Planning Golf Trip in Birmingham in early March

odshot68 · October 13, 2009

Robert Trent Jones Trail?? Please advise

We are planning a trip for early March down to Birmingham, AL for 4 days of golf (36 a day ..if not more). Here's ideas we have but are driving down from Michigan and are open to suggestions.

Plan A: We originally planned on Ross Bridge, Limestone, Farm Links, and Shoal Creek (maybe a pipe dream). Another club would be Old Overton CC. This could get costly but haven't ruled it out. Ross Bridge seems a little steep ($250 for 36 holes) and we could always drive to Capital Hill in Prattville.

Plan B: Play the RTJ trail. They have a 3 day unlimited for $135 plus cart fee and tax. We don't mind walking ..at least one of the rounds. The dates we will be there March 6-9th some of the greens will be aerated so won't play The Shoals, Grand National, Hampton Cove, and Silver Lake. Our itenary looks like: Capital Hill (Judge/Senator)..Legislator if time, Oxmoor (Ridge/Valley), Ross Bridge (but huge upcharge and no replay rate), and Cambrian Hills (Canyon/Sherling). We have to play 3 days (so would only pick 3 of these) and the last day would be on Limestone. I just wish we could play Farm Links as well but only have 4 days of golf. We don't want to drive any further south to play other tracks on RTJ.

Any opinions on these ideas...or other ideas.. Thanks.

Openwater22 · October 14, 2009

Bill,
Sent a PM. I'm in. Any itinary you decide on is ok by me.

odshot68 · October 14, 2009

any advice on tracks down here guys...I'm sure someone has input on this..

mystik10 · October 14, 2009

I heard The Ballantrae and Highland Park were pretty good and in that area.... Haven't played either though, so I am useless :black eye:

Honcho72 · October 14, 2009

Plan A sounds like a winner if you can get on Old Overton, and Shoal Creek. Both could be difficult to pull off, but it's worth a try. Great tracks, no carts at Shoal so plan on a walk and caddie $$$. Ross Bridge is a huge course. Really nice but huge, I would ride if at all possible. Oxmoore Valley you will need a cart as well and when they punch the greens it's just not worth it. The Ridge is better than the Valley of the two there.
I really enjoy playing Limestone Springs. 36 there would be a pretty good day. It is a little drive from B'ham. Prob 35-40min. You could also look into getting on Pinetree CC. It's private but they will let you play if you set it up prior to arrival and it's close to town. It's been in fantastic shape for the last year. Plan B would work as well and be the cheaper of the two. In order of preference I would go Ross Bridge, Cap. Hill, Oxm. Valley, Camb. The issue you're going to run into is the weather. March can be a hit or miss month to come. Let me know if I can help.

odshot68 · October 14, 2009

[quote name='Honcho72' post='2006024' date='Oct 14 2009, 01:55 PM']Plan A sounds like a winner if you can get on Old Overton, and Shoal Creek. Both could be difficult to pull off, but it's worth a try. Great tracks, no carts at Shoal so plan on a walk and caddie $$$. Ross Bridge is a huge course. Really nice but huge, I would ride if at all possible. Oxmoore Valley you will need a cart as well and when they punch the greens it's just not worth it. The Ridge is better than the Valley of the two there.
I really enjoy playing Limestone Springs. 36 there would be a pretty good day. It is a little drive from B'ham. Prob 35-40min. You could also look into getting on Pinetree CC. It's private but they will let you play if you set it up prior to arrival and it's close to town. It's been in fantastic shape for the last year. Plan B would work as well and be the cheaper of the two. In order of preference I would go Ross Bridge, Cap. Hill, Oxm. Valley, Camb. The issue you're going to run into is the weather. March can be a hit or miss month to come. Let me know if I can help.[/quote]
Thanks for the advice. I'm 99% sure I have an in at Shoal Creek..have spoken to them and the pro. I'm yet to call Old Overton. I appreciate your help.

odshot68 · October 14, 2009

We may end up at Old Overton CC, Shoal Creek CC, Limestone, and Farm Links...not a bad 4 days at 36 a day... Would be weird to be in Alabama home of the RTJ golf trail and not play one single track, but I think our four courses look pretty incredible.

Honcho72 · October 14, 2009

That would be a great trip. You could always play in the morning at either Shoal or Overton and then run over to Ross Bridge for the afternoon. Good luck.

darius1213 · October 22, 2009

[quote name='odshot68' post='2006085' date='Oct 14 2009, 02:31 PM']We may end up at Old Overton CC, Shoal Creek CC, Limestone, and Farm Links...not a bad 4 days at 36 a day... Would be weird to be in Alabama home of the RTJ golf trail and not play one single track, but I think our four courses look pretty incredible.[/quote]

that's as good as it gets in the birmingham area. shoal being #1. no shame in skipping the RTJs, they're fun, but more new-style golf courses. they kid of feel forced upon the property rather than built to follow natural slopes and land contours.

you can go low at Old O. shoal is a tough course, but nothing beats the layout. farm links is interesting because they do turf testing (i think for the usga) so they have signs on a lot of the holes where they change the fairway and rough grasses. limestone will be the most average of those four courses, but is a great course. it's in the country so it's super quiet and it's odd if you don't see dear on the course. be sure to tee of from the tips on #1, even if you're playing from the whites.

i'm jealous man, it sounds like you have a great trip planned.

ksteven · January 9, 2010

[quote name='odshot68' date='14 October 2009 - 12:31 PM' timestamp='1255545118' post='2006085']
We may end up at Old Overton CC, Shoal Creek CC, Limestone, and Farm Links...not a bad 4 days at 36 a day... Would be weird to be in Alabama home of the RTJ golf trail and not play one single track, but I think our four courses look pretty incredible.
[/quote]

A fantastic line-up of courses. Of all of these, I enjoyed Limestone better, not that it was better than the others, but suited my game best. Shoal Creek was tough for me 15 years ago, but my handicap ia usually around 5-6, so I should not be disappointed with my 83.

Here's hoping you catch good weather, March can be a lion or a lamb in this area.

bhamgolfer · May 17, 2010

I realize you already went on your trip but I was just reading over this and had to comment. Do NOT ever worry about not playing a trail course if you can line up those other clubs. The trail courses in B'ham, excluding Ross Bridge, aren't in the top 10 of courses in this area. CC of B'ham West Course is the best course in my opinion, better than Shoal Creek. Hope you had fun!