RTJ Silver Lakes

[elballz12]

I am going to see my sister that lives outside of Clemson for Labor Day weekend, and plan on stopping by Silver lakes on my way back Monday. I have yet to play this Trail Site, and was curious which two sets of 9 y'all suggest. Also does anyone have any course condition updates as well? Are there any other suggestions along the way to Clemson that anyone suggest?

[jholz]

I would simply encourage my sister to move to Auburn and play the Grand National while you are there. They have a much better species of Tiger, if you know what I mean. :)

 

Never played Silver Lakes, but have played many of the other RTJ courses. I have a hard time believing that you wouldn't have a good time there.

[lincolnduff]

I just played 27 there about a week ago. The course is in good shape, you'll enjoy it, but it's very quirky and may be one of my least favorite RTJ's (I've played most of them) I just felt like every hole forces you to hit into a green that's hidden and way uphill, lots of undulation in the fairways, leaving uneven lies on good shots. Also I felt like the hazards were placed in bad places, meaning landing areas off the tee were very small with bunkers coming in where the ball would land. it was still a fun course and I would play there again, but If I were doing a road trip and could play one of the other RTJ's I would.

[elballz12]

I attend school in Tuscaloosa, and I'm from North Alabama so I would much rather her live in SC rather than that little Cow College in the middle of nowhere... I play the majority of my rounds on the trail, but just haven't made my way towards Silver Lakes. There Grand National, and Lakewood are the only spots I have yet to play. If I'm towards your way I'll send you a PM and we can get together and play a round.

[jholz]

I attend school in Tuscaloosa, and I'm from North Alabama so I would much rather her live in SC rather than that little Cow College in the middle of nowhere... I play the majority of my rounds on the trail, but just haven't made my way towards Silver Lakes. There Grand National, and Lakewood are the only spots I have yet to play. If I'm towards your way I'll send you a PM and we can get together and play a round.

 

Middle of nowhere??? It's 5 minutes to Opelika and Lochapoka (home of the local syrup sopping festival) is just down the road. Smith's Station and lovely Phenix City are a stone's throw away. There's more culture around there than you can throw a stick at. And you want to talk about dirt...boy, they got a lot of dirt.

[elballz12]

I attend school in Tuscaloosa, and I'm from North Alabama so I would much rather her live in SC rather than that little Cow College in the middle of nowhere... I play the majority of my rounds on the trail, but just haven't made my way towards Silver Lakes. There Grand National, and Lakewood are the only spots I have yet to play. If I'm towards your way I'll send you a PM and we can get together and play a round.

 

Middle of nowhere??? It's 5 minutes to Opelika and Lochapoka (home of the local syrup sopping festival) is just down the road. Smith's Station and lovely Phenix City are a stone's throw away. There's more culture around there than you can throw a stick at. And you want to talk about dirt...boy, they got a lot of dirt.

 

I went to the PGA tournament and almost ran out of gas because I didn't see a service station since I left Birmingham. I'm just messing with you, but I have heard that Grand National is one of the top spots on the trail. I will have to make my way towards you and find out for myself. Good luck this weekend, I'll be pulling for an upset down at the plains!

[jholz]

My brother and I went to the Barbisol the first year. It was my only experience attending a golf event and it was cool. Very few people. I was a member at the Grand National during the six years I lived in Auburn and feel fortunate to have played those courses for as cheaply as I did. Crazy to see the tour guys tear that place apart.

 

As far as the Tide is concerned, I do prefer to see a team from Alabama win over a team from anywhere else in the SEC - particularly when it comes to LSU. Outside of that I only want Alabama to lose one game a year.

[thejuice]

Not to get off topic but don't you just love college football season!!! I went to UGA so I'm all about my Dawgs, but I can relate to cheering for other SEC teams (with the exception of Florida and Tennessee for me).

[jholz]

Not to get off topic but don't you just love college football season!!! I went to UGA so I'm all about my Dawgs, but I can relate to cheering for other SEC teams (with the exception of Florida and Tennessee for me).

 

I'd take UGA over Arkansas any day of week, as well as the SEC against any of the other power 5.

[thejuice]

Not to get off topic but don't you just love college football season!!! I went to UGA so I'm all about my Dawgs, but I can relate to cheering for other SEC teams (with the exception of Florida and Tennessee for me).

