Stretching south from the mountains and lakes of North Alabama to the beautiful Gulf Coast, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail has stamped its mark on the golfing landscape of Alabama. The ever-growing RTJ Trail is Alabama's main golf attraction with many sites now featuring resorts and spas, adding luxury to your golfing vacation.
The RTJ Trail features stops from north to south in Huntsville, Florence, Anniston/Gadsden, Birmingham, Hoover, Prattville, Auburn/Opelika, Greenville, Dothan and Mobile.
In addition to the RTJ Trail, there are many other top-rated courses in Alabama. Among these are Honours Golf, with courses such as Highland Park in Birmingham, Moore's Mill in Auburn, Peninsula in Gulf Shores and Farm Links in Sylacauga.
Robert Trent Jones certainly brought the attention of the golfing world to Alabama, but such notable designers as Jerry Pate, Arnold Palmer, and Alabama's own Earl Stone have also contributed to the state's reputation as a great golfing destination.
The Mountains Region
North Alabama offers both scenic beauty and a wonderful collection of golf courses. The mountains, lakes and towering pines dotting the landscape are a natural fit for the lush courses here. The recently completed 36-hole Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at The Shoals in northwest Alabama is a great addition to the region's selection of golfing locales. The area also boasts the Blackberry Trail in Florence, Joe Wheeler State Park in Rogersville, Point Mallard in Decatur, the Robert Trent Jones Trail site at Hampton Cove in Huntsville, Gunter's Landing in Guntersville, Goose Pond in Scottsboro and Limestone Springs in Oneonta.
The Metropolitan Region
North-central Alabama offers many unique and picturesque courses, most notably the new RTJ Golf Trail at Ross Bridge in Hoover. This course is forging a new era for upscale public golf across the United States. Meanwhile, elevation changes are the order of the day on the Ridge course at the Trail's first site, Oxmoor Valley, located just 2 miles from Ross Bridge. Other outstanding entries in this region that you won't want to miss include the RTJ Trail at Silver Lakes and Twin Bridges in the Gadsden area, Ol' Colony in Tuscaloosa, Brent Brook (located just off the first I-459 exit near Birmingham) and the newly renovated Oak Mountain State Park course just south of Birmingham off I-65.
The River Heritage Region
This area creates a triangle in the southeast corner of the state between Auburn/Opelika, Montgomery and Dothan. It includes four RTJ Trail sites, each offering tremendous diversity. The lakes and relatively flat surroundings at Grand National and Highland Oaks contrast with the extreme changes in elevation at Cambrian Ridge. With a Scottish links-style course, Capitol Hill offers all the above and a third course which meanders along the banks of the Alabama River.
Gulf Coast Golf
Near the Gulf, the topography changes dramatically, but the high-course quality remains the same. Gulf Shores is a very popular golf vacation spot, with another Jerry Pate creation, Kiva Dunes, leading the pack. In fact, it's been consistently named as a 4 1/2-star course by Golf Digest. Add Craft Farms' 54 signature holes of golf to this, along with seven other great layouts, and you've got a world-class golf vacation experience. In addition, the Mobile area offers the 54-hole RTJ Trail at Magnolia Grove as well as Azalea City, Rock Creek, Timber Creek and the RTJ-owned course at the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa.
For more information on Golf in Alabama, visit www.alabama.travel.
The Year Of Outdoor Alabama
©2006 Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel - Official Web Site
©2006 Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Official Web Site