Golf in Gulf Shores in April: Peak Weather, Peak Prices and the Weekends to Avoid
Golf in Gulf Shores in April: 75°F highs, under 7 rain days, peak green fees and the late-April event weekends to avoid. Rates and dates seen October 2026.
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Golf in Gulf Shores in April brings the most comfortable weather of spring, with highs near 75°F, lows near 57°F and rain on fewer than seven days. It's also peak season: green fees and weekend demand are at their highest, spring break runs all month, and late April has two big event weekends. Book early and play midweek.
Here's what April costs, which dates to dodge, and how to get the tee times you want.
Quick facts
- Weather: normal high 75°F, low 57°F, 4.98 inches of rain on about 6.6 days (NOAA 1991-2020, Pensacola NAS).
- Wind: about 7.6 mph average, second only to March.
- Gulf water: about 72°F (Pensacola Bay gauge average).
- Daylight: sunset about 7:09 PM on Apr 1 and 7:27 PM on Apr 30 (calculated).
- Season: peak; local tourism says the best spring tee times "can be hard to come by."
- Busy dates: spring break all month; Baldwin County school break Apr 12-16, 2027 (unconfirmed); Mullet Toss Apr 23-25, 2027 (listed, unconfirmed).
What is the weather like for golf in Gulf Shores in April?
There's no long-term weather station in Gulf Shores itself, so these are NOAA 1991-2020 normals from Pensacola NAS, on the coast about 24 miles east, and from Fairhope on the Eastern Shore. Wind is from Jack Edwards National Airport in Gulf Shores (2016-2025).
| March | April | May | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coast high / low | 69 / 50°F | 75 / 57°F | 82 / 65°F |
| Fairhope high / low | 72 / 46°F | 78 / 52°F | 85 / 60°F |
| Coast rain / rain days | 3.85 in / 7.7 | 4.98 in / 6.6 | 3.21 in / 6.7 |
| Average wind | 7.8 mph | 7.6 mph | 7.0 mph |
| Gulf water | 67°F | 72°F | 79°F |
April ties November for the fewest rain days of the year, about 6.6, though its total rainfall (about 5 inches) is higher than March or May. The temperature is close to ideal from first tee to last, and on the Eastern Shore the mornings are cooler, about 52°F.
The breeze is still up. At Kiva Dunes, Golf Digest notes the holes run east-west, so the Gulf wind crosses nearly every fairway and is the course's main defense. Play a tee forward on breezy days. Compare the whole year in Gulf Shores golf weather by month.
April daylight
Calculated for central Gulf Shores, Central Time:
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1 | 6:40 AM | 7:09 PM | 12h 28m |
| Apr 15 | 6:24 AM | 7:17 PM | 12h 53m |
| Apr 30 | 6:08 AM | 7:27 PM | 13h 18m |
That's enough light for 36 holes on most days: a 7:30 AM start and a 1 PM second round both finish before sunset. See 36 holes a day in Gulf Shores for course pairings.
How much does golf in Gulf Shores in April cost?
April is peak pricing, and many April 2027 rates weren't visible yet in October 2026, because tee sheets open 7 to 120 days out. This is what was published. Rates change.
| Course | April rate seen | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lakewood Club, Point Clear | $249 rack (Mar 1-Nov 30, 2027); RTJ 2+ day special $215/day | Unlimited day $345 (Mon/Tue/Thu) |
| Magnolia Grove, Mobile | RTJ 2+ day special from $115/day | Unlimited from $155/day |
| Perdido Bay | $85 morning, $65 1-3 PM, $50 after 3 PM | 2026 card; $50 twilight from 3 PM to May 4; tax included |
| Lost Key | Rack $95 before 1 PM, $75 after | No separate spring rate posted |
| Soldiers Creek | $65 before 1 PM, $49 after | Official card, undated |
| Kiva Dunes | Not yet bookable; mid-Feb 2027 was $154.21 | Tiers rise from mid-February |
| Gulf Shores Golf Club | Not yet posted; fall 2026 was $139 morning | 46-day window |
| GlenLakes | 2026 card $86 + tax before 1:52 PM, $66 from 2 PM | Online pricing is dynamic |
| Orange Beach Golf Center | $20 for 9, $30 for 18 with cart | Flat all year |
Two winter deals end just before April: Peninsula's dynamic winter rates (from $89) and the Craft Farms Extended Six-Pack both expire March 31, 2027. Neither club had published April rates.
