Robert Trent Jones Trail

[wolfgame]

Looking for advice....

Which is the best place to go on the RJT trail? It will be a group of guys looking to pretty much play golf al day for 3 or 4 days.

I was looking at Oxmoor, Capitol Hill, or Grand National.....any one of these a recommendation? If not...where is the best place on the trail for such a trip?

[DrSchteeve]

I did Capitol Hill a few years back and it was great - the Judge is the course that gets the most press, and it is demanding and ridiculously long if you want to play it that way, but still a good layout. The Senator is used (or was used) for a Nationwide Tour event - this is a cool links layout, very unique mounding, really a lot of fun.

[littlepingman]

Ross Bridge....

 

8,191 Yards. You will definitely get your monies worth. ;)

 

http://www.rtjgolf.com/courses/ross_bridge/

[GehenHerzog]

The Shoals...2 courses over 7,900 yards... One of the courses is over 8000 yards

[rblmp32]

I did Capitol Hill a few years back and it was great - the Judge is the course that gets the most press, and it is demanding and ridiculously long if you want to play it that way, but still a good layout. The Senator is used (or was used) for a Nationwide Tour event - this is a cool links layout, very unique mounding, really a lot of fun.

 

I did Capitol Hill (Judge and Senator if I'm not mistaken) and the Lakes courses at Opelika. First class experience. I highly recommend both locations. ;)

[johndeere10]

I played Capitol Hill several years back.. played the Senator and Legislator... Great courses..

 

Greens were enormous "being on the green" wasn't a big deal if you were still 45 feet away from the cup!!!!! ;)

[joseph reeds]

I live in Alabama and I have a RTJ annual pass. I pay $130.00 a month and I can play any course for only $16.00 or I can walk the courses for free. The best courses on the Trail are the following: Grand National

Auburn/Opelika. The Shoals- Fighting Joe and School Master. Also Ross Bridge is not bad. However Ross Bridge is $125.00 plus tax and cart fee. The Juge is a good one also. The Senator is a link course and you have a lot of blind holes.

 

Check on RTJ website they have a 4 day special going. Hit them straight.

 

Joseph Reeds

[vsproto]

Dont waste your time on Oxmoor -- not worth it. Ross Bridge -- pretty nice, but play The Judge and Grand National for sure.

[GolferRoy]

I have played Capitol Hill, Oxmoor Valley, and Grand National. The top three from those locations would be

 

1. The Lakes (Grand National)

2. The Judge (Capitol Hill)

3. The Legislator (Capitol Hill)

 

The courses at Oxmoor Valley were okay, but I wouldn't necessarily go back there.

 

While playing the Legislator we ran into some locals who highly recommended the courses in Greenville, AL (Cambrian Ridge).

 

All in all it is a great trip to make.

[Mikolar]

I go with a group of guys to the Trail every June or July.....sometimes as many as 20 players with hdcps from 2-10 and the RTJones trail is by far, the best value in golf.

 

You have good tests almost anywhere for any handicap, although it would be worth your time to call a course and check on green aerification schedules and conditions. Book your trip thru the RTJones service...its just one call and the people are great.

 

This year, the drought left the courses in Birmingham (normally wonderful courses) in not very good shape, although Ross Bridge was fine. They've gotten rain in the past month and may be fine again but they weren't in late June.

 

Opielika/Auburn is outstanding...two super golf courses that have hosted past NCAA championships.

The Shoals is great...both courses were in good shape a few months ago -- Fighting Joe is a long links course while Schoolmaster is more in the trees and wonderful in its own right.

 

Montgomery's courses are quite good as well, one a links style, the Judge and one other. Gadston has several springs in the area so water is never a problem and those courses are wonderfully hard and good as well.

 

If the conditions are good, the three nine hole courses in Greenville are quite enjoyable.

 

Huntsville is not good... no need to put it on your list.

 

Again (and I don't mean to sound like the Alabama Chamber of Commerce), but the Trail is done right. The people are nice...the clubhouses have good lunches and the proshops try to accomodate you.

Each year, we just want 36 challenging holes a day, a good place to eat dinner, something red with a nice label and a bed to recover. Then, we get up and do it again. The RTJ trail is the best deal going but do call ahead and talk to each pro shop. Often, the central booking office will not have last minute changes for each course relative to work on the greens or an occassional local tournament.

[KDMullins]

Oxmoor is the weakest of the 3 you've listed, and I think the Ridge course there is very good. Throw in the fact that Ross Bridge is about a mile away, and it's really a toss-up. I really liked all the courses at Capitol Hill. Like one of the posters above mentioned, the Judge get the most press, and the Nationwide Tour Championship has been played on the Senator, but I think the Legislator is the best course of the 3. Really good RTJ site. I haven't played the courses at Auburn, but I've heard they're very good and perhaps the best of the 3 you've listed.

[webmstrk9]

To quote myself:

 

In no particular order:

 

Capitol Hill(Judge definately)

Ross Bridge

Oxmoor Valley(Since theyre down the road from each other)(Not the best compared to the others)

Cambrian Ridge(Didnt get to play, but my friends highly recommend)

Grand National

 

Ross bridge only has 18, the rest usually has 36 + a short course.

 

My brother and a couple of his friends played the RTJ about a month and a half ago. 2-3 weeks before the Champions tournament at Ross Bridge. The northern courses have more dramatic elevation changes compared to the courses towards the south. The driving range and clubhouses are similar to almost similar in design with the exception of Ross Bridge. Oxmoor Valley when we played wasnt the best of the courses we played, since we stayed in the Birmingham area for 2 days, it was convenient. The greens were not in the best shape a bit shaggy when we were there.

 

The course outside of Ross Bridge which I would love to play again would be the Judge at Capitol Hill. Holes were long and fairways were not wide open, 13 of 18 holes have water if I remember correctly. The first hole is a 200ft drop from the white tee box, 250-260 to the 150y mark from the blue tees, 230 from the whites with water on the right and OB on the left.

 

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I will add that a course in Asheville was mentioned to be a great layout. I'm unsure of the name and too lazy to google for it.

[w8liftr]

Don't forget the Silver Lakes Courses in Gadsden/Glencoe area. The Heartbreaker and Backbreaker are a tough combo. The Mindbreaker is okay, but the short course is a good test of my will to not lose my temper!

[AUDuffer]

I lived in Montgomery for 3 years and the Capitol Hill courses were great. Plenty of variety there and you can head up to Grand National in Opelika or down to the Cambrian Ridge courses in under 90 minutes. Cambrian and Grand National both have some fun short courses too for after playing 18 holes.

[scrumpy]

The Shoals. Fighting Joe and The Schoolmaster will give you all you want and have you begging for mercy. ;)

[banistr]

Do your self a favor...do bother with Magnolia grove in Mobile. Both courses are very nice..but the staff sucks Word not allowed. They feel like they are doing you a favor letting you play there.

[Mongo]

All the trail sights are great. I live in central alabama and have played all of them.

its hard to pick a fav. the Oxmoor site fired their greenskeeper and are starting to turn things around.

Pratville is great

auburn too

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I think I may try to get down there during the winter within the next year or two. All the courses look pretty good.