450 Old Highway (431 South),
Owens Cross Roads, Alabama AL 35763
The Course:
18 holes. Tree-lined & open parkland. Undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb (most notably at the 9th hole).
Surroundings:
Residential and woodland.
Designer:
Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Above distances are for the Highlands course. Also at Hampton Cove is the 18-hole River course (par-72; 7667 yds from back tees); 18-hole Short course (par-54; 3635 yds).
34.665263
-86.464933
9 miles SE of Huntsville
From the I-565 in Hunstville take exit 19A-19B and follow the 231 South. After approx 1 mile exit onto Governor's Drive (Hwy 431). After approx 9 miles turn left onto Old Hwy 431. After 1 mile turn right into golf club.
Hampton Cove (Highlands)
RTJ Golf Trail - Hampton Cove (Highlands course): This northern Alabama stop on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail boasts two fine championship golf layouts ... the Highlands and River courses. If the name Highlands has you imagining a mountainous experience, don’t worry. Pleasantly rolling fairways rather than huge elevation changes are the main feature of this pleasant and testing parkland layout.
Only at the uphill par-5 9th does the Highlands layout require you to do any Himalayan-style climbing. The following par-4 10th brings you swiftly back down again to commence a back-nine that is more about lakes and water hazards than highland mountains.
Your shot preparation shouldn't be too disturbed by the housing that lines some holes. If nervy gremlins do creep into your thinking, it's more likely they'll try to pitch into your short game. Without exception the greens here are elevated, uniformly small (although not too small to be full of testing undulations) and often fiercely defended by significant bunkering. Miss the greens and you'll be navigating the ball back up steep greenside slopes, with your pitching and chipping skills fully put to the test.
Although there is more housing around this course that at the other Robert Trent Jones Trail locations, there are also some picturesque views onto the Appalachian foothills in the distance.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance. Bookings can be made directly with each course or via Central Reservations on +1 (800) 949 4444 (toll free) or +1 (205) 942 0444 or e-mail to reservationsrequest@rtj.com.
Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2024].
Walking permitted. Golf carts available to rent.
Good
The Highlands Course at Hampton Cove was planted with thousands of Japanese black pines, oaks, dogwoods and crepe myrtles to enhance such features as the old mule barn beside the fifth hole.
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.
501 Boulevard South, Hunstville, AL 35802
+1 (256) 882 2228
Visit websiteThe Hampton Inn - South Parkway is located off Memorial Parkway, near the Redstone Arsenal's main gate #1 and NASA, just south of Hunstville. DIRECTIONS : From the I-565 near the centre of Hunstville take the 231 South (S. Memorial Parkway). After approx 4 miles (go under only overpass on 231), turn right at next traffic lights onto Blvd South. Hampton Inn is 2nd building on the right.
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Hampton Cove (Highlands and River courses).
4804 University Drive, Hunstville, AL 35816
+1 (256) 837 1400
Visit websiteDIRECTIONS : On west side of Huntsville take exit 340 from I-565 East (Research Park Blvd North). After approx 2 miles take Hwy 72 East (University Dr). After approx 2 miles the hotel is on your left.
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Hampton Cove (Highlands and River courses).
Presidents Cup: Geoff Ogilvy’s International Team take on Brandt Snedeker’s USA Team at the revered Medinah Country Club, near Chicago. The Internationals are trying to halt a run of 11 consecutive American wins. (Sept 24-27).
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Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
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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.
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Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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