Opinion & Analysis

4 Reasons the RTJ Golf Trail should be your next golf trip

Published

6 years ago

Aug 1, 2018

There is no other golf destination like it. The RTJ Trail in Alabama spans hundreds of miles. Only Myrtle Beach comes close in terms of top-to-bottom distance. The RTJ Trail courses were built concurrently. St. Andrews took hundreds of years, while Bandon took 2 decades. While Pinehurst unites three communities, the RTJ Trail unifies an entire state in golf.

And yet, the RTJ Trail bears elements that make each of those other destinations a success. It has the diversity of courses found along the Grand Strand, if not the variety of architects. RTJ offers variety of terrain and shot value, if not the native sands of North Carolina, the Oregon coast and Scotland. Most important, the RTJ Trail offers many reasons to return, all thanks to the range of venues where courses are located. Let’s have a look at 4 reasons to make Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail your next destination venture.

1) Sites and Scorecards

The first thing your eyes catch, even if you read from left to right, are the numbers on the official Trail web site: 468 holes, 26 courses, 11 sites. If you’ve ever gone on a trip where you change hotels and locales with the sun, you understand how frustrating and exhausting such poor planning is. I know from personal experience: I planned a trip to Michigan that way, and it ended with a near-fistfight! Only one of the 11 sites (Ross Bridge) has just 18 holes, but it’s a mere 5-minute car ride from the 54 holes at Oxmoor Valley. With the exception of the 36-hole Highland Oaks property, in the southeastern corner of the state, each site is within an hour drive of another. In the case of Highland Oaks, no southern Iditarod is necessary. Both Grand National (Auburn/Opelika) and Cambrian Ridge (Greenville) are 2 hours away.

A fact not emblazoned across the crest of the trail, each of the sites for golf courses was donated to the Retirement Systems of Alabama, the entity responsible for the massive undertaking. One might suspect that the lands acquired would be less than ideal for golf, but that’s not the case. The rumpled geography (including climate and weather, in addition to topography) of the state ensured an assortment of characteristics. Some layouts sit high above rivers and small lakes, while others traverse hillsides. Others still, abut the gulf of Mexico. In each case, the land offered was either viable in its current condition, or manipulable with minimal earth-moving.

2) Diverse Layouts

I’m the first to step forth and say that there was a lot about Roger Rulewich’s approach to golf course architecture that I dislike. I found his Ballyowen in New Jersey to be nearly unplayable. Perhaps it was the pretense of an Irish golf course, that in no way, shape or form looked like, felt like, played like, an Irish golf course. I wasn’t a fan of Saratoga National, either, as it seemed to base itself on ways to disrupt golf with water. It’s known that Rulewich was the driving force behind the RTJ Trail. Mr. Jones, Sr., was up in years when the trail was build: he passed away in 2000, 6 days short of his 94th birthday. As his lieutenant, Rulewich oversaw much of design and construction. AND he did a great job. Our trip took us from Prattsville to Birmingham, to Auburn/Opelika. None of the courses felt remotely like a copy or twin of any other. I will warn you that the Links course at Grand National (Auburn/Opelika) is actually more lakes than the adjacent Lakes course, but that’s nothing. Both courses and the 18-hole, par-three layout on site are a barrel of fun.

Let me tell you what it’s like to play an 8200-yard course. The Ross Bridge course near Birmingham is a delight for the senses. Up and down wondrous land, bagpiper playing as your come to 9 or 18, vistas across adjoining fairways, extending for acres. Back to the challenge. For transparency, I’m a 52-year old, 5’9″ guy with above-average fitness and golf ability (I’m fairly strong, very good hand-eye coordination and a traveling 5 handicap), so base your personalization of this experience off that. Now, here is the paradigm: everything in your mind shifts. Your shortest par-3 hole is 250 yards, and most of them require a 235-yard carry over doom. Your par-4 holes live in the rarefied air above 480 yards, unless they are uphill and only 450. As for the par-5 holes, I almost parred one of them. I hit more solid shots on this golf course than I can describe, and I did not make a single par. I had plenty of chances at par, but couldn’t get the putts to fall. Zero greens in regulation meant zero birdie putts. No chip-ins, either. Are you begging the question “Why did you do it?” Imagine the ultra-marathoner and the challenge that she faces in running way more than 26 miles. I wanted the experience. I wasn’t interested in a score. No one but you cares what you shot on your trip; they only ask about the experience. For me, the experience was brought to fruition at 8200 yards.

