RTJ Trail Trip advice

[DK32]

Hey everyone. After a couple of failed attempts to get something together I am finally planning a golf trip with my dad this September. Had planned to do Reynolds Plantation but after looking at cost and the fact that Great Waters will be closed, we decided on the RTJ trail instead. We've never played any of the courses or been to Alabama so was just looking for advice. I've been reading many of the threads that are already on here, but with so many options on the trail, it's hard to narrow things down. I'm hopeful I can convince him to play 36 a few of the days but not sure if he will be up for it.

 

Rough plan is to do 5 days

 

Day 1: Drive from Atlanta area, play Ross Bridge

 

Day 2: Oxmoor Valley - Ridge + maybe the short course (worth it?)

 

Day 3: Capitol Hill - Judge + Legislator

 

Day 4: Grand National - Lakes + Short Course

 

Day 5: Grand National - Links + Drive back to Atlanta

 

Debating if we should play all of the Grand national Courses or Head to Cambrian Ridge for one of those days. Any suggestions out there? Courses that have great scenery are mostly what we are looking for, although it sounds like it's hard to go wrong on the trail.

 

Thanks

[BParis]

If you are driving in from ATL, you could start at Muscle Shoals with Fighting Joe and The Schoolmaster, and then head down to B'ham to Ross Bridge. That would be a great start to your trip!

[GOUFGO]

Solid plan.

 

I would substitute the Senator for the Legislator at Cap Hill. Just not a fan of the Legislator.

 

As far as driving to Greenville; Cambrian Ridge is a solid set of nines, just realize you are putting yourself farther away from Atlanta on the last day of the trip. If it were me, head up to Grand Natty to finish things off, then have an easy ride to the airport on the last day.

 

I've never played the short course at Oxmoor...let us know how it is. The short course at Grand National is a lot of fun.

[tiderider]

Short course at Oxford is a bit of a waste of time (my home course) ... it’s not all that well conditioned, greens wise ... agree about switching leg with sen ... Cambrian ridge is a great track but grand national is equal or better ... Cambrian is more scenic, however ... check each sites maintenance schedule on their respective websites ... they usually do not deviate from that ...

[MarkCPA]

I would substitute the Senator for the Legislator at Cap Hill. Just not a fan of the Legislator.

 

Agree. Move over to the Senator for that stop.

[Spicoli]

I would make a point to play all three at Capitol Hill, but if your are going to skip one, it's Legislator. Senator is a must play, along with the Judge. Legislator is a better back nine vs front. If you play Capitol hill early, you could still do 18 at Lake or Links, skipping the short course.

 

Valley at Oxmoor is pretty cool as well, again skipping the short course.

[DK32]

Thanks for the input. Looks like our plan will have to change a bit as hotel rooms are scarce near Grand National because of Auburn football on the date we were going to be there. Also, the Judge and Senator are apparently hosting a tournament on the day we were going to go there.

 

Hoping we can rearrange and still fit them in. Debating between Lakes or Links if we can only play one at GN. Also, after reading about FarmLinks, I'm hoping to add that somewhere too.

[GOUFGO]

Farmlinks is a solid substitute for any of the RTJ courses. Could you reverse the order of your list and start in Opelika mid-week, go to Cambrian or Farmlinks and then finish in B'ham?

[j.b.newton]

I agree on the Farmlinks. I would probably suggest it over Oxmoor and Cambrian Ridge. Maybe something like this:

 

Day 1: Drive from Atlanta area, play Ross Bridge

 

Day 2: Farmlinks (Sylacauga) All day play and stay at a cottage or drive 45 min to Prattville.

 

Day 3: Capitol Hill - Judge + Senator

 

Day 4: Grand National - Lakes + Short Course

 

Day 5: Grand National - Links + Drive back to Atlanta

[tiderider]

Why not start out at grand national? Sounds like wed is your first day ... farmlinks and/or Ross or Oxmoor on th and fri, then capital hill sat and Sunday ... the drives aren’t more than a couple of hours at most ...

[bankkur74]

I second the play at farm links all day play as well. We did the trail in early May and added FL per recommendations from people on this forum and it was the best thing we did.

[thejuice]

If you are driving in from ATL, you could start at Muscle Shoals with Fighting Joe and The Schoolmaster, and then head down to B'ham to Ross Bridge. That would be a great start to your trip!

 

Just read this thread and I have to wonder if you were being sarcastic? Going to Muscle Shoals from Atlanta to start a Trail trip is not smart at all.

[BParis]

If you are driving in from ATL, you could start at Muscle Shoals with Fighting Joe and The Schoolmaster, and then head down to B'ham to Ross Bridge. That would be a great start to your trip!

 

Just read this thread and I have to wonder if you were being sarcastic? Going to Muscle Shoals from Atlanta to start a Trail trip is not smart at all.

 

Thanks for your input, I too also have a bellybutton...

[thejuice]

If you are driving in from ATL, you could start at Muscle Shoals with Fighting Joe and The Schoolmaster, and then head down to B'ham to Ross Bridge. That would be a great start to your trip!

 

Just read this thread and I have to wonder if you were being sarcastic? Going to Muscle Shoals from Atlanta to start a Trail trip is not smart at all.

 

Thanks for your input, I too also have a bellybutton...

 

Duly noted. You were serious. Smh