Tag: Alabama Golf

Top Golf Destinations

Harbour Town Golf Links, Sea Pines Resort, SC

When you think about golf destinations, Florida and California immediately come to mindbut you may be surprised to see which states have the largest percentage of high caliber courses. Although Florida and California have the most public courses by far, they are not at the top of the list when you consider the number of quality courses a state can offer, rather than just the total number of courses. So where do you look for the best chance of finding a great golf experience? Here’s what we found.

The GolfDay Rating

The GolfDay Rating is based on a variety of criteria, including the stature of the architect who did the original design, updates that have been done since the course was built, USGA Course and Slope Ratings, current local and national rankings by Golf Digest, Golfweek, and Links Magazine (as well as other authoritative sources), the quality and diversity of practice facilities, general course conditioning, and current course reviews.

Consideration is also given for facilities that offer junior golf programs, a golf academy or golf leagues. Resort ratings also include a factor for the variety of courses located at the property, as well as the quality of accommodations. The GolfDay Rating is structured on the same basis as a test score—from 0 to 100. An “A” is 90 and up, “B” is 80–89, “C” is 70–79, “D” is 65–­­­69 and below 64 is an “F.”

Kiawah Island Golf Resort, SC—Pete Dye, Tom Fazio and Jack Nicklaus

The Results

We looked at the total number of public courses in each state to see how many received a GolfDay Rating of greater than 90 (“A”), and the number that were rated 80 or higher (“B”). South Carolina, Hawaii, Nevada, Delaware and Alabama came in at the top of the list.

South Carolina (#1)

Of the 194 public courses in South Carolina, almost 20 percent received a GolfDay Rating above 90 (A)) and 5 were rated at 100 (A++). With premier golf destinations like Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head and Kiawah Island, I guess that should not be a shocker—but there are a great many high-quality courses to be found throughout the state as well. More than half of the courses in South Carolina (55.7%) received a GolfDay Rating of 80 or more.

South Carolina is also home to the Waccamaw Golf Trail, featuring 11 great courses along the coast south of Myrtle Beach. All of the courses on the Trail received a GolfDay Rating above 80, with 6 coming in above 90—and one of them, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, received a rating of 100.

Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, SC–100 GolfDay Rating

I’m sure the residents of S.C. are keenly aware of how lucky they are to have so many terrific courses in their midst, while the rest of us mark our calendar and count the days.

Hawaii (#2)

It takes a bit of getting there, and can be a little pricey, but with unparalleled scenery and a host of top-notch golf courses, Hawaii should be at the top of your bucket list. Sprinkled among the islands are 60 public courses, 11 of which received a GolfDay Rating of 90 or higher. Almost half of the courses in Hawaii received a rating above 80, so you won’t have to look far to find quality golf (if you can tear yourself away from the beach).

Wailea Golf Club, HI—3 superb courses by Robert Trent Jones

On Oahu, Ko Olina Golf Club received the highest rating at 91.6. On Maui, Wailea Golf Club received a rating of 100, followed by Kapalua Resort-97.4 and Manele Golf Course at the Four Seasons Resort—90.2

On Kauai, Princeville Makai Golf Club heads the list, receiving a GolfDay Rating of 100, while on the Big Island, the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel course received a rating of 95.2, followed closely by Hualalai at the Four Seasons Resort (94.9).

Nevada (#3)

Most everyone knows that there are some nice courses in the Las Vegas area, but may not realize just how good so many of them actually are. Reno and Lake Tahoe, in western Nevada, offer quite a few fantastic courses as well. Of the 71 public courses in Nevada, 13 received a GolfDay Rating above 90, and 34 were rated at 80 or higher. Cascata, a Rees Jones masterpiece, received a GolfDay Rating of 99.1 and is located just 25 minutes from the airport.

Cascata, NV—A Rees Jones Masterpiece

Near Reno, Incline Village received a rating of 97.1, and 11 other courses in the area were rated 80 or higher.

