Southeast
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Alabama
Twenty-six championship courses across eleven sites for the price of one round at Pebble Beach — the best value in American golf, and it is not close.
Overview
The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is the greatest value proposition in American golf. Period. Stretching across the state of Alabama from Huntsville to Mobile, the Trail encompasses 11 sites with 26 courses — all designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and all maintained to a standard that would shame courses charging three times the price. Green fees range from $40 to $135, and stay-and-play packages with on-site lodging start at $115 per person per day. For context, that is less than the cart fee at some resort destinations.
The courses are not budget-course quality at budget prices — they are genuine championship layouts with immaculate conditioning, dramatic bunkering (RTJ's signature), and creative routing through Alabama's surprisingly varied terrain. Ross Bridge in Birmingham is a massive, dramatic layout with 10 water holes. Capitol Hill in Prattville offers three courses including The Judge, which is consistently ranked among the best public courses in America. Grand National in Opelika sits on the shores of Lake Saugahatchee with stunning water views. Cambrian Ridge in Greenville provides sweeping valley vistas.
The Trail works best as a road-trip itinerary. Groups typically pick a corridor — the Birmingham cluster (Ross Bridge, Oxmoor Valley), the Montgomery-Prattville cluster (Capitol Hill, Cambrian Ridge), or the Auburn-Opelika cluster (Grand National) — and build a 3-5 day trip around two or three sites. The driving between sites is part of the experience, rolling through small-town Alabama with its genuine Southern hospitality, barbecue joints, and college football culture.
Courses · 5
Ross Bridge (Birmingham)
Public · Championship
$110-$135
Best for: The group's anchor round. Ross Bridge is the Trail's crown jewel — the most dramatic, best-conditioned, and most resort-like experience. This is the course that makes people say 'how is this only $130?'
Insider tip: Ross Bridge is the newest and most expensive course on the Trail, but at $110-$135 it is still a fraction of comparable resort courses elsewhere. The 18th hole at 655 yards is the longest on any RTJ Trail course — lay up to your favorite approach distance and enjoy the amphitheater finish. The on-site Renaissance hotel makes this the easiest Trail site for a self-contained trip.
Oxmoor Valley — Ridge Course (Birmingham)
Public · Challenging
$49-$79
Best for: Groups who want a second Birmingham-area round at an incredible price. The Ridge Course is a strong complement to Ross Bridge.
Insider tip: Oxmoor Valley has three courses — the Ridge (the best), the Valley, and the Short Course (a par-3 course that makes a great afternoon warmup or cooldown). Play the Ridge in the morning and the Short Course in the afternoon for a full day of golf under $100.
Capitol Hill — The Judge (Prattville)
Public · Championship
$49-$74
Best for: Serious golfers who want the Trail's most demanding and highest-rated course. The Judge is consistently ranked among the best public courses in the Southeast.
Insider tip: The Judge's opening tee shot — a 180-foot elevation drop to a wide fairway — is the most memorable first swing on the entire Trail. Take a moment to absorb it before teeing off. The course is demanding but fair from the right tees. Play the middle tees (6,500 yards) unless you are a single-digit handicap.
Grand National — Lake Course (Opelika)
Public · Moderate-Challenging
$49-$74
Best for: Groups who want beautiful lake scenery with their championship golf. The Lake Course is photogenic and fun without being punitive.
Insider tip: Grand National sits on 600 acres along Lake Saugahatchee. The Lake Course's 15th hole — a par 3 to a peninsula green — is arguably the most beautiful hole on the entire Trail. If you are an Auburn fan, pair your golf trip with a football weekend (the course is 15 minutes from Jordan-Hare Stadium).
Cambrian Ridge (Greenville)
Public · Moderate-Challenging
$40-$62
Best for: Groups who want the purest Trail value. Three nines at under $65 with views that rival courses charging 10x the price.
Insider tip: Cambrian Ridge has three nines — Canyon, Loblolly, and Sherling — that can be combined into three different 18-hole routings. The Canyon/Sherling combination is the best, with the most dramatic terrain and views. At $40-$62 per round, this might be the best dollar-per-quality-hole value in American golf.
Lodging
Premium
Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa (Birmingham)
$200-$350The flagship Trail lodging. 259-room resort adjacent to Ross Bridge course. Full spa, pools, fitness center, and multiple dining options. The best self-contained Trail experience — you can play Ross Bridge, Oxmoor Valley, and never need to drive more than 15 minutes.
Mid-Range
Marriott Prattville at Capitol Hill (Prattville)
$130-$225Adjacent to the three Capitol Hill courses. 96 rooms with stay-and-play packages that represent incredible value. On-site restaurant and bar. No spa but the rooms are comfortable and the proximity to The Judge cannot be beat.
Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa (Opelika)
$140-$250Adjacent to Grand National. Full-service resort with spa, pools, and dining. Excellent base for the Auburn-Opelika Trail cluster. Walking distance to Grand National courses. Group packages available.
Hampton Inn Prattville
$100-$160Reliable chain option near Capitol Hill. Complimentary breakfast. 10-minute drive to the courses. For groups who want to spend on golf, not lodging.
Budget
Holiday Inn Express Birmingham/Hoover
$90-$140Budget-friendly near Ross Bridge and Oxmoor Valley. Complimentary breakfast. Clean and functional. This is a golf trip, not a spa retreat — the money you save goes to extra rounds.
Fairfield Inn & Suites Opelika
$85-$130Budget option near Grand National. Complimentary breakfast. Reliable Marriott property. 10-minute drive to the courses. On a college football weekend, rates spike — book early if combining golf and Auburn football.
Dining
Highlands Bar & Grill (Birmingham)
$$$$Southern / French
James Beard Award-winning restaurant from chef Frank Stitt — named Best Restaurant in America in 2018. Sophisticated Southern cuisine in an elegant setting. The splurge dinner of the trip. Book 2-4 weeks in advance. Semi-private dining available.
Saw's BBQ (Birmingham)
$Alabama BBQ
The pulled pork with white BBQ sauce (an Alabama specialty) is the thing. Multiple locations in the Birmingham metro. Counter service, fast, excellent, and cheap. The perfect post-round lunch.
Hot & Hot Fish Club (Birmingham)
$$$Southern Seafood
Chef Chris Hastings (Iron Chef winner) serves seasonal Southern cuisine with a focus on seafood. The tomato salad in summer is iconic. A strong choice for the group dinner that is not BBQ.
Capital Oyster Bar (Montgomery)
$$Seafood / Oysters
Gulf oysters, fried shrimp, and cold beer in Montgomery. Casual, affordable, and genuinely good. A reliable stop for groups playing the Capitol Hill corridor.
Dreamland Bar-B-Que (Tuscaloosa/Birmingham)
$Alabama BBQ
Alabama BBQ institution since 1958. The ribs are the only thing on the menu (plus white bread and sauce). No pretension, no sides, just ribs. Multiple locations. The original is in Tuscaloosa near the University of Alabama campus.
Pro Tips
- 1
Buy the Trail Card ($49.95) before your trip. It provides discounts at every Trail site and pays for itself within two rounds. The 9-hole rate (60% of green fee + cart) is excellent for afternoons when you want a short loop.
- 2
Build your trip around a corridor, not the whole Trail. The Birmingham cluster (Ross Bridge + Oxmoor Valley) and the Prattville cluster (Capitol Hill three courses) each provide 3-4 days of excellent golf without excessive driving.
- 3
The Judge at Capitol Hill is the best individual course on the Trail. If you can only play one RTJ Trail course, play The Judge. If you can play two, add Ross Bridge.
- 4
Bring a cooler in the car. Alabama allows you to bring your own food and beverages to most Trail courses (check each site's policy). A cooler of sandwiches and drinks keeps your on-course costs minimal.
- 5
If your group includes college football fans, time your trip for a fall football weekend. Play Grand National in the morning, tailgate at Auburn in the afternoon. Or play Oxmoor Valley and hit a Tuscaloosa game. The energy is unmatched.
Sample Itineraries
weekend getaway
3 daysDay 1: Fly into BHM, check into Renaissance Ross Bridge, afternoon round at Oxmoor Valley Ridge Course ($65), dinner at Saw's BBQ. Day 2: Morning round at Ross Bridge ($130 — the main event), afternoon at Oxmoor Valley Short Course, big group dinner at Highlands Bar & Grill or Hot & Hot Fish Club. Day 3: Morning round at Oxmoor Valley Valley Course, lunch at Dreamland BBQ, depart.
full trip
5 daysDay 1: Fly into BHM, check into Renaissance Ross Bridge, afternoon round at Oxmoor Valley Short Course to warm up, dinner at Saw's BBQ. Day 2: Morning round at Ross Bridge, afternoon exploring Birmingham (Civil Rights Institute, Avondale Brewing), dinner at Highlands Bar & Grill. Day 3: Morning round at Oxmoor Valley Ridge Course, drive to Prattville (90 min), check into Marriott Capitol Hill, afternoon round at Capitol Hill Senator Course, dinner at Capital Oyster Bar. Day 4: Morning round at Capitol Hill Judge Course (the Trail's best), drive to Greenville (45 min), afternoon round at Cambrian Ridge Canyon/Sherling, drive back to Prattville, dinner at a local spot. Day 5: Morning round at Capitol Hill Legislator Course, lunch and depart via MGM or drive to BHM.
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