 

I'd take UGA over Arkansas any day of week, as well as the SEC against any of the other power 5.

 

Now if we can just get the East to be as competitive as the West...

[Spicoli]

Play 27...

 

But if only time for 18, skip mindbreaker and play heartbreaker/backbreaker.

 

Backbreaker is fitting...club up on almost all your approaches.

[overtona]

You will enjoy silver lakes. It's a challenge and you will hit every club in your bag

[driveandputtmachine]

Played all three nines and one twice out there three weekends ago. Great range. Courses were all in great condition.

 

Mindbreaker was my least favorite of all. Not that it was bad, I just liked Heart and back better.

 

I will say this.....In any of the 18 hole combinations you plan on playing only plan on seeing more than 50% of the flagstick on 5 holes. Almost every hole plays uphill, or the green is severly elevated to where you can almost never see the green surface. In the 27 holes I think we counted 7 or 8 holes where you can actually see the green surface from where you are hitting your approach shots.

[j.b.newton]

As an Ole Miss and Auburn alum - i hope the tide lose at least 2 /year....

 

I just got back from the Clemson area for a trip and there are a ton of relatively small (and cheap) courses that are well worth your time within a small area of Auburn with a lake (climpson)

 

I just moved to south east AL and am curious about Cambrian RIdge in Greenville. Im about an hour from Highland Oaks (Played many times - in laws live there) hour and a half from Grand National and about an hour from Greenville. Is it worth the drive over, or just go back to Dothan?

[elballz12]

Sorry for the late report, I've been busy with work and school, but I will say I was not impressed with Silver Lakes. I play the majority of my rounds on the trail so I'm pretty used to the elevated greens, but I played the mindbreaker and backbreaker and hated it. Yes I did hit almost every club in my bag excluding my hybrid. The greens were rolling true, but boy were they fast..... I've honestly never played on greens that quick. I couldn't get the ball to stop on approach or wedge shots. I had to completely changed how I was chipping the ball due to the rollout. Most of the tee shots are blind and I had no idea where to land it since I've never played there. I will honestly say I will never play another round there.

[GOUFGO]

As an Ole Miss and Auburn alum - i hope the tide lose at least 2 /year....

 

I just got back from the Clemson area for a trip and there are a ton of relatively small (and cheap) courses that are well worth your time within a small area of Auburn with a lake (climpson)

 

I just moved to south east AL and am curious about Cambrian RIdge in Greenville. Im about an hour from Highland Oaks (Played many times - in laws live there) hour and a half from Grand National and about an hour from Greenville. Is it worth the drive over, or just go back to Dothan?

 

 

Cambrian Ridge is absolutely worth the drive, as is Grand National. Cambrian is probably my favorite of the three 9-hole layouts (Silver Lakes running a close second). You can't go wrong in Greenville! Let me know if you make it to Opelika and need a playing partner; I'm only 45 minutes away

[j.b.newton]

As an Ole Miss and Auburn alum - i hope the tide lose at least 2 /year....

 

I just got back from the Clemson area for a trip and there are a ton of relatively small (and cheap) courses that are well worth your time within a small area of Auburn with a lake (climpson)

 

I just moved to south east AL and am curious about Cambrian RIdge in Greenville. Im about an hour from Highland Oaks (Played many times - in laws live there) hour and a half from Grand National and about an hour from Greenville. Is it worth the drive over, or just go back to Dothan?

 

 

Cambrian Ridge is absolutely worth the drive, as is Grand National. Cambrian is probably my favorite of the three 9-hole layouts (Silver Lakes running a close second). You can't go wrong in Greenville! Let me know if you make it to Opelika and need a playing partner; I'm only 45 minutes away

 

thanks for the info. Im always trying to get back to Auburn/Opelika for any reason, a 1 year old prevents that though.

[MixedBag]

Late to this post, but Silver Lakes may be the toughest RTJ every created. I've played 2 unlimited rounds there in the last month and felt like I was beat up (mentally) the next day.

[elballz12]

Late to this post, but Silver Lakes may be the toughest RTJ every created. I've played 2 unlimited rounds there in the last month and felt like I was beat up (mentally) the next day.

 

For a first time player I can see that because there are so many blind shots that you have no idea where to land it unless you have played there. I have played the Judge 4 or 5 times and every single time it kicks my butt. There are so many shots that demand you to hit it in a small window or you are in the water or OB.