The Links Course at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail - Grand National - Opelika, AL

Golf Course Description

This facility is just one of the eight facilities that make up the Robert Trent Jones Trail through Alabama. This facility offers two outstanding eighteen hole courses and an eighteen hole par 3 course. The Lakes Course features exciting finishing holes, including hole #15, a 230-yard, par 3, requiring a tee shot to a natural island green. Except for flattening some spots for tees and softening the island enough to fit in a putting green, the hole remains untouched from when Rulewich found the little thumb of land protruding into the lake. This hole was voted one of “The Best 18 Holes You Can Play” by “Golf Digest” in 1997. In addition, “Golf Digest” rated the Lakes Course as the 4th “Best in State” course for 1997-98, after being selected 5th in 1995-96. The same publication awarded the Lakes 7th best among “America’s Top 75 Affordable Courses” for 1996. “GOLF Magazine” rated this course 38th best in the “Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the U.S.” for 1996, and “GOLFWEEK” ranked it 99th among “America’s 100 Best Modern Courses” for 1997. The Links Course is one of the prettiest courses you will find. The greens are large and sloping. One large lake comes into play on twelve holes, and there are several marsh areas that must be crossed over with shots. Even though the course has fairly open fairways, they are still defined by trees and a high underbrush on both sides. You will be required to hit many uphill and downhill shots. This course features a 471-yard monster, par 4, finishing hole, highlighted by a boulder bulkhead green located above a cove. Another difficult hole is #8, a 345-yard, par 4, requiring an accurately placed tee shot up a ninety degree right dogleg fairway, then an approach shot over water to a green that has water protecting the back and left sides. Don’t let the short distance of this hole fool you. “Golf Digest” rated the Links Course 9th among “America’s Top 75 Affordable Courses,” and 51st out of the “Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the U.S.” for 1998. In the category of “Best in State,” the Links was rated 7th for 1995-96, and 4th in 1997-98. The Short Course is an executive layout, but do not mistake it for a “pitch and putt.” Locals consider this course as being the prettiest of the three. The greens are contoured, but not as undulating as the other courses. The signature hole is #15, a 203-yard, par 3, requiring a tee shot to a large island green with one large bunker protecting the back. This facility hosted the Nike Tour Championship in 1997. Tee times are taken up to seven days in advance through the individual facilities and up to 120 days in advance through the corporate reservation office. Friday green fees are the same as the weekend rate. Special “trail passes” are sold that reduce the cost of green fees. For more information on accommodations and tee time reservation please call (800) 949-4444.