On the RTJ Trail, April falls in the spring season (March 8 to May 31, 2027), so the two-day special is the same $215 a day at Lakewood as in fall. The Lakewood rack rate of $249 is the highest of the year, so for two rounds there, the package is the better buy. At Lakewood, Dogwood is the harder 18 (slope 141 from the tips against 131 on Azalea), and its weekly maintenance day is Tuesday.
Cheaper ways to play in April
- Play after 1 or 2 PM. Perdido Bay drops from $85 to $65 at 1 PM and $50 at 3 PM; Lost Key from $95 to $75 at 1 PM.
- Check online prices. Lost Key's online price ran $15 below rack in fall 2026, and GolfNow sometimes undercuts courses' own twilight rates.
- Use resident rates if you qualify. Perdido Bay's $70 local rate covers Baldwin County residents, which includes Gulf Shores and Orange Beach owners with ID.
April events that affect a golf trip
| Date | Event | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| All April | Spring break season continues | High weekend lodging rates; busy Saturdays on Hwy 59 |
| Apr 12-16, 2027 (third-party calendar, unconfirmed) | Baldwin County schools spring break | Local families on the beach |
| Late April (Apr 23-25 in 2026; 2027 not published) | Bama Coast Cruisin' classic car show, Gulf Shores | Extra traffic on Hwy 59 and beach roads |
| Apr 23-25, 2027 (listed; Flora-Bama hasn't confirmed) | Interstate Mullet Toss, Perdido Key | Full Perdido Key and Orange Beach lodging |
| Late April (Apr 28 in 2026) | End of Gulf Shores' spring-break beach alcohol ban | 2027 window not yet voted |
| First weekend of May (2027 dates not published) | NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship | Gulf Shores hotels full |
Easter 2027 falls on March 28, so April 2027 is a post-Easter month. The Mullet Toss is listed for April 23-25, 2027, and Bama Coast Cruisin' ran on those same dates in 2026. If they line up again, that's the weekend to skip, especially if you're staying in Orange Beach or playing Lost Key and Perdido Bay. Our Gulf Shores spring break golf guide covers how to work around the crowds.
Is golf in Gulf Shores in April worth the peak prices?
For most golfers, yes, if you plan around the weekends. The weather case is strong: April's normal high of about 75°F sits between March's wind and May's heat, rain days are at their annual low, and there's 12.5 to 13.3 hours of daylight. The cost case is weaker. The Lakewood rack rate is at its highest of the year, the RTJ two-day special is $35 a day more than in winter, and the beach hotels' spring-break weekends cost more than any time outside summer.
If price matters more than temperature, compare two alternatives:
- Early March: the RTJ winter rates run to March 7 and Peninsula's winter pricing to March 31, with highs about 69°F. See golf in Gulf Shores in March.
- October: about 79°F, lighter wind (6.1 mph against 7.6) and the RTJ fall special at the same $215. See golf in Gulf Shores in October.
If you want the classic peak-season trip, golf in Gulf Shores in April delivers it. Book midweek and early, and treat the late-April event weekend as off-limits.
When should you book April tee times?
For Saturday, April 17, 2027, public windows open roughly:
| Course | Window | Opens around |
|---|---|---|
| TimberCreek, Daphne | 180 days | Already open (about Oct 19, 2026) |
| Kiva Dunes | 120 days | Dec 18, 2026 |
| Gulf Shores Golf Club | 46 days | Mar 2, 2027 |
| GlenLakes | 21 days, at midnight | Mar 27, 2027 |
| Lost Key, Perdido Bay, Soldiers Creek | 14 days | Apr 3, 2027 |
| Lakewood and Magnolia Grove | 7 days online; packages up to 12 months | Apr 10, 2027 |
Kiva Dunes runs a Noteefy waitlist that alerts you when a sold-out time opens, and Perdido Bay lets groups of four or more book further out by calling the shop. RTJ packages can be booked up to 12 months ahead through RTJ Reservations. Full details are in our Gulf Shores tee times guide.
