Contents
- The 10 Best Alabama Golf Courses Ranked in Order
- 1. Willow Point Golf & Country Club
- 2. Farmlinks Golf Club
- 3. Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail At Highland Oaks
- 4. Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail At Cambrian Ridge
- 5. Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail At Ross Bridge
- 6. Capital Hill Golf Course | Judge
- 7. The Shoals | The Schoolmaster
- 8. Kiva Dune
- 9. Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club
- 10. Capital Hill Golf Course | Legislator
- Other Notable Courses in Alabama
The ‘Robert Trent Jones Senior Designed Golf Trail’ alone offers 26 courses, 468 holes on 11 different sites, spread over Alabama.
Add the other fantastic top-rated courses within the region into the mix, and selecting the 10 best golf courses in Alabama, becomes a daunting task.
This task has been eased with a collaboration with TheGrint, our favorite mobile app that helps golfers track their handicap and stats. They have collected golf course reviews from millions of real golf rounds from real golfers.
The 10 Best Alabama Golf Courses Ranked in Order
Ranking golf courses is always a subjective matter, but the list below is based on stats and reviews from golfers of all standings.
- Willow Point Golf and Country Club
- Farmlinks Golf Club
- Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Highland Oaks
- Robert Trent Jones at Cambrian Ridge
- Robert Trent Jones at Ross Bridge
- Capital Hill Golf Course | Judge
- The Shoals | The Schoolmaster
- Kiva Dunes
- Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club | Lakes/Cypress
- Capital Hill Golf Course | Legislator
1. Willow Point Golf & Country Club
- Site Link
- Location: Alexander City in The State of Alabama (private course).
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,824 meters off the championship tees and 4,809 meters off the front. 6 sets of tees offer a great experience for all classes of golfers.
PLAYER RATING
Signature Hole – The signature hole is the 175-meter par 3 3rd hole which features the lake behind the green.
The original design was by Robert Nichol, and then followed by a total revamp by Hurdzan/Fry, and the new course opened in 2003.
This magnificent layout is situated on Lake Martin and all 18 holes have a view of the lake, while 12 of the holes border the lake.
The course has two very distinct opposite nines.
Trees and fescue grass-lined fairways create a links-type feeling on the front 9.
Lake Martin keeps the golfer honest with 6 of the back-nine holes featuring the water very prominently.
The course is for members and their guests.
2. Farmlinks Golf Club
-
- Site Link
- Location: Sylacauga, Alabama
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,804 meters off the back tees and 4,799 meters off the front. 5 tee box options are available to suit all golfers.
PLAYER RATING
Signature Hole – The signature hole is the par 3 5th hole, with a 53-meter drop off the tee, which is cut into a ridge.
It is rated as one of the top destinations in Alabama and has an incredible family-oriented feel from the moment you arrive.
The course is at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains and the drastic level changes, woodlands, and lakes that surround it offer sublime beauty while still being very challenging.
Shot-making is rewarded from the pristine fairways into the immaculate greens which both feature many different kinds of grass.
American history artifacts are in abundance within the woods that line the course.
Each tee has its name and history associated with it i.e Baby Rattle, Bootlegger.
This Public/Resort facility also boasts the only research and demonstration golf facility in the world.
3. Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail At Highland Oaks
- Site Link
- Location: Dothan in the southeast corner of Alabama. (public course)
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,866 meters off the back tees and 5,711 off the front. Multiple tees cater to all classes of golfers.
PLAYER RATING
Signature Hole – On this combination is the 381-meter par 4 5th with a split fairway on offer off the tee.
This 36-hole complex has some of the longest and best traditional hole designs on the trail and is a definite “must play” for all golfers.
It has 3 championship class 9- holes plus a short par- 3 nine holes.
Each nine is different and the Highland 9-holes form the base of the most popular choice of 18 holes to play. Coupled with the Magnolia 9-holes, with its beautiful magnolia trees on the slopes, the contrasts provide outstanding views and a challenging course.
4. Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail At Cambrian Ridge
- Site Link
- Location: Greenville, Alabama. (public course)
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,490 off the back tees and 4,329 off the front. Multiple tees accommodate all levels of golf.
PLAYER RATING
Signature Hole – The signature hole for this combination is the 154-meter par 3 4th hole played over the lake to an island-type green.
Rated as one of the most beautiful and challenging courses on the trail, it offers 3 9-hole courses and a short par-3 course.
The Sherling / Canyon combination is very highly rated by all and the substantial elevation changes down to the fairways flanked by Lake Sherling are stunning.
The Canyon 9-holes was carved out of previous hunting grounds and reward shot-making and target golf.
The Loblolly 9-holes features undulating, tall pine tree-lined fairways and large bunkers.
Water protected greens add to the challenge.
5. Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail At Ross Bridge
- Site Link
- Location: Birmingham, Alabama. (public course)
- Par: 72
- Length: 7,487 meters from the tips and 5,667 meters off the front. Multiple tees allow the golfer to create his challenge.
PLAYER RATING
Signature Hole – According to RTJ golf, they classify all the holes as signature holes, due to the beauty and difference on each hole.
The Shannon Valley is home to these parkland-style18 holes which is one of the longest in the world from the tips and a difficult challenge for even the good golfer.
10 of the holes lie between two lakes which protect them from wayward shots.