We had the opportunity to play two short courses. Long before par-3 courses became the rage at Bandon Dunes and other locales, the RTJ Trail incorporated them into their sites. Their reasoning, based on logic, was that golfers might not be up for 36 challenging holes in a day, but they might like a warm-up 18, or a day-ender. Hence, the open-arms approach to the short course. The day we played the 8200 yard course at Ross Bridge, we warmed up at Oxmoor Valley’s wee links. I use the term warm up with intent; the morning was a chilly, windy one on the ridge, but when we descended into the valley, the wind abated. The vertical topography demands that holes play either up or down a slope. The other reason for the term is, you will use nearly every club in your bag. No need to go to the range before a round at Oxmoor or Ross Bridge. Play the short course early and you’ll be ready for 18 holes in no time.

Our other venture onto a less-than-regulation layout was at Grand National. Home to the aforementioned pair of regulation courses (Lakes and Links), Rulewich and Jones found a way to weave the short course onto the same land as the big fellows. No perimeter wasteland here, no use of unneeded land for a throwaway course. The shortie at Grand National is just the thing to end a day, which is what we did when we pulled into town. Knowing that we had 36 big holes the following morning, we opted for brief and exciting, and Grand National Short offered both. Oh, if you’re wondering, the Lakes and Links courses provide the same memories, challenges and thrills. Former home to the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship, if I had to pick one resort to which to return, it would be hard to say no to Grand National.

3) Nearby Towns

It’s a 360 mile drive from Huntsville (in the north) to Point Clear (in the south), the longest distance between sites. Not far behind is the 340-mile trek from Muscle Shoals (also in the north) to Point Clear. That’s a lot of state, and to imagine 9 other sites and almost 400 other holes in between, is nearly preposterous. Fortunately, the Trail lives in harmony with its state. Unlike some resorts that strive to keep you on site, gypping the local businesses of needed cash and awareness, courses along the trail encourage you to visit places like Opelika, Prattville and Point Clear. The esprit de corps of an entire state is on display at every stop along the trail.

Case in point: Opelika. No need to ride-share from the resort. One of the drivers will take you into town, and pick you up at the pre-arranged hour. No charge for the ride, but don’t forget to tip the chauffeur. We took a 10-minute ride into town, expecting only dinner. What we found was a delightful, reclaimed downtown. Once home to factories and a busy train trestle, this pleasant area is now home to restaurants, breweries, distilleries and benches. What better place to be, after a round or two of golf, than an urban space with a place to dine, quaff, and relax? If you’re in the area in the fall, there’s another town nearby, called Auburn. Rumor is, they play a bit of football over there.

You’ll find an Opelika nearly everywhere you go along the trail. Each has its own flavor to savor, and offers the perfect complement to hard-fought battles on the links. As much as I want to return to see the other courses along the trail, I also want to visit the Yellowhammer state again for its small towns.

Opelika At Night

4) Lodging

It might seem odd to return to the importance of lodging, immediately after I’ve suggested you take a tour of the towns that house the Trail venues. There are times aplenty when you don’t want to go out after 36 holes. You want to lay down in a comfortable bed for a few hours, have a nice dinner on site, and watch a game or two on television, in the tavern. The majority of the properties have on-site lodging, allowing you to roll out of the golf cart and into your room. It’s time for a dip in the pool or hot tub, followed by a beverage at the outdoor bar. Or, a quick shower and nap, then down to the grill room for some vittles.

Oh, the room. Let’s not forget the beds that make you feel like you’re sleeping on air cushions, the sitting rooms that allow friends to gather for television or conversation, nor the windows that look out, more often than not, onto the golf courses themselves. If it weren’t for the golf, you’d be forgiven for spending as much time as possible in the suite! Ironically, the one resort where we had to stay off-site was the one we most wanted to see. The Ross Bridge clubhouse and lodge, a Marriott property, was completely booked by a company for a retreat. No rooms were available, and you couldn’t go inside at the turn or the 19th hole, except to visit the pro shop. It’s understandable why that company, and others like it, would want to seclude its employees for training purposes. With gentle waterfalls, distant vistas and multiple dining options, Ross Bridge might be the premier property along the entire Robert Trent Jones golf trail.

Concluding Thoughts

–The best place to fly into is Atlanta. The drive is not too distant, and is entirely interstate. You even gain an hour when entering Alabama. What’s more, with Atlanta being a hub for so many airlines, chances are excellent that travel costs will be reduced;

–Our visit included the middle row of courses, from top to bottom. We saw some of Oxmoor Valley, and all of Ross Bridge, Capitol Hill and Grand National. A second visit would be the northern trio of The Shoals, Hampton Cove and Silver Lakes, where 6 regulation and 1 short course await. Visit #3 would take on the southern tier, the most ambitious of the trips. Four sites, offering 8 full-size and 1 short course, sit in anticipation of our arrival. After that, a 4th trip would select the favorite properties. Interstates and beltways move travelers from each corner and every perimeter, in appropriate amounts of time;

–As with any golf getaway, do your homework and know what to expect from the weather. My threesome assumed (typical northerners) that anything south of us would be balmy, steamy and sunny. It certainly was more enjoyable than upstate New York in March, but had we packed properly, we would have muttered less. Alabama is a beautiful state, and the positioning of the RTJ Trail golf courses throughout, ensures that visitors will experience and enjoy something new, no matter which corners of the state they visit.

