FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Karen Beasley, Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association
PHONE: 256.350.3500 / 800.648.5381
EMAIL: karen@northalabama.org
WITH ART
Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association Launches Swing Away North Alabama Golf Challenge
Decatur, Ala. (May 6, 2026) – The Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA), the official destination marketing organization for Visit North Alabama, is excited to announce the launch of the Swing Away North Alabama Golf Challenge, a new digital golf pass designed to drive visitation, increase rounds of play and showcase North Alabama as a note-worthy golf destination.
The Swing Away North Alabama Golf Challenge invites golfers to sign up for a mobile-friendly digital pass and to complete the challenge to earn a free prize from AMLA. The new digital passport available via Bandwango, highlights 12 golf courses that are members of AMLA located throughout North Alabama. Before or during a visit to North Alabama, visitors can sign up for the digital passport from www.northalabama.org/things-to-do/sports-recreation/golf/. Bandwango will then send a passport link to the user’s phone providing convenient access during their trip. Those checking in at 5 locations will earn a complimentary golf towel and a golf ball marker from AMLA.
From world-renowned Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail experiences and stunning Appalachian scenery to courses offering challenges for all skill levels and exceptional value, the Swing Away North Alabama Golf Challenge invites golfers to explore North Alabama while pairing great golf with rich local culture, music history and outdoor adventures like fishing and hiking.
“North Alabama is home to three of the world-renowned Robert Trent Jones Golf Course and offers an incredibly diverse golf experience, with courses set among rolling foothills, lakeshores and vibrant communities,” said AMLA President/CEO Tami Reist. “The Swing Away North Alabama Golf Challenge makes it easier than ever for golfers to discover new courses, plan multi-course trips and experience the hospitality that makes our region special while providing our members with a powerful tool to increase visitation and track impact.”
To implement the program, AMLA has partnered with Bandwango, an industry leader in digital destination experiences. Bandwango’s web-based platform allows golfers to access their pass instantly via smartphone, with no app to download and no physical card to carry. Upon registration, passports are delivered immediately via text message and email.
The mobile passport enhances the golfer experience by providing easy access to hours of operation, phone numbers, maps, directions, and near-me functionality, encouraging exploration and repeat play across North Alabama.
For more information on AMLA’s golf members, visit https://www.northalabama.org/things-to-do/sports-recreation/golf/.
###
About Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)
The official destination marketing organization for Visit North Alabama, AMLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the $4.9 billion North Alabama travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the state. It is supported by 500-plus members consisting of chambers of commerce, convention & visitors bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, golf courses, restaurants, accommodations and vendors. Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston. Additional information on North Alabama destinations, accommodations and special events is available by calling 800.648.5381, by visiting www.NorthAlabama.org and by following us on social media @VisitNorthAL.
