Why are the best RTJ golf courses and why so long???

[odshot68]

What are the best RTJ golf courses on the trail. I know Ross Bridge is supposed to be the best..then what Capital Hill? Also, why are they so crazy long? I may have to play the middle tees to play 6700 yards. One from back is 7300 then tips is 7800-8300...WOW. Must be a bunch of WRXr's that designed and play the tracks who all hit 350 with 7.5 degree drivers and X-Stiff Whiteboards tipped 1".

 

[AltusBeliever]

These goofy lengths are the reason golf takes so long and scores are so high-causing people to quit. I would posit that 6700 yards is too long for 99percent of golfers.
I am told the RTJ Trail is great fun and great value. Just move up a couple of sets of tees.

[odshot68]

I typically play 7100 yards and that's doable but over 7400 yards..its a little excessive IMO (Unless your in Vegas or mountains where balls fly another 10% then you could play 7700 yards).

[STEWM 67]

I agree that Ross bridge is crazy from the back tees. I usisally play orange tees in winter and if it's wet. Purple tees in the summer when the ball runs.

Ross bridge had a tournament I played in last year called the " black tee challenge". We played the tips. All 8300 yards of it. I shot 4 over. Played as good as I could that day. It was a lot of fun but wouldn't want that everytime

[MarkCPA]

There are a lot of things to like about the RTJ Trail. One of the little things I've noticed is that there is usually a starter on the first tee asking you what your handicap is and then making a recommendation on what tees to play. Take his word for it. All of the tracks I've seen on the Trail are good tests of golf. If you can't play, you'll have a miserable day in your effort to "see all the course" and slow down the whole track while you shoot 100+.

[moonshine]

I play the trail as my home courses. They are difficult compared to most muni tracks but are in great shape and membership to all is well under $2k for the year. Most have the crazy back tee set because they had the room on the land! The local joke is Robert Trent hated golfers, but loved to design courses! Anyone coming to the area to play the Trail send me a PM...I would love to show you around.

[Honcho72]

Most are a lot of fun to play just pick your tees and have at it. Ross Bridge is a good track on a HUGE piece of property. I fly over in a heli. pretty often and it just takes up a huge area so I guess they had the room and said why not. Captial hill is not to miss, The Lakes at Grand national and the two in the Shoals are nice. I could miss Oxmoore but I play there often so it might just be me. I would say in my order of preference.
Grand National, Ross Bridge, Cap. Hill, Fighting Joe & shoolmaster. I like the ones in Gadsden as well as every time I go we're the only ones there. Magnolia is a good one too. They're all lots of fun and very reasonable.

[adamjstl]

I've played both courses at THE SHOALS, fighting joe and the schoolmaster.... and SILVER LAKES in anniston..... I'm a 3 handicap and average 280 off the tee

FIGHTING JOE we played at 7,126 and SCHOOLMASTER at 7,294 and they we're both enjoyable.... the tips, however, are 8,092 and 7,971.... schoolmaster would be ok because it is wooded at least... most of fighting joe is totally exposed to the wind and some of the par 4s could be unreachable even for long hitters

SILVER LAKES we did play the tips which measure 7,673 and course and slope of 77.7/151!!!!!!! it was a windless, ideal day to play and i shot 85 YIKES.... it's not the length but the green complexes that are so tough.... most of the greens are severely elevated and tough to find the right shelf when your hitting hydrids lol... silver lakes (backbreaker/heartbreaker) is easily the toughest course i've ever played(out of 85).

All these courses are wonderful when played from the correct tees btw.... joe and schoolmaster are much more playable than silver lakes if your group has any novice golfers

[gatorgolferjosh]

I'm a big fan of the Judge and Senator at Capitol Hill. Im playing Ross Bridge for the first time in August and I'm pumped. These guys are right, you gotta pick the right tees.