couples and golf buddies come together all the time.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find a golf school in Alabama?

Top Tier Golf runs 3-day golf schools at Craft Farms Golf Club in Gulf Shores, Alabama, led by PGA & LPGA instructor Kristi Jenkins.

What is the best time of year for a golf school in Gulf Shores?

January through March is a great window. Winter highs are typically in the 60s and 70s, and it's the off season for most northern golfers, which makes it a good time to make swing changes.

Are the Craft Farms courses designed by Arnold Palmer?

Yes. Cotton Creek (1987) and Cypress Bend (1998) are both Arnold Palmer designs and the only Palmer courses in Alabama.

How is a golf school different from golf lessons?

A golf school gives you several days in a row with the same coach, practice and play together, and a plan afterward. Lessons are usually short sessions spread out over weeks.

Is a golf school good for beginners?

Yes. TTG coaches golfers of every level, from newer golfers to low handicappers, and your plan is built around where your game is right now.

Is a golf school worth it for senior golfers?

For many seniors it's the best way to improve, because the coaching is built around your body and flexibility instead of a one-size-fits-all swing.

How many golfers are in each TTG school?

Every school has a max 4:1 student to instructor ratio.

What happens after the golf school ends?

You get 12 months of coaching through CoachNow, including unlimited swing video submissions, direct access to a certified TTG coach and a new 30-day practice plan every month.

Ready to see what 3 days at Craft Farms can do for your game?

If you're tired of lessons that don't stick and winters that leave your swing rusty, come spend 3 days with Kristi at Craft Farms. You'll get a small group, two great Palmer courses and a full year of coaching to make it last.