[RobotDoctor]

I will be in Alabama at the end of the month and will play a couple of rounds while there. I am looking at courses around Birmingham and know that the RTJ Trail has outstanding courses. What are the personal reviews from the board? What are recommendations, whether they are RTJ Trail courses or other. Thanks in advance.

[lebanontngolfer]

Ross Bridge is just outside Birmingham and it is one if not the newest RTJ Trail course. It also happens to the be the longest at 8,200 yds (if you want to try it) and one of the priciest. The course is relatively forgiving and not one of the toughest tracks in the rota. For a nice leisurely round, give it a try.

Now, if you want to play a couple challenging courses, head up to Muscle Shoals and take on Fighting Joe or The Schoolmaster. Very challenging and excellent courses. Try Fighting Joe from 7,300 when it's mid-30's out and the wind is howling... absolute punishment!

[Callaway Girl]

You can also head south 75 miles to Prattville, Alabama and play three other RTJ courses. The Senator, Legislator, and the Judge. The Senator is a links sytle course. The Judge is the signature course with water on 14 of the 18 holes.

[w8liftr]

If you don't mind a short drive, check out Limestone Springs Just outside Birmingham.

You can't go wrong with the RTJ courses.

[CALLYHO]

RTJ is all great...If you want to play a nice course go to FARMLINKS! If you are going to come to Alabama you have to play it. Prattville is good. Ross Bridge is nice from what I have heard ($$$$ so I go to Farmlinks instead). Right down the road from Ross Bridge is Oxmore Valley, it's nice as well. If you do decide to play some RTJ make sure to get a trail card it will save you some money. Check out Farmlinksgolfclub.com worth your time and money.

[GolferRoy]

w8liftr, on Jan 8 2009, 08:35 PM, said:

If you don't mind a short drive, check out Limestone Springs Just outside Birmingham.

You can't go wrong with the RTJ courses.

I second that opinion. Limestone Springs is a very nice track.

[MWL]

RTJ Silverlakes is really good also. Great par3 course as well. Probably can't go wrong with any of them.

[jaycajun]

I spent 6 weeks in Sep '05 in "humidless" AL while attending the Air Force Senior NCO Academy and played 15 rounds while I was there at various RTJ courses and all of them were fantastic. Didn't get up to Birmingham, but did go to Prattville (Judge & Senator is killer). Good luck hitting the fairway off the #1 at the Judge as it’s a very elevated green and you are trying to hit what appears to be a sliver of fairway and there is water on the right and the left. The cart bridges at Prattville are fantastic. Some look like roller coasters and others are enormous and actually cross very wide rivers. Beware of hunting for balls in Prattville, as snakes were all over the place. Magnolia Grove, Cambrian Ridge, and Grand National are very nice as well. If you go to Grand National, a VERY cool stop off is the Tuskegee Heritage Museum.

[CLA225]

There are some good choices that others have listed I'll rank my also, We hit these courses for a yearly ryder cup trip with 16 guys.

Limestone Springs
Ross Bridge
Oxmoor Valley (Both courses)
Prattville (all three courses)
Cambrain Ridge (27 holes)
Grand National

[RobotDoctor]

Which courses would be the best for walking? I am not much of a cart player and prefer to walk. Thanks.

[CALLYHO]

I would not suggest walking any of these courses. There is alot of distance between holes.

[iscarter69]

I have been on golf trips to the RTJ about 5 times. Like one of the other posters, I am involved in a 16-20 man Ryder Cup type trip. All nice courses from what I have seen. I haven't been to Limestone or Ross Bridge so can't comment on those.

Of the others I really liked the courses at Grand National in Opelika the best. Oxmoor Valley is great because of its convenience in Birmingham -- you can play the day you fly into Birmingham and the day you leave.

The whole Trail is really well thought out and the travel service which sets up the tee times, accomodations do a nice job.

If you haven't been to Capitol Hill in Prattville that should also be included at least once. I wouldn't want to play the Judge over the over, but it should be seen at least once -- make sure you play from the appropriate tees. We played the Senator about a month before the Nationwide Tour Championship one year (while they were clearly fertilizing and growing the rough) and we got crushed. But went back a few years later and it was very enjoyable.

The Par 3 courses are all great and should not be missed. A collection of real Par 3 holes -- not a pitch and putt. One year we played the Par 3 at Grand National from the tips for one of our matches. What a handful. Most holes are like 180 up to 250 yards. That made for great matches and a change of pace.

Its a great spot for a trip and easy on the wallet.

[Tmiller72]

Since you are going to be in Bham, go play Highland Park. It's short, but fun. Usually in good shape. Home to one of Bobby Jones' 1st victories at age 14. http://www.highlandparkgolf.com/

[NDNick]

Sensational courses. Played Grand National and Cambrian Ridge. Would recommend riding a cart, don't think I've seen anyone walk these courses. Grand National may be one of my favorite venues though, trying to make it down there again in March.

[Tmiller72]

Grand National was my home course in college, walked it all the time. The Links course is a long walk, but it's not too hard. Oxmoor Valley in Bham is not fun to walk at all!!