Best Western's Travel Blog - You Must Be Trippin' - Sweet "Golf" Home, Alabama--Confessions of a Golf Widow

Sweet "Golf" Home, Alabama--Confessions of a Golf Widow

December 1 2008 by Julie Drossos

Hi, my name is Julie and I am what is often referred to as a "golf widow". Just how much does golf mean to my husband? Well, in the summer, spring and early fall months it's customary for him to be golfing on both weekend days (and many a summer night). After golf, he will retire for a beer with his golf buddies and discuss their game, the condition of the course and other "exciting" golfspeak. On a normal day I'll arrive home from work and he'll be standing in the living room practicing his swing or testing his putting skills. And, if we're going anywhere with a decent golf course for a vacation, the golf clubs are undoubtedly accompanying us on the trip! If you're reading this thinking, "what's the big deal?! The man likes golf!", allow me to share more... the ultimate proof that he lives and breathes for golf?? Look no further than our wedding day, 2 years ago...

When it came to the blessed day where we exchanged our vows in front of 150 friends, we did so at his beloved golf course, after he pulled up in a golf cart driven by the club pro, pockets full of golf tees and golf club in hand. Later, after reviewing footage from our wedding DVD, I discovered that he was practicing his swing in the Pro Shop just minutes before walking down the aisle. And last but not least, the morning after our wedding, he scurried out of our honeymoon suite to meet "the boys" for a round of golf! Now this sort of golf-obsessed behavior would make many wives a little bitter, but for me, all this really has meant is that my husband is in a better mood (unless he plays poorly) and I get lots of "me" time to do the things I love. It all works out in the end.

Anyway, back to golf and being a golf widow. As you can imagine, the topic of golf comes up in conversation on a regular basis for us. The course he played on his recent trip, the new golf club his best friend and him want to check out, the hottest golf shafts out on the market ,etc, etc. The latest golf Mecca that he's been "researching" is the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, located in Alabama. RTJ Golf Trail is the largest golf course project ever attempted, and the New York Times refers to it as "some of the best golf on earth". Considering the uniqueness of the RTJ Golf Trail and the high quality and beauty of their grounds, it is relatively unknown and is truly considered to be a "best kept secret". While it doesn't have the nationwide acclaim of golf Mecca's such as Myrtle Beach, S.C. and California's Monterey Peninsula, and many avid golfers have never even heard of it, the RTJ Golf Trail is no ordinary golf course and it is a true sight to behold. Oh, and did I mention, it's not just one golf course, it's ten. Yes, TEN lush and stunningly designed golf courses that run the length of the rolling state of Alabama. When it comes to value quality and beauty, the RTJ Golf Trail ranks near the top of the great golf destinations of the United States.

A great thing we've learned about the RTJ Golf Trail is that someone like my husband doesn't have to go with other golfers of his caliber (he's better than most of his friends - probably because their golf widows aren't as understanding as me). The course is set up to be enjoyed by golfers of all levels. In fact, one of the most unique aspects of the courses are the tee locations. The tee markers are set up in a very non-traditional way - they are pegged to ability level, rather than age or gender. Therefore, the courses are measured as short as 4,700 yards or as long as 7,700 yards. This allows for a lot of flexibility and ensures that the course is challenging for even the best golfers but at the same time manageable for a novice. The icing on the cake is that despite the high-quality and breathtaking scenery these courses boast (and top-notch service too from what I hear), the RTJ Golf Trail is indeed a public golf property and the green fees are shockingly reasonable (as low as $45 and as high as $125 - ask any golf aficionado and you'll learn that those prices are unheard of for premium golf courses). After doing our research and talking to a few friends and colleagues who have experienced the courses firsthand, it's clear that the RTJ Golf Trail experience is a whole lot of bang for your buck.

Here's a list of the ten RTJ Golf Trail courses and their respective locations to give you an idea of their layout across the state of Alabama.
Cambrian Ridge - Greenvile
Capitol Hill - Prattville / Montgomery
Grand National - Auburn / Opelika
Hampton Cove - Huntsville
Highland Oaks - Dothan
Magnolia Grove - Mobile
Oxmoor Valley - Birmingham
Ross Bridge - Hoover / Birmingham
Silver Lakes - Anniston / Gadsden
The Shoals - Muscle Shoals / Florence

For an overview of each of the courses at the RTJ Golf Trail as well as information about the property and photos of the breathtaking grounds of their courses, check out their Trail Guide. Having a difficult time narrowing down which course(s) you're going to play? Here's an insider tip - while all of the courses on the trail are spectacular, the Grand National, Oxmoor Valley and Highland Oaks courses come very highly recommended from a very respected source!

Once you start planning your trip to Alabama, you'll definitely want to make your tee times in advance. For the most convenient travel experience fly right into Birmingham's International Airport and stay at one of Best Western's over 30 great properties located throughout the state.

Have you played one of the courses at Robert Trent Golf Trail or another "hidden gem" of a course that you want to tell your fellow golfers about?

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