GULF SHORES, Ala. — Locally owned Craft Farms Golf Resort in Gulf Shores will now fall under the corporation umbrella of Honours Golf Company.

The Birmingham- and Atlanta-based company announced the purchase of the golf course on Dec. 11.

The company owns and operates 13 golf properties including Peninsula Golf and Racquet Club in Gulf Shores and Rock Creek Golf Club in Fairhope.

“We seek to align with golf courses that share our common vision for quality and our passion for golf,” Honours Golf CEO Bob Barrett said in a news release. “The Craft family has built and established a solid reputation for two of the finest courses along the Gulf Coast.”

Barrett cited the courses location as an attractive marketing tool.

“The location provides us the opportunity to offer a variety of premier golf experiences and golf packages to local golfers and visitors to the Gulf Shores area,” Barrett said.

Alabama’s only Arnold Palmer Signature Design, 18-hole championship golf courses, Cotton Creek Golf Club and Cypress Bend Golf Course, were a part of the deal.

Craft Farms Golf Resort, a staple business in the Gulf Shores community, was established by the Craft family in 1987.

The course helped put Gulf Shores on the map as a nationally known golf destination.

Former owner and president Mayor Robert Craft and his late-father R.C. Craft developed the golf course.

“My wife and I, my father and mother and the whole family, built this 20 years ago and it was never my desire to be in the long-term management of golf operations,” Craft said this week. “It is in bad need of having professional golf management and the Honours Golf people are the best I know.”

Honours Golf has been talking to Craft for years, but the transaction has only been in the works for about six months, according to Craft.

Craft said he believes changes with the business and personnel will be minimal.

“We see the world the same way,” Craft said. “They agreed they want to keep a lot of the key staff. The fact the (staff) will stay on gives me a lot of confidence that our members and all the folks that have enjoyed Craft Farms will continue to enjoy it.”

While Craft said he is sad to close that chapter in his life, he is pleased with the time he can spend on other facets of his life.

“It allows me the opportunity to focus my time and energy on my responsibilities here at the city,” he said.

Craft also said he will have a stronger presence at Craft Turf Farms again.