NWO Golf Links August 2016

37 / 42

better than ever with new
greens and Tifeagle turf.
“For the first 20 years, our
most negative comments
were on the bunkers,” said
Mark Stillings. “For the mid
to high handicapper, the
bunkers were too tough with
too many plugged lies. We
weren’t happywith thegreens,
so they were completely
replaced, but we maintained
the original contours.”
An unexpected benefit of the
renovation was an improvement
in the speed of play by 20-30
minutes per round.
Water comes into play on
seven of the holes at Kiva
Dunes. The fairways have
generous landing space, plus
the greens are a firm, fast, and
true. Four tee box choices
give every golfer a fair test to
pursue a good score and the
proximity of the driving range
and practice putting green
allows golfers the time to fine
tune their swing until they are
beckoned by the starter. The
breeze off the nearby Gulf
provides a cooling effect from
the ever-present southern
Alabama sunshine.
When Kiva Dunes opened
for play in 1995, Golf Digest
honored the course by
ranking it one of the top two
public golf courses. Now that
the course has experienced a
facelift, it will be interesting
to note how the golf media
view the new Kiva Dunes.
Personally, I nominate Kiva
Dunes
or 1-888-TEE-KIVA) for “Best
Course To Play on Your Next
Trip To Alabama.”
If you have time to watch
some college football and
enjoy the shrimp & grits, all
the better.
NWO Golf Links