3000 Robert Trent Jones Trail,
Opelika, Alabama AL 36801
Office
+1 (800) 949 4444 (Reservations)Pro shop
+1 (334) 749 9042Fax
+1 (205) 290 1241Website
Visit websiteThe Course:
18 holes. Tree-lined & open parkland. Undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb and some long green-to-tee walks. Buggies generally used.
Surroundings:
Lakeside and woodland.
Designer:
Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Above distances are for the Lake course. Also at Grand National is the 18-hole Links course (par-72, 7311 yds from back tees) and 18-hole Short course (par-54, 3328 yds).
32.675406
-85.427027
6 miles NE of Auburn / 3 miles NW of Opelika
From the I-85 (south of Opelika) take exit 58, and follow Hwy 280 West, direction Opelika. After 5.4 miles turn right into the 97 North (Grand National Parkway). After 2.5 miles turn right into SunBelt Parkway, and follow road for 2 miles to clubhouse.
Grand National (Lake)
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Grand National (Lake course): Here at Grand National, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail serves up two spectacular woodland-lakeside championship courses. It’s a matter of personal choice whether you rank the Links layout above the Lake, or vice versa - most golfers adore them both. Identical twins in many respects, the Links and Lake courses both throw down an excellent golfing challenge.
The Lake course is a little shorter, fractionally less undulating and perhaps more open in some places than its sibling. As you'd imagine there are plenty of lakeside holes that grace the superbly natural environment around Sougahatchee Lake. In addition, an equal number make their way through fabulous stretches of woodland, briefly taking you away from the lakeshore, before bringing you back down again to the water's edge.
The signature hole, the island green par-3 15th, is played from an elevated tee ... up to 230 yards away if you dare! One of the Trail's best par-3 holes, it's not the only star attraction on this stunning layout.
The undulating and often elevated greens on the Lake course are smaller than on the Links, with one notable exception. The 1st and 6th holes share a double-green that stretches to almost 100 yards from front to back. Many of the greens are well protected by good bunkering, including strategically placed pot bunkers. You'll also need to beware the flag positions on the lakeside holes. Several will tempt you to take aim a tad too close to the water for comfort.
Stay&Play: luxury onsite accommodation is available (see Where2Stay section below).
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance. Bookings can be made directly with each course or via RTJ Trail Central Reservations.
Credit cards accepted. Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2018].
Walking permitted. Golf carts available to rent.
Excellent
Lake Saugahatchee is the lake around which Grand National's Links and Lake courses are wrapped. Saugahatchee comes from the Creek Indian language and means "rattling river". Look out for the remains of a chimney behind the clubhouse. It's all that's left of the house built by the Lipscomb family, the first colonial settlers of this site.
About the RTJ Trail: See Where2Golf.com entry for Silver Lakes (Did You Know section).
2019/20 Golf Digest rating: 9th best course in Alabama.
3700 Robert Trent Jones Trail, Opelika, Alabama 36801
+1 (334) 741 9292
Visit websiteNestled on 2,000 acres of Lake Saugahatchee countryside, and overlooking a Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail course, this is an exceptional golf and business hotel, located 10 minutes from Auburn University in the quaint, historic town of Opelika.
Grand National (Links and Lake courses)
No
Auburn Links at Grand National
2430 South College Street, Auburn, AL 36832
+1 (334) 821 4111
Visit websiteDIRECTIONS : From the I-85 (SW of Auburn) take exit 51 (S College Street) and follow the 29 South. Hotel is on your right after a few hundred yards.
No
Auburn Links at Mill Creek
Grand National (Links and Lake courses)
Tournaments:
Solheim Cup: can Europe defend the most prestigious team trophy in women’s professional golf, when the 17th Solheim Cup is played out at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio (Sept 4-6).
Italian Open: Nicolai Højgaard recorded his first European Tour win (Sept 5), just a week after his twin brother Rasmus landed the European Masters title (Aug 29); the first brothers to win back-to-back on the European Tour.
Who's Who:
Patrick Cantlay: moved into the world top 5, after winning the final two FedEx Cup playoff events and scooping the $15 million first prize.
Trish Johnson: kept the Senior LPGA Championship trophy in European hands, with her second win in this event in its four-year history.
Golf World Top 100: Best Golf Courses in Europe. From France to Spain to the Netherlands and Norway, the Golf World Top 100 panel reveals the places you have to play (published 20 October 2021).
New 27-hole golf complex to be built in southern Belgium
A new golf complex in southern Belgium, close to the border with Luxembourg, will start construction in June 2021.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club "makes its tournament debut with the hosting of the Italian Open on the European Tour" by Richard Humphreys
Gamble Sands opens short course:
David McLay Kidd’s 14-hole QuickSands short course has opened for play at Gamble Sands in Brewster, Washington.
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