Alabama's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail offers great value for money options

21/04/2024 17:35

The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail gives any golfer several great reasons to visit Alabama.

The trail genuinely has something for everyone, from beginner-friendly courses to Championship layouts.

It’s claimed to be the largest golf course construction project ever attempted – and all the courses on the trail bear the handiwork of Robert Trent Jones golf, whether designed by senior, junior, or adapted by the firm.

That stamp doesn’t rob each venue of individual charm and characteristics, though, as the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail steers clear of manufactured courses.

One of the ways the trail offers a customisable golf experience is through tee box variation.

The tee boxes at all courses on the trail are marked by ability level, not age or gender. This allows the courses to challenge the best golfers in the world and still offer an enjoyable experience for the novice or infrequent player.

Across 11 amazing sites in the state of Alabama, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail offers over 400 holes of golf. Here we look at three of the best value venues to dip into first.

Grand National

Robert Trent Jones Sr. claims Grand National was the single greatest natural site for golf he had laid eyes on.

The site has three courses with the Lake course and the Links vying for golfer’s attention when it comes to both beauty and challenge.

The cornerstone of the complex is the flawless Links course. The recently renovated Links is a definite must-play along the Trail. The par-4 18th is touted as the strongest finishing hole on the Trail. Your drive must carry a deceptively large corner of the lake, while the approach is played to a shallow pedestal green is shored up by massive boulders.

Grand National’s Lake course, which features 12 holes that follow the shoreline of the lake, is just as picturesque as the Links. The 230-yard, island green 15th hole on the Trail may be the most beautiful course overall, while the four par threes on the Lake are among the best in the country.

National’s lineup is concluded by the short course, which can lay claim to being among the best 18-hole courses made up entirely of par 3s. You shouldn’t pay more than $99 for a round at Grand National.

Cambrian Ridge

Situated about 40 miles from Montgomery, Cambrian Ridge near Greenville is regarded by serious golfers as one of the most stunning and demanding locations on the Trail.

The three layouts are set up as 9-hole courses but can be combined for 18 or even 27-hole rounds.

Play the Sherling and Canyon nines here if you can only spare 18 holes; they’re going to give you more bang for your buck than the comparatively simple Loblolly loop.

The Canyon nine is an exhilarating stretch of target-style golf, sculpted from historic hunting grounds where deer blinds are still nailed to the hardwood.

The Loblolly nine radiates a grand, Augusta-like feel with its cathedral-like trees, enormous bunkers, and softly undulating fairways.

The Sherling nine begins at Butler County’s highest point, descends to play beside Sherling Lake, and finishes with a spectacular ascent on the last hole.

Magnolia Grove

Another 54-hole venue on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail that offers a short course made up of only par threes, Magnolia Grove also has two of the finest public access courses in the state.

In fact, Magnolia Grove was recently named one of the “Top 50 Public Courses” by Golf World Magazine readers.

Open and parklike, the Crossings course has played home to both the LPGA Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour Championship. To create an intriguing new aspect, a number of water features and waste areas with crushed oyster shell were added to the course in its most recent revamp which also saw the greens overhauled.

The only par-71 golf course on the Trail, the Falls Course underwent renovations and reopened in October 2010. Huge, generously shaped Mini Verde greens and enormous cloverleaf bunkers are features that define The Falls. The course has a completely fresh appearance thanks to several completely redone holes.

The trail offers a selection of packages to suit your tastes and pocket that are worth checking out and comparing with the rates you might have got on another golfing holiday.

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