Can You Keep a Secret?

The natural splendor (and great golf) of Dora’s Horse Creek Golf Course

Words by James Phillips | Images by Ryan McGill

Word is getting out.

Horse Creek Golf Course is a “hidden gem” in the heart of east Walker County, with Dora Mayor Randy Stephens proclaiming the course “unlike any other in the state.”

The course is owned and operated by the City of Dora, bringing in more than $1,000,000 per year in revenue. Stephens said the benefits to the city do not stop there. The course is a central spot for tourism dollars in the city as well, averaging more than 100 golfers per day, 75 percent of whom come from outside Walker County. 

“I’ve said so many times that our course is a hidden gem, but it may not be as hidden as it once was because our tee time numbers continue to climb,” Stephens said. “The course averaged more than 150 golfers per day in September. Those are mostly people from out of town who are coming here. They are spending money at the golf course but also doing business in our city.”

Stephens said there are many “nice” municipal golf courses in Alabama, but he’d put Horse Creek against any of them. He added that he didn’t know of another municipality as small as Dora that operates a course, especially one as lush as Horse Creek. 

“We have something special here,” said Don Cummings, Horse Creek’s general manager. “We’ve known that for a long time, but more and more people are figuring that out.”

The course, featuring 419 Bermuda grass on the fairway and Tift Dwarf grass on the greens, was built on 220 purchased acres of an old, abandoned Drummond Company surface mine. Horse Creek opened in 2000 under former Mayor George Sides. 

The course is tremendously well-maintained, Stephens said, citing Cummings and his staff for their meticulous care of its 18 holes.

Structurally, the fairways of the front nine are wide with a few semi-blind shots, while the back nine narrows and offers more water hazards.

Cummings said the beauty of the course also attracts players’ wives, who simply enjoy riding around to take in its natural beauty. 

Stephens said the course’s charm isn’t evident from the highway. 

“Before we had the sign and the clubhouse (opened in 2017), it was just a couple of school trailers up here. So, it was hard to tell this was even a golf course. But once people played here and saw how beautiful our course was, they wanted to come back. And they told others about us and brought friends. So that’s how we’ve grown—old-fashioned word of mouth,” Stephens said. 

The amenities don’t stop with the course itself. Horse Creek has a fully stocked pro shop, selling almost everything but clubs. The clubhouse also features a grill (open to anyone) and meeting rooms are available for event rentals. 

So, as it turns out, there’s a lot to like about Horse Creek. Just don’t tell anyone. 78

For more information on the course, please visit horsecreekgolf.com.