Gulf State Park at Refuge Golf Club at Gulf State Park

Gulf State Park, operating as Refuge Golf Club at Gulf State Park, occupies a distinctive coastal setting in Gulf Shores along Alabama's Gulf Coast. Designed by Earl Stone and opened in the early 1970s, the course was carved from the natural landscape of Gulf State Park, a large public recreation area that encompasses beaches, wetlands, and pine forests. The layout reflects the environmental constraints and opportunities of its protected parkland setting, where development was shaped by the need to preserve native habitats while creating playable golf terrain.

The routing moves through varied coastal topography, with holes threading between stands of longleaf pine and live oak draped with Spanish moss. Water features prominently in the design, as several holes play alongside or across lakes and marshes that are home to alligators and wading birds. The relatively flat terrain typical of the Gulf Coast is punctuated by strategic bunkering and the natural hazards of wetland areas, requiring accuracy over raw distance. The course serves both resort visitors to the Gulf Shores area and local golfers, functioning as an accessible public facility within the state park system.

The club underwent significant renovation and rebuilding in recent years as part of broader improvements to Gulf State Park following hurricane damage. The updated facility maintains its role as a nature-integrated golf experience, where the coastal ecosystem remains as much a feature as the golf holes themselves.