Where to stay in April
April room rates weren't captured in the research, but March and July snapshots from hilton.com (seen October 2026, before tax, typical, not quotes) bracket them:
| Hotel | Mid-March weeknight | Mid-July weeknight |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Garden Inn Orange Beach | $147-$211 | $242-$307 |
| Hampton Inn & Suites Orange Beach | $191-$304 | $305-$431 |
| Island House Hotel | $309-$335 | $530-$574 |
Spring-break weekends run higher than these weeknights. If you're playing mostly in Gulf Shores and on Fort Morgan Road, a base near Hwy 59 keeps you off the Orange Beach roads on Mullet Toss weekend. Compare options in Gulf Shores golf hotels.
A sample April trip
- Arrive midweek, not Saturday.
- Day 1: Kiva Dunes in the morning, booked the day its 120-day window opens.
- Day 2: Craft Farms or Gulf Shores Golf Club, both within 12 minutes of the beach.
- Day 3: Lost Key and Perdido Bay on the Florida side, about 9 minutes apart, unless it's Mullet Toss weekend.
- Day 4: Lakewood on the RTJ two-day special, paired with Magnolia Grove the next day.
For the whole spring season, read Gulf Shores golf in spring.
Plan it on the map
Open the Gulf Shores golf map to see every course's fees, booking window and drive time from the beach, and plan golf in Gulf Shores in April around the weekends that fill up first.
Courses in this guide
Questions golfers ask
Is April a good time to golf in Gulf Shores?
For weather, it's about as good as it gets. NOAA normals at the nearest coastal station show highs near 75°F, lows near 57°F and rain on about 6.6 days. It's also peak season, with the highest green fees and the tightest weekend tee sheets of the year.
How much does golf cost in Gulf Shores in April?
Expect peak rates. The Grand Hotel's Lakewood Club lists $249 for 18 with cart from Mar 1, 2027, the RTJ two-day special is $215 a day there and from $115 at Magnolia Grove, and Perdido Bay's 2026 spring card was $85 in the morning. Kiva Dunes' April rates weren't bookable when checked in October 2026.
Is Gulf Shores busy in April?
Yes. Spring break season runs through April, local Baldwin County schools are listed as off Apr 12-16, 2027 (unconfirmed), and late April brings the Flora-Bama Mullet Toss and the Bama Coast Cruisin' car show. Weekend lodging is expensive and Saturdays on Hwy 59 are slow.
When is the Flora-Bama Mullet Toss in 2027?
The gulfshores.com calendar lists Apr 23-25, 2027, though Flora-Bama hadn't confirmed it as of October 2026. It's one of the biggest party weekends on the Alabama-Florida line, with full Perdido Key and Orange Beach lodging and heavy traffic near the state line.
Is it windy in Gulf Shores in April?
Fairly. April averages about 7.6 mph of daily wind at Jack Edwards National Airport in Gulf Shores, second only to March. It eases to 7.0 mph in May and about 5 mph by July.
What time is sunset in Gulf Shores in April?
Our calculation for central Gulf Shores puts sunset at about 7:09 PM on April 1, 7:17 PM on April 15 and 7:27 PM on April 30, Central Time. That's 12.5 to 13.3 hours of daylight, enough for 36 holes.
How far ahead should I book April tee times in Gulf Shores?
As early as each course allows. For a mid-April Saturday, Kiva Dunes' 120-day window opens in mid-December, Gulf Shores Golf Club's 46-day window in early March, and the 14-day courses about two weeks out. TimberCreek allows 180 days.
Keep reading
PlanningGulf Shores Tee Times: When Every Course Opens Its Booking WindowGulf Shores tee times booking windows for every course, from Kiva Dunes at 120 days to RTJ's 7, plus cancellation rules, group tips and a spring calendar.7 min read
CoursesGulf Shores Golf Courses: The Complete List, With Fees, Slopes and Drive TimesEvery Gulf Shores golf course and nearby Orange Beach, Perdido Key and Eastern Shore option, with green fees seen October 2026, slopes, drive times and tips.9 min read
PlanningHow to Plan a Gulf Shores Golf Trip, Step by StepPlan a Gulf Shores golf trip in six steps: when to go, flying into Pensacola, where to stay, which courses to pair, packages, and when tee times open.8 min read