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, 3328 yds from back tees).
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 (Links)
Robert Trent Jones 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 RTJ 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: 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: 7th 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:
2021 Opens: whether by accident or design, four of the top five mens’ Open Championships played in the British Isles occupy consecutive weeks in July: the Irish Open (1-4), Scottish Open (8-11), The Open (15-18) and Wales Open (22-25). The recently relaunched English Open is scheduled for early-August.
Hoag Classic: Ernie Els defends his title in this prestigious PGA Tour Champions event, played since 1991 at the Newport Beach Country Club, CA (Mar 5-7).
Who's Who:
Brooks Koepka: won his second Phoenix Open title, with a chip-in eagle at TPC Scottsdale’s short par-4 17th included in his final round.
Annika Sörenstam: the legendary Swede makes a return to the LPGA Tour in the Gainbridge LPGA, to be played at Lake Nona, her home club (Feb 25-28).
Nicklaus Design to create new course for Qiddiya development in Saudi Arabia
Layout is first of two planned for country club within residential community.
Chart Hills Golf Club: On Christmas Eve 2019, the course became part of the Ramac Group also the proprietors of the famous Prince’s Golf Club, in Sandwich on the Kent coast. Read more ...
Oú sont les femmes? Why there are so few women in golf course architecture.
Dundonald Links Scotland: Construction work is in progress on new practice facilities and course changes at Dundonald Links in Irvine, Scotland, as part of a £25 million investment by new owners Darwin Escapes that also includes the construction of a new clubhouse with rooms, plus eighteen lodges. Read more ...
R&A submits planning application for new golf facility in Glasgow.
Look up the Top Golf Courses in Scotland.
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