Delaware (#4)

For a small state, Delaware packs a big punch when it comes to quality golf. There are only 22 public courses in the state, but 4 of them received a GolfDay Rating over 90, and 13 were rated 80 or higher.

White Clay Creek Country Club, DE—Arthur Hills and Steve Forest Design

Plantation Lakes Golf & Country Club, designed by Arthur Hills and Steve Forest in Millsboro, received the highest rating at 92.4. Other courses in Delaware receiving a 90+ rating include White Clay Creek Country Club (91.9), Odessa National Golf Club (90.7), and Bayside Resort Golf Club (90.6).

Alabama (#5)

If you want to make your golf fantasy come true, look no further than Alabama. In addition to the 11 fabulous courses along the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, 3 courses in Alabama also received a rating above 90 (FarmLinks Golf Club at Pussell Farms—92.7, Timberline Golf Course—91.0, and GlenLakes Golf Club—90.2).

Of the 81 public golf facilities in Alabama, 42 received a GolfDay Rating of 80 or higher.

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail: The Shoals, AL—Roger Rulewich and Bobby Vaughn Design

From the rugged terrain in the northern part of the state where the Appalachian Mountain chain begins, to the beauty of a gulf coast sunrise down south, Alabama offers not only perfect weather just about year-round, but also some of the finest golf courses you will find anywhere in the world.

Share this Article:

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail/The Judge at Capitol Hill
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail/The Judge at Capitol Hill

When you start thinking about your next golf get-away, give serious consideration to one of the many great golf trails that have sprung up throughout the U.S. Golf trails offer the opportunity to play a wide variety of courses, while at the same time enjoying the diverse scenery and local cuisine in various regions of the country. Trail packages offer group discounts on greens fees, accommodations and dining—or you can plan your own journey along the trail. The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama offers many of finest courses you will find anywhere in the country, and wonderful weather is pretty much guaranteed throughout the year.

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail

The RTJ Golf Trail includes eleven locations and twenty-six courses, from the southern-most point of the Appalachian mountain chain in northern Alabama to the tranquil waters of the gulf coast, each offering first-rate golf and gorgeous scenery. In addition to the great courses, eight of the locations offer wonderful accommodations including the Marriott Grand Hotel at Lakewood Golf Club in Point Clear on the gulf, and the Renaissance Ross Bridge Resort in Birmingham. All of the courses on the trail are either Robert Trent Jones, Sr. original designs (in collaboration with Roger Rulewich), or courses that were remodeled and updated by RTJ, with the exception of Ross Bridge that was designed by Roger Rulewich and Bobby Vaughn after Jones passed away in 2000.

Cambrian Ridge

The Courses

  • Cambrian Ridge/Greenville, AL 36037
    • Holes 36
    • 3 nine-hole courses (Loblolly/Sherling/Canyon) and 9-hole par 3
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating
    • Loblolly:         37.0/142
    • Sherling:         37.5/147
    • Canyon:           37.3/152
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker
    • Rankings: Golfweek Top 10 public courses-Alabama.
    • Accommodations: Holiday Inn Express & Suites
    • GolfDay Rating: 99.1

  • Capitol Hill/Prattville, AL 36066
    • Holes 54
    • 3 eighteen-hole courses (Judge/Legislator/Senator)
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating
    • Judge:              78.5/147
    • Legislator:       76.9/149
    • Senator:           77.4/132
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker
    • Rankings:        Golf Digest Top 10 courses-Alabama, Golfweek Top 10 public courses-Alabama

  • Grand National/Opelika, AL 36801
    • Holes 54
    • 2 eighteen-hole courses (Links/Lake) and eighteen-hole par 3
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating
    • Links:    75.2/142
    • Lake:      73.9/132
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker

  • Hampton Cove/Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763
    • Holes 54
    • 2 eighteen-hole courses(Highlands/River) and eighteen-hole executive course
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating
    • Highlands:      76.2/143
    • River:                76.6/143
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker

