Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail- AL

Ask any serious golfer about the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, and they have either played these courses, or plan to in the future. Really. Building a championship golf circuit around a state is an interesting idea for sure, but in Alabama? It seems almost incongruent; better suited to perhaps Arizona or Florida. You know, traditional golf states. States that already attract tourists. But therein lies the genius. If Robert Trent Jones builds it, golfers will come, and while they are there, they will fund your state’s retirement program. Win, win.

Conceived in the late 1980s by the CEO of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, Dr. David Bronner, the goal was to diversify the assets of the state’s pension fund, while helping to grow the economic development of Alabama. He planned to do this by constructing 18 championship golf courses at 8 sites around the state, simultaneously. Which sounds absolutely crazy, but Robert Trent Jones thought it was feasible.

The project of course was an overwhelming success. Around many of the sites resort hotels were built, allowing non-golfers to join in on the fun. Many complexes have multiple courses, and are located within easy diving distance to other trail sites, making it a very popular choice for golf vacations. It has done so well, the trail has actually grown over the years, and now includes 468 holes, with 26 golf courses at 11 locations. Which is a golf lovers dream. It also doesn’t hurt that the golfing is fantastic and the prices are reasonable; you could probably play the whole trail for the cost of a round at Pebble Beach. Alright, maybe not that reasonable, but close.

At the far southwestern corner of the state, just over the Mississippi border is Magnolia Grove. One of the quieter complexes on the trial, it is home to two 18 hole courses, The Falls and The Crossings, as well as a par three short course named Best in America by Golf Digest. The challenging courses are both fun and visually stunning, with tracks that take full advantage of the natural terrain. As a bonus, it is located just outside of Mobile, which is a wonderfully charming city, filled with historic squares and buildings. It is also only a short drive around Mobile Bay to Lakewood Golf Club, which offers another 36 holes of RTJ golf.  However, we were headed north, so our next stop was Greenville’s Cambrian Ridge, which also boasts 36 holes of magnificent golf. So many options.

The Cambrian Ridge complex consists of 3 nine hole courses and one a water heavy short course. Sherling/Canyon is the most lauded combination, alas Canyon was getting a major overhaul during our visit, so Loblolly took its place. It was not an undue hardship. You really can’t go wrong with any combination at this course.

While Loblolly boasts wide fairways and rolling hills, Sherling is all about elevation change. Each have a handful of water hazards thrown in for good measure. Both are beautiful courses; together they are a wonderful, challenging combination.

Sherling, the more dramatic of the the two courses, starts at the highest point in Butler county, then drops dramatically down to Sherling Lake before finishing with a steep ascent back to the clubhouse. It is certainly an unforgettable trip.

Unlike many of the other sites, there is no attached resort at Cambrian Ridge, but Greenville itself has several chain hotels. It is also not far from the wonderfully historic city of Montgomery, which you should absolutely visit before heading to Prattville’s Capitol Hill.

Capitol Hill, located just 13 miles outside of Montgomery, is one of the trail’s most popular stops. It was significantly more crowded than Magnolia Grove or Cambrian Ridge, even in the middle of Alabama’s humid summer. It boasts three 18 hole championship golf courses, as well as Marriott and Renaissance resorts. While all three courses are lauded, The Judge is the critics favorite, complete with an island green. It is also a very long course, at 7813 yards from the tips, and has water on 14 holes. Given we only had time for one round, we chose to play the slightly more forgiving, but equally stunning, Legislator.

Legislator is a very traditional Southern style course that winds it way through a very atmospheric cypress swamp. It is impossible not to take pictures at ever turn, and impossible not to loose a fair amount of balls. It, however, is worth the sacrifice.

The course also has an impressive elevation change, one you navigate via a wooden “sky bridge” which offers more fabulous views. It is a unique, fun course, and certainly one of the trails most scenic.

Do not leave the area without taking a drive out to the town of Prattville. It’s a wonderfully historic New England factory town, located in the middle of Alabama. It also has an excellent Cajun restaurant that is worth the trip.

Moving toward the Georgia border, the next stop on the trial is Grand National. It is one of the crown jewels of the circuit, offering another 52 holes on land that Robert Trent Jones himself proclaimed the single greatest site for a golf complex he had ever seen. Options include The Lake, The Links, and an 18 hole short course. Built along the shores of Lake Saugahatchee, water comes into play on a whopping 32 holes.

The Lake course is home to the Barbasol Championship each July, for anyone interested in catching a PGA event. We happened to be there the day before it started, which meant it was closed for public play. Boo. Fortunately, The Links course is every bit as magnificent.

Unfortunately, it is one of the trial’s most popular venues, and is incredibly busy. Despite the blistering July heat, the course was packed, and play was excruciatingly slow. Nevertheless, like all the other courses we played on the trail, conditions were excellent. It is also located not far from the college town of Auburn, as well as the quaint town of Opelika, which you have no chance of pronouncing correctly. The associated Marriott resort has been recently updated, and contains a huge outdoor pool complex, as well as a large outdoor bar.

Grand National was our final stop on the trail, leaving us with 7 sites to explore in future; which we will, but definitely not in July. For a more relaxing experience, focus on one or two sites per trip; hitting all course at once is probably impossible, and would be absolutely exhausting. Also, leave time for replays. There were several courses I wish we had time to revisit, ones that I hopefully would have played better the second time around. Or at least I will tell myself that. In any event, well done Dr. Bonner and Robert Trent Jones. Well done.

 

 

 

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