When it first opened it was rated as one of the best new courses in America and
is within the top 15 of the top 50 affordable courses to play.
All the par-3s are outstanding and another feature is the large greens, which will truly test putting skills should your approach shots not be up to scratch on the day.
6. Capital Hill Golf Course | Judge
- Site Link
- Location: Prattville, Alabama. (public course)
- Par: 72
- Length: 7,142 meters from the tips and 5,402 meters off the front. Multiple tees allow the golfer a choice on the day.
PLAYER RATING
Signature Hole – The signature hole is the opening 379-meter par 4 which drops straight down off the tee and has water on the right and bunkers guard the entrance to the green. Said to be the most photographed hole on the trail.
Capital Hill hosts 3 18 hole championship golf courses of which the Judge is one.
Rated by many writers as good enough to host the US Open, it runs along the Alabama River.
14 holes bring the river into play and the vistas can be a distraction, just like the 1st.
3 of the par-3 holes require to carry over water and the island bulkhead green on the 6th has no bail-out area. It also hosts the largest green on the course.
7. The Shoals | The Schoolmaster
- Site Link
- Location: Muscle Shoals, Alabama. (public course)
- Par: 72
- Length: 7,288 meters off the championship tees and 4,798 meters off the front. 5 sets of tees allow all golfers to enjoy the layout.
PLAYER RATING
Signature Hole – It is debated whether the 17th or 18th is the signature hole, but the beauty from the high bluffs over the river on the par 4 18th, is considered by most to be the choice.
Muscle shoals offer 2 18-hole championship golf courses situated between the Wilson and Wheeler dams.
The Fighting Joe course and the Schoolmaster.
The “Schoolmaster” is a traditional style golf course and the rolling tree-lined fairways blend into the natural topography along the Tennessee River.
The intimidating tee shots on some of the holes are compensated by the sheer beauty of all the holes.
8. Kiva Dune
- Site Link
- Location: Gulf Shores, Alabama. (public course)
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,483 meters off the back tees and 5,346 meters of the front. 4 tee box options available.
PLAYER RATING
Signature Hole – The 197-meter par 3 17th is recognized as the signature hole and played across the water.
Developed and designed by Jim Edgemon, with assistance from Jerry Pate, this links-style course is a fair test for all golfers.
Situated on the peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico and Mobile Bay, the constant changing of the winds add character and challenges to the course.
It is a shot-makers dream.
Ranked in the top public courses for years, the course meanders through natural marsh and coastal bush and is within a conservation area.
9. Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club
- Site Link
- Location: Gulf Shores, Alabama. (public course)
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,422 meters off the tips and 5,197 meters off the front. (Lakes/Cypress combination)
PLAYER RATING
Signature Hole – The Par 5 7th hole is considered the signature hole, with a large landing area off the tee, and Mobile Bay in the background. A risky 2nd into the green awaits the long hitter.
This 27 hole golf resort was designed by Earl Stone and offers 3 distinctively different nine holes that offer a variety of golf and playability.
Situated on the Fort Morgan Peninsula, between Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, the pristine fairways and greens (bermudagrass) are hard to beat.
The course meanders through 800 acres of cypress trees, live oaks, and other natural vegetation, and alligators are a common sight on the course.
10. Capital Hill Golf Course | Legislator
- Site Link
- Location: Prattville, Alabama. (public course)
- Par: 72
- Length: 6,835 meters from the tips and 5,394 meters from the front.
PLAYER RATING
Signature Hole – Difficult to establish the signature hole on this course, but all holes are highly rated
The RTJ Legislator course is a more traditional -style golf course that weaves through tall pine trees and situated on a bluff.
The impressive views can be a distraction, but one gets the feeling of being on a special golf course.
Native cypress swamps lie on the lower section of the course and the ride down the “sky bridge” to these holes is nothing short of spectacular.
Other Notable Courses in Alabama
1. Robert Trent Jones – Senator Course
- Site Link
- Location: Prattville, Alabama.
Host to the Guardian National Tournament, this Scottish-style links has over 160 pot- bunkers and high mounds rolling through the fairways.
2. Grand National Golf Course
- Site Link
- Location: Opelika, Alabama.
The 2 18- hole courses namely The Lakes and The Links, have outstanding reviews from all levels of golfers, and Lake Saugahatchee is very prominent on both layouts.
3. Limestone Springs Golf Course
- Site Link
- Location: Oneonta, Alabama.
This 18- hole course, nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, has dramatic elevation changes throughout the course
The par 5s offer a good variety and all the par 3s compare well to other top courses. If you enjoy dog-legs then the par 4s will keep you interested.
Measuring 6,399 meters off the tips, it requires distance control throughout the round.
Final Thoughts
The state of Alabama has an incredible choice for golfers of all standards, to play some of the most beautiful and challenging courses in America.
The courses are easily accessible and within a short radius of one another.
The RTJ trail offers a great variety of courses that will test the ability of good golfers but also allow the high handicap golfer to enjoy the experience.
A Trail card can be purchased which offers a discount on every round played on RTJ courses.
Golf Specials and accommodation are freely available on most courses and can be tailored to suit everyone’s pocket.
In season, the courses are heavily booked and can result in slow rounds, but the beauty and vistas are sufficient to overcome this problem.
Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He's not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.
