Boomer Golf Course Review

Boomer Golf Course Review
by Peter Blais

Today’s review:
Robert Trent Jones (RTJ) Golf Trail
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Warmer weather is on the horizon and Boomers looking for a spring golf destination should consider turning their gaze toward Alabama.

The Yellowhammer State – which comes from a nickname bestowed on a group of young Confederate soldiers from Huntsville - is home to the Robert Trent Jones (RTJ) Golf Trail (http://www.rtjgolf.com/trail/).

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Owned by the Retirement Systems of Alabama, the Trail is believed to be the largest golf course construction project ever attempted. It is a collection of 468 holes of championship golf at 11 different sites scattered around the state. Green fees are very affordable at most facilities, ranging from $45 to $64. The Wall Street Journal said the Trail "may be the biggest bargain in the country."

Alabama is blessed with warmth and sunshine for the greater part of the year, particularly in the southern part of the state. Most Trail sites are near an interstate or federal highway with each Trail site located within a two-hour drive of at least one other site. Many have affiliated resort hotels.

One of the best is Grand National in Opelika, home of Auburn University an hour east of Montgomery in southeast Alabama.

Still bursting with pride from its selection as the top public golf course in the 2009 Golf World Readers Choice awards, Grand National has laid out the welcome mat for Boomers.

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Robert Trent Jones, Sr. reportedly called the 600-acre location along Lake Saugahatchee the best site he had ever seen for a golf course. And the legendary architect took advantage of the waterside setting, routing 32 of 54 holes along its shores.

Golf Digest named the Links course the second-best new public course in America in 1993, followed by the Lake course as the fourth best. The facility has also earned lofty placements on affordability rankings thanks to its $45 to $64 greens fees.

Appropriately, 12 of the Lake Course holes hug the shore. The par-3s are particularly strong with the 230-yard, island green 15th often pronounced the prettiest hole on the entire RTJ Trail.

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The Links 18 is generally considered the stronger of the two championship-length layouts. The 18th hole is a great way to finish a round with a drive over water and approach to a pedestal green.
The Short course is a sporty 18-hole assemblage of par-3s with more than half the holes lying lakeside.
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As for lodging, the Auburn Marriott Opelika Hotel & Conference Center spreads out along 2,000 acres of lakefront property and is a frequent host to Auburn University visitors.

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Couples with fair games and competitive spirits may want to enter the Golf Digest Couples Classic (http://www.rtjgolf.com/tournaments/couplesclassic/) scheduled for Oct. 29-30, 2010.

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Accommodations are at the Auburn Marriott Opelika Hotel at Grand National and limited to the first 112 teams. The cost is $995 per couple and includes two nights lodging, two tournament rounds, one practice round on Friday, October 29, luncheon each tournament day, welcome reception Friday evening, tournament dinner Saturday, and prizes and gifts.

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Grand National Assistant Pro Bart Hiter said Boomer couples, groups and families will find the following of particular interest at Grand National.
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Boomer Couples
1. Variety. With three courses there is enough variety of terrain and tees to challenge top players and provide enjoyment for everyone else.
2. Clubhouse setting. The veranda affords a 360-degree view of the golf facility and countryside. It is a delightful setting for a meal and cocktail on sunny days.
3. See Couples Classic. Worth a second look.
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Boomer Groups
1. Never-ending challenge. With three courses, a variety of tees, convenient lodging at the Marriott and another RTJ Trail (Capitol Hill) complex just an hour away, groups can easily spend a few days or an entire week in the area.
2. Braggard fodder. The signature 15th hole on the Lake Course, with a carry over water of 130 to 245 yards depending on the tees, is likely to be the most-talked-about hole during post-round recaps.
3. Replay breaks. Same-day replays are available for 25 percent off the first-round rate.
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Boomer Families
1. Junior rates. Available for 50 percent off the rack rate.
2. Junior clinics. At least two available every year.
3. Shorter the better. The Short Course is the perfect place to start youngsters or beginners to the game because of its length and the fact it can be played on average in just over two hours.
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To visit the Grand National Web site, go to http://www.rtjgolf.com/grandnational/.
The above information on Grand National came from a recent course review appearing in Boomer Golf News – http://www.boomergolfnews.com/.



About Peter Blais
Peter is Publisher of Boomer Golf News. You can subscribe free to the Boomer Golf Newsletter here.

Peter is a member of our Boomer Authority community of experts.