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 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 Links course. Also at Grand National is the 18-hole Lake course (par-72, 7149 yds from back tees, and 18-hole Short course (par-54, 3126 yds).
32.683646
-85.415807
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 (Links)
RTJ Golf Trail - Grand National (Links course): If you're anticipating a treeless, duneland, links style layout, you'll be disappointed. If it's one of the Robert Trent Jones Trail's most stunning woodland-lakeside courses that appeals, then you are in exactly the right place.
The Links course here at Grand National, like its stablemate, the Lake course, comprises a stunningly beautiful collection of golf holes. In crafting this excellent layout, RTJ Snr made excellent use of the lakeshore and the gently undulating slopes around it.
Some holes climb up and away from the water; others bring you back down again in spectacular fashion from elevated tee-boxes. Several elevated greens jut out into the lake, with pin-positions that deliberately tempt your aim close to the water's edge.
Tall mature pine trees separate the well-bunkered fairways, often providing a stylish backdrop to the greens, which are typically large, undulating and as quick as you'll find anywhere. Protecting many of the putting surfaces is a goodly array of bunkers, including several pot bunkers, not unlike those found on a British links course.
Among many enchanting, but also challenging lakeside holes, the short par-4 8th will require precise tee and approach shots if par or better is in your thinking. You'll need to repeat this target golf combination at the longer and very exacting par-4 13th. With so many challenging and scenic holes on both the Links and Lake courses at Grand National, you''ll need to have a few spare balls in your bag and plenty of film (and/or battery life) in your camera.
Stay&Play at Grand National: 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.
Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2024].
Walking permitted. Golf carts available to rent.
Excellent
The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is a unique collection of eleven excellent golf venues spread through the State of Alabama. Dr. David Bronner, the then CEO of the organisation that ran the Alabama state-employees pension funds, originally conceived the idea of the Trail.
Bronner was convinced that creating a top-quality golf trail would attract golfers from near and far, raise Alabama's profile and at the same time earn a good return for the pension fund monies invested in the project - the world's largest golf course building project ever undertaken.
The original courses on the Trail (located at Hampton Cove, Silver Lakes, Oxmoor Valley, Capitol Hill, Grand National, Cambrian Ridge, Magnolia Grove, and Highland Oaks) were all designed by Robert Trent Jones and opened for play in 1992. Lakewood GC at Point Clear was acquired along with the Grand Hotel; its two golf courses were recently renovated and included in the Trail. Although not designed by Trent Jones, The Shoals and Ross Bridge were added to the Trail in more recent years.
Links course:
Alabama's 12th best course (Golf Digest, 2023/24).
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)
Women’s (British) Open: the last women’s major championship of the season is hosted by Royal Porthcawl GC. It’s the first time this fabulous seaside links course has hosted the event (July 31-Aug 3).
Walker Cup: the 50th playing of this prestigious men’s amateur event sees the GB&I go head-to-head against the defending USA team at Cypress Point Club, California (Sept 6-7). After that, all eyes turn to Bethpage State Park on Long Island, NY, where the American and defending European professional teams engage in the 45th Ryder Cup (Sept 27-29).
Lottie Woad: 21-year-old Woad burst onto the professional scene in July, with wins in the Women’s Irish Open (as an amateur) and three weeks later in the Women’s Scottish Open (as a professional). She nearly picked-up a major championship, placing third in The Evian in the same month.
Pádraig Harrington: the ever-likeable Irishman added the (British) Senior Open Championship title to his stellar array of tournament successes. His win came on Sunningdale’s spectacular Old Course. Harrington had already bagged the U.S. Senior Open title in June this year.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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.