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Photos Courtesy of Michael Clemmer for RTJ Golf Trail

Capitol Hill , Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Prattville, Alabama, Photo courtesy of Michael Clemmer

Capitol Hill, Prattville, AL, Photo courtesy of Michael Clemmer

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Capitol Hill, Prattville, AL, Photo courtesy of Michael Clemmer

Oxmoor Valley/Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Birmingham, AL, Photo courtesy of Michael Clemmer

Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa, Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Birmingham, AL, Photo courtesy of Michael Clemmer

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s LIV Golf Singapore betting preview: Course specialist ready to thrive once again

Published

5 days ago

Apr 30, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

After another strong showing in Australia, LIV Golf will head to Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore looking to build off of what was undoubtedly their best event to date.

Sentosa Golf Club sits on the southern tip of Singapore and is one of the most beautiful courses in the world. The course is more than just incredible scenically; it was also rated 55th in Golf Digest’s top-100 courses in 2022-2023 and has been consistently regarded as one of the best courses in Asia. Prior to being part of the LIV rotation, the course hosted the Singapore Open every year since 2005.

Sentosa Golf Club is a par 71 measuring 7,406 yards. The course will require precise ball striking and some length off the tee. It’s possible to go low due to the pristine conditions, but there are also plenty of hazards and difficult spots on the course that can bring double bogey into play in a hurry. The Bermudagrass greens are perfectly manicured, and the course has spent millions on the sub-air system to keep the greens rolling fast. I spoke to Asian Tour player, Travis Smyth, who described the greens as “the best [he’s] ever played.”

Davis Love III, who competed in a Singapore Open in 2019, also gushed over the condition of the golf course.

“I love the greens. They are fabulous,” the 21-time PGA Tour winner said.

Love III also spoke about other aspects of the golf course.

“The greens are great; the fairways are perfect. It is a wonderful course, and it’s tricky off the tee.”

“It’s a long golf course, and you get some long iron shots. It takes somebody hitting it great to hit every green even though they are big.”

As Love III said, the course can be difficult off the tee due to the length of the course and the trouble looming around every corner. It will take a terrific ball striking week to win at Sentosa Golf Club.

In his pre-tournament press conference last season, Phil Mickelson echoed many of the same sentiments.

“To play Sentosa effectively, you’re going to have a lot of shots from 160 to 210, a lot of full 6-, 7-, 8-iron shots, and you need to hit those really well and you need to drive the ball well.”

Golfers who excel from tee to green and can dial in their longer irons will have a massive advantage this week.

Stat Leaders at LIV Golf Adelaide:

Fairways Hit

1.) Louis Oosthuizen

2.) Anirban Lahiri

3.) Jon Rahm

4.) Brendan Steele

5.) Cameron Tringale

Greens in Regulation

1.) Brooks Koepka

2.) Brendan Steele

3.) Dean Burmester

4.) Cameron Tringale

5.) Anirban Lahiri

Birdies Made

1.) Brendan Steele

2.) Dean Burmester

3.) Thomas Pieters

4.) Patrick Reed

5.) Carlos Ortiz

LIV Golf Individual Standings:

1.) Joaquin Niemann

2.) Jon Rahm

3.) Dean Burmester

4.) Louis Oosthuizen

5.) Abraham Ancer

LIV Golf Team Standings:

1.) Crushers

2.) Legion XIII

3.) Torque

4.) Stinger GC

5.) Ripper GC

LIV Golf Singapore Picks

Sergio Garcia +3000 (DraftKings)

Sergio Garcia is no stranger to Sentosa Golf Club. The Spaniard won the Singapore Open in 2018 by five strokes and lost in a playoff at LIV Singapore last year to scorching hot Talor Gooch. Looking at the course setup, it’s no surprise that a player like Sergio has played incredible golf here. He’s long off the tee and is one of the better long iron players in the world when he’s in form. Garcia is also statistically a much better putter on Bermudagrass than he is on other putting surfaces. He’s putt extremely well on Sentosa’s incredibly pure green complexes.

