Hills at the Gulf? Rock Creek Golf Club near Mobile, Alabama

I really didn’t expect to find any elevation when I came to Mobile, Alabama. Having not played much golf in Alabama, I figured southern Alabama, down by the Gulf, was flat as the beach. At least it’s been that way the hundreds of times I’ve driven through.

So hills are a nice surprise at the Rock Creek Golf Club. The course is located at Alabama’s Eastern Shores, in Fairhope, just across the wide, Mobile Bay from downtown Mobile. It’s a short drive, but the terrain changes dramatically, from low wetlands to some very atypical hills and impressive elevation changes.

“For the Eastern Shores, this is a course you aren’t likely to see,” said head pro Jeremy Little. “This is more like a course you’re going to see in the mountains. It reminds me of a North Carolina course. There really aren’t many like it in this area.”

You do feel like you might as well be in the Carolinas the first few holes, before it flattens out a bit as you reach the middle stretch of the front nine. There are some interesting holes, but never anything too overwhelming. Aside from the elevation, Rock Creek smiles at you and says, “go low.”

It’s 7,000 yards from the back tees and designed by Earl Stone, an old-school designer who likes to keep the mid to high handicapper in mind. The green complexes are varied and worthwhile, with different shapes, two-tiered putting surfaces and quite a bit of slope, though not much undulation.

Rock Creek is run by Honours Golf, which means the service will always be good. Look for the full review coming soon.