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:
Women’s major championships: the month of June sees two women’s majors: the US Women’s Open (June 3-6), with A Lim Kim defending, and the Women’s PGA Championship (June 24-27), with Sei Young Kim defending.
Senior PGA Championship: the revered Southern Hills in Oklahoma hosts the 81st staging of this event (May 27-30); Ken Tanigawa holds the title from its last playing in 2019.
Who's Who:
Phil Mickelson: in winning the 2021 PGA Championship, the world’s most famous “leftie” became the oldest winner of a golf major championship.
Hideki Matsuyama: became the first Japanese professional to win a men’s major championship, when he triumphed in this year’s Masters Tournament.
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.
American Dunes opens for play following Nicklaus transformation
Nicklaus Design has transformed the former Grand Haven Golf Club in Michigan into the American Dunes Golf Club, a new public course that is now open for play
New course opens for play at Barnbougle
Bill Coore designs 14-hole layout with “sporty” holes on dune ridge above Lost Farm (golf carts allowed).
Gamble Sands opens short course:
David McLay Kidd’s 14-hole QuickSands short course has opened for play at Gamble Sands in Brewster, Washington.
You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.