This season, Garcia has two runner-up finishes, both of them being playoff losses. Both El Camaleon and Doral are courses he’s had success at in his career. The Spaniard is a player who plays well at his tracks, and Sentosa is one of them. I believe Sergio will get himself in the mix this week. Hopefully the third time is a charm in Singapore.

Paul Casey +3300 (FanDuel)

Paul Casey is in the midst of one of his best seasons in the five years or so. The results recently have been up and down, but he’s shown that when he’s on a golf course that suits his game, he’s amongst the contenders.

This season, Casey has finishes of T5 (LIV Las Vegas), T2 (LIV Hong Kong), and a 6th at the Singapore Classic on the DP World Tour. At his best, the Englishman is one of the best long iron players in the world, which makes him a strong fit for Sentosa. Despite being in poor form last season, he was able to fire a Sunday 63, which shows he can low here at the course.

It’s been three years since Casey has won a tournament (Omega Dubai Desert Classic in 2021), but he’s been one of the top players on LIV this season and I think he can get it done at some point this season.

Mito Pereira +5000 (Bet365)

Since Mito Pereira’s unfortunate demise at the 2022 PGA Championship, he’s been extremely inconsistent. However, over the past few months, the Chilean has played well on the International Series as well as his most recent LIV start. Mito finished 8th at LIV Adelaide, which was his best LIV finish this season.

Last year, Pereira finished 5th at LIV Singapore, shooting fantastic rounds of 67-66-66. It makes sense why Mito would like Sentosa, as preeminent ball strikers tend to rise to the challenge of the golf course. He’s a great long iron player who is long and straight off the tee.

Mito has some experience playing in Asia and is one of the most talented players on LIV who’s yet to get in the winner’s circle. I have questions about whether or not he can come through once in contention, but if he gets there, I’m happy to roll the dice.

Andy Ogletree +15000 (DraftKings)

Andy Ogletree is a player I expected to have a strong 2024 but struggled early in his first full season on LIV. After failing to crack the top-25 in any LIV event this year, the former U.S. Amateur champion finally figured things out, finished in a tie for 3rd at LIV Adelaide.

Ogletree should be incredible comfortable playing in Singapore. He won the International Series Qatar last year and finished T3 at the International Series Singapore. The 26-year-old was arguably the best player on the Asian Tour in 2023 and has been fantastic in the continent over the past 18 months.

If Ogletree has indeed found form, he looks to be an amazing value at triple-digit odds.

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Opinion & Analysis

Ryan: Lessons from the worst golf instructor in America

Published

5 days ago

Apr 30, 2024

Brendan Ryan

In Tampa, there is a golf course that boasts carts that do not work, a water range, and a group of players none of which have any chance to break 80. The course is overseen by a staff of crusty men who have succeeded at nothing in life but ending up at the worst-run course in America. However, this place is no failure. With several other local courses going out of business — and boasting outstanding greens — the place is booked full.

While I came for the great greens, I stayed to watch our resident instructor; a poor-tempered, method teacher who caters to the hopeless. At first, it was simply hilarious. However, after months of listening and watching, something clicked. I realized I had a front-row seat to the worst golf instructor in America.

Here are some of my key takeaways.

Method Teacher

It is widely accepted that there are three types of golf instructors: system teachers, non-system teachers, and method teachers. Method teachers prescribe the same antidote for each student based on a preamble which teachers can learn in a couple day certification.

Method teaching allows anyone to be certified. This process caters to the lowest caliber instructor, creating the illusion of competency. This empowers these underqualified instructors with the moniker of “certified” to prey on the innocent and uninformed.

The Cult of Stack and Jilt

The Stack and Tilt website proudly boasts, “A golfer swings his hands inward in the backswing as opposed to straight back to 1) create power, similar to a field goal kicker moving his leg in an arc and 2) to promote a swing that is in-to-out, which produces a draw (and eliminates a slice).”

Now, let me tell you something, there is this law of the universe which says “energy can either be created or destroyed,” so either these guys are defying physics or they have no idea what they are taking about. Further, the idea that the first move of the backswing determines impact is conjecture with a splash of utter fantasy.

These are the pontifications of a method — a set of prescriptions applied to everyone with the hope of some success through the placebo effect. It is one thing for a naive student to believe, for a golf instructor to drink and then dispel this Kool-Aid is malpractice.

Fooled by Randomness

In flipping a coin, or even a March Madness bet, there is a 50-50 chance of success. In golf, especially for new players, results are asymmetric. Simply put: Anything can happen. The problem is that when bad instructors work with high handicappers, each and every shot gets its own diagnosis and prescription. Soon the student is overwhelmed.

Now here’s the sinister thing: The overwhelming information is by design. In this case, the coach is not trying to make you better, they are trying to make you reliant on them for information. A quasi Stockholm syndrome of codependency.

Practice

One of the most important scientists of the 20th century was Ivan Pavlov. As you might recall, he found that animals, including humans, could be conditioned into biological responses. In golf, the idea of practice has made millions of hackers salivate that they are one lesson or practice session from “the secret.”

Sunk Cost

The idea for the worst golf instructor is to create control and dependency so that clients ignore the sunk cost of not getting better. Instead, they are held hostage by the idea that they are one lesson or tip away from unlocking their potential.

Cliches

Cliches have the effect of terminating thoughts. However, they are the weapon of choice for this instructor. Add some hyperbole and students actually get no information. As a result, these players couldn’t play golf. When they did, they had no real scheme. With no idea what they are doing, they would descend into a spiral of no idea what to do, bad results, lower confidence, and running back to the lesson tee from more cliches.

The fact is that poor instruction is about conditioning players to become reliant members of your cult. To take away autonomy. To use practice as a form of control. To sell more golf lessons not by making people better but through the guise that without the teacher, the student can never reach their full potential. All under the umbrella of being “certified” (in a 2-day course!) and a melee of cliches.

This of course is not just happening at my muni but is a systemic problem around the country and around the world, the consequences of which are giving people a great reason to stop playing golf. But hey, at least it’s selling a lot of golf balls…

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans betting preview

Published

2 weeks ago

Apr 22, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

The PGA TOUR heads to New Orleans to play the 2023 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. In a welcome change from the usual stroke play, the Zurich Classic is a team event. On Thursday and Saturday, the teams play best ball, and on Friday and Sunday the teams play alternate shot.

TPC Louisiana is a par 72 that measures 7,425 yards. The course features some short par 4s and plenty of water and bunkers, which makes for a lot of exciting risk/reward scenarios for competitors. Pete Dye designed the course in 2004 specifically for the Zurich Classic, although the event didn’t make its debut until 2007 because of Hurricane Katrina.

Coming off of the Masters and a signature event in consecutive weeks, the field this week is a step down, and understandably so. Many of the world’s top players will be using this time to rest after a busy stretch.

However, there are some interesting teams this season with some stars making surprise appearances in the team event. Some notable teams include Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa and Kurt Kitayama, Will Zalatoris and Sahith Theegala as well as a few Canadian teams, Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin and Taylor Pendrith and Corey Conners.

Past Winners at TPC Louisiana

2023: Riley/Hardy (-30)
2022: Cantlay/Schauffele (-29)
2021: Leishman/Smith (-20)
2019: Palmer/Rahm (-26)
2018: Horschel/Piercy (-22)
2017: Blixt/Smith (-27)

2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans Picks

Tom Hoge/Maverick McNealy +2500 (DraftKings)

Tom Hoge is coming off of a solid T18 finish at the RBC Heritage and finished T13 at last year’s Zurich Classic alongside Harris English.

This season, Hoge is having one of his best years on Tour in terms of Strokes Gained: Approach. In his last 24 rounds, the only player to top him on the category is Scottie Scheffler. Hoge has been solid on Pete Dye designs, ranking 28th in the field over his past 36 rounds.

McNealy is also having a solid season. He’s finished T6 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and T9 at the PLAYERS Championship. He recently started working with world renowned swing coach, Butch Harmon, and its seemingly paid dividends in 2024.

Keith Mitchell/Joel Dahmen +4000 (DraftKings)

Keith Mitchell is having a fantastic season, finishing in the top-20 of five of his past seven starts on Tour. Most recently, Mitchell finished T14 at the Valero Texas Open and gained a whopping 6.0 strokes off the tee. He finished 6th at last year’s Zurich Classic.

Joel Dahmen is having a resurgent year and has been dialed in with his irons. He also has a T11 finish at the PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass which is another Pete Dye track. With Mitchell’s length and Dahmen’s ability to put it close with his short irons, the Mitchell/Dahmen combination will be dangerous this week.

Taylor Moore/Matt NeSmith +6500 (DraftKings)

Taylor Moore has quickly developed into one of the more consistent players on Tour. He’s finished in the top-20 in three of his past four starts, including a very impressive showing at The Masters, finishing T20. He’s also finished T4 at this event in consecutive seasons alongside Matt NeSmith.

NeSmith isn’t having a great 2024, but has seemed to elevate his game in this format. He finished T26 at Pete Dye’s TPC Sawgrass, which gives the 30-year-old something to build off of. NeSmith is also a great putter on Bermudagrass, which could help elevate Moore’s ball striking prowess.

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