  • The Lakewood Club/Point Clear, AL 36564
    • Holes 36
    • 2 eighteen-hole courses (Azalea/Dogwood)
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating
    • Azalea:              74.4/131
    • Dogwood:        73.7/136
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (2). Range Balls included with Greens Fee (Callaway Chrome Soft Balls Provided for short-game practice)
    • Accommodations: Marriott Grand Hotel Resort & Spa
    • GolfDay Rating: 90.3

  • Highland Oaks/Dothan, AL 36305
    • Holes 36
    • 3 nine-hole courses (Highlands/Magnolia/Marshwood) and 9-hole par 3
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating
    • Highlands:     37.9/149
    • Magnolia:       37.1/139
    • Marshwood:  37.6/138
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers (2)
    • Accommodations: Hampton Inn
    • GolfDay Rating: 93.5

  • Magnolia Grove/Mobile, AL 36618
    • Holes 54
    • 2 eighteen-hole courses (Falls/Crossings) and eighteen-hole par 3
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating
    • Falls:                  74.6/130
    • Crossings:        73.7/139
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker
  • Oxmoor Valley/Birmingham, AL 35211
    • Holes 54
    • 2 eighteen-hole courses (Ridge/Valley) and eighteen-hole par 3
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating
    • Ridge:             74.3/141
    • Valley:            74.9/146
    • Practice Facilities: Driving Range (Mats-Monday through Friday/Grass Saturday-Sunday), Putting and Chipping Greens

  • Silver Lakes/Glencoe, AL 35905
    • Holes 36
    • 3 nine-hole courses (Backbreaker/Heartbreaker/Mindbreaker) and eighteen-hole par 3
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating
    • Backbreaker:     38.5/143
    • Heartbreaker:    38.2/140
    • Mindbreaker:     37.7/151
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker

  • The Shoals/Muscle Shoals, AL 35661
    • Holes 36
    • 2 Eighteen Hole Courses: (Fighting Joe/Schoolmaster)
    • USGA Course/Slope Rating
    • Fighting Joe:         78.6/146
    • Schoolmaster:      77.6/148
    • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker
    • Rankings: Golf Digest Top 10 courses-Alabama

Trail History

Established in 1992, The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is the largest golf course project in history, with eleven locations, 26 courses, and 468 holes of golf. Stretching almost 400 miles from the gulf coast to Muscle Shoals in the northwest corner of Alabama. The concept for the RTJ Golf Trail sprung from the vision of David G. Bronner, head of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, which manages the pension funds for Alabama state employees. Bronner’s goal was to provide the residents of Alabama with world class golf facilities, strengthen the economy of the state and diversify the assets of the pension fund. The RTJ Golf Trail has achieved all of these, and provided every golfer in the country an unforgettable opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Alabama and the genius of Robert Trent Jones. To date, more than 13 million golfers have visited the trail—an experience you definitely should include in your bucket list.

The Architects

Robert Trent Jones is one of the most celebrated golf course architects in history. His original designs include Spyglass Hill, Bellerive Country Club, Firestone Country Club and Hazeltine National Golf Club. He has also updated and remodeled many of the great courses in the country, including Congressional, Oak Hill, The Olympic Club, and Baltusrol Golf Club. RTJ also collaborated with Bobby Jones to design both the 11th and 16th holes at Augusta National, and President Eisenhower asked him to design a putting green for the White House. Roger Rulewich received a degree in civil engineering from Yale University in 1958, and began working for Robert Trent Jones in 1961. Together they designed hundreds of great courses, including the Apple Rock course at Horseshoe Bay Resort in Texas, which was awarded best new resort course by Golf Digest in 1986. Since the passing of RTJ in 2000, Roger Rulewich has established himself as one of the finest course architects of his generation, with notable designs that include Ballyowen Golf Club in Hamburg, NJ and Grande Dunes Golf Course in South Carolina.

Trail Guide

Trail Map

Share this Article: