By Joe McAdory
Posted 12/10 at 01:21 PM
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Another jewel on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is Grand National’s Lake Course, a beast that challenges accuracy off the tee and on the greens.
The sister course to Grand National’s Links Course plays along the banks of Lake Saugahatchee with 10 holes offering water hazards. The greens are large, soft and tricky with elevation changes. Fairways are wide, but a number of fairway bunkers can turn otherwise perfect drives into wasted opportunities.
This course is arguably the best in east Alabama. Fairways, greens and traps are in near perfect shape. The clubhouse is immaculate, and a separate driving range/putting green is one of the best around.
Difficulty of the Lake Course is relatively the same as the Links. Both offer water and sand, with undulated fairways. The Links course may be a tad tighter and longer, but this doesn’t make the Lake Course easier. One great difference is the Lake Course allows players to return to the clubhouse for a break after nine holes. The Links Course does not.
The Lake Course has been the home to a number of top-notch tournaments, including the NIKE Tour (now Nationwide) Championship, the LPGA, and NCAA Men’s and Women’s Championships. Some of the world’s best players have attacked these fairways, including Charles Howell III, Matt Kuchar, Steve Flesch, and Se Ri Pak. It is also a stop on the Southeastern Junior Golf Tour, where tomorrow’s stars compete today.
According to the Lake Course’s scorecard, its par 4, 428-yard (from the tips) second hole is the most difficult. For those who hit it straight, it’s easily reachable in two. But any deviation left or right could spoil the hole. To the left is wind-whipped Lake Saugahatchee. To the right are woods, and along the right side of the fairway (approximately 220 to 250 yards out) lie sand traps. There’s danger everywhere.
Another challenge lies on the 557-yard (from the tips), par 5 seventh hole. There’s woods to the left, trees and the lake to the right. Obviously, the best bet is to hit in-between. A strong approach shot, however, can be “rewarded” with your ball falling into one of several sand traps that guard the green. The player can walk away from this hole without hitting a bad shot—and a double-bogey on the scorecard.
The 10th hole, a par 4, 434-yarder, is wildly undulated. Water does not come into play, but the fairway features more ups and downs than Pamela Anderson’s chest. A perfect tee shot in the middle of the fairway can rest on an uphill or downhill lie. Make sure your approach shot does not fall left of the green, otherwise your next shot on to the green will be played far below the hole. The gully to the left is easily 30-40 feet below the putting surface, but its grass is smooth, so your uphill shot should be clean.
One of this course’s signature holes is the par 5, 522-yard 12th. The left fairway runs entirely along the banks of Lake Saugahatchee, so errant tee shots have great opportunities to get wet. The hole veers toward the left, forcing the player to hit directly over the lake off the tee. Sliced shots go into the woods. A straight drive of 250 yards will perfectly put your ball into the fairway. Once you’ve cleared the lake and did not drive beside the trees to the right, it’s smooth sailing, unless you plunk your second shot into the water.
The course’s most attractive hole is the 230-yard, par 3 15th—pictured above—which takes aim over Lake Saugahatchee on to a thin green with a bunker to the rear and sharply sloped bank to the front. Tee shots toward this “island hole” are played entirely over water. There is little margin for error as the green is wide from left to right, not front to back. Bring an extra ball to the tee box. It might be a better idea to play from tees closer to the hole, such as the 182-yard standard men’s tees.
It’s hard to pick between the Lake and the Links Courses at Grand National. I’d say play both, then perhaps head over to Grand National’s nifty par 3 course. Both courses are for future blog posts.
Greens fees at Grand National vary from season to season. Rounds can vary from $59 to $79. Those with RTJ Trail Cards (purchased for $39) can play rounds for $39 to $44, depending on the day of the week.
COURSE INFORMATION
Location: 3000 Robert Trent Jones Trail, Opelika
Telephone: 334-749-9042
Web site: http://www.rtjgolf.com/grandnational/
Greens fees: Seasonal prices. Range from $61 to $80 (cart included) without RTJ Trail Card; $40 weekdays and $45 weekends (cart included) with RTJ Trail Card; RTJ Trail Cards can be purchased at the pro shop for $35, and gives players special discounts on greens fees, range balls and merchandise
Course architect: Robert Trent Jones Jr.
Par: 72
Yardage: Purple 7,149 yards; Orange 6,488 yards; White 5,948 yards; Teal 4,910 yards
Amenities: Large clubhouse with restaurant/snack bar; stocked bar/lounge; Large pro shop; putting greens; chipping greens; driving range; practice facility; Marriott Hotel on site (http://www.rtjgolf.com/resorts/grandnational/); Developing village/neighborhood on the property complete with villas and luxury homes (http://www.nationalvillage.com)
By Joe McAdory
Posted 12/08 at 05:18 PM
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Bring your shoehorn and lucky penny to Moore’s Mill. This place is tight and full of treachery.
This course, which opened in 2001, challenges a player’s technical side with countless ravines, marshes and tight fairways. Though it plays at 6,871 yards from the tips, Moore’s Mill is not a longball hitter’s delight. If you can’t hit it straight, your dead meat. Plain and simple. It’s like a narrow, winding country road with plenty of scenery along the way. Don’t mash the gas and overplay your shots or you’ll be adding plenty of penalty strokes to the scorecard.
Built as a public course taking club memberships, Moore’s Mill has become semi-private. Part of the exclusive Honours Golf family of courses, memberships are becoming limited.
Those not members of the club can play 18 holes with members as guests for $80 on weekends and $50 on weekdays.
Located near Ogletree Village and the Grove Hill subdivisions just south of Interstate 85, this course is slowly becoming populated by upscale homes. However, these scenic real estate beauties in no way interfere with a round of golf. One would have to be a horrific player to shank a Top Flite through a window. Despite a few high society homesteads, Moore’s Mill lies in a very natural setting.
Fairways are lined with creeks, ravines and trees with some undulation. Landscaping borders on the immaculate with a number of classy rock walls near select greens. Greens are well-kept and challenging.
The difficulty in Moore’s Mill lies in its unforgiving nature. With obstacles right and left, one cannot afford to hit the ball anything but straight. Also, there are many instances which the player should lay up. Navigate this place with caution until you’ve mastered the joint. One bit of breathing room comes in the form of bunkers, or lack thereof. Eighteen holes bring just 28 sand traps and only two holes, the second and fourth, with fairway bunkers.
You get a feel for Moore’s Mill’s thin nature right off of the first tee, a 529-yard par 5. A narrow fairway, with a creek down the left side and small “fairway pond” to the right offers an excellent shot at a mulligan on your first shot. The fairway actually narrows the closer you arrive to the green.
Whereas the par 3 fifth hole (168 yards) and par 4 sixth (390 yards) offer an abundance of water, its the par 4 eighth (550 yards) that creates frustration. It’s tight. Real tight. Proceed with caution.
The back nine is equally as scenic and challenging. Another tough hole is the par 5, 522-yard 13th. The landing area off the tee isn’t as tight as some, but a hook will send your ball into a muddy creek and a slice will put you into the trees. What you decide to do on your second shot greatly depends on how you hit your first. The creek eventually splits the fairway ahead, forcing you to either lay up or take a daring chance and go for the green. A perfect risk/reward situation.
Moore’s Mill’s finishing hole (par 4, 447 yards) is as difficult as it is picturesque. The old-school English style cobblestone clubhouse rests beyond the 18th green, giving the hole a St. Andrews look. Don’t get lulled by its beauty, though. Another darn winding creek awaits roughly 350 yards from the tee. If the tee shot isn’t strong, the player must again decide to either lay up or go for the gusto.
In all, Moore’s Mill is among the most challenging courses in east Alabama and could very well rival or surpass any Robert Trent Jones course for difficulty.
Aside from playing 18, Moore’s Mill offers one of the most advanced golf instruction facilities in the state for all ages.
COURSE INFORMATION
Location: 1957 Fairway Drive, Auburn, AL
Telephone: 826-8989
Web site: http://www.mooresmillclub.com
Greens fees: Guests can play with members for $80 on weekends, $50 on weekdays
Course architect: Alan Blaylock
Yardage/Par: Back tees 6,871 yards/Par 71; Men’s tees 6,235/Par 71; Women’s tees 5,687/Par 71
Slope/Rating: Back tees 73/132; Men’s tees 70.2/130; Women’s tees 67.3/125
Amenities: Large driving range, putting greens, chipping greens, instructional facility, large clubhouse suitable for functions, pro shop, complimentary ice water at holes 1 and 10, bathrooms on course
By Joe McAdory
Posted 12/08 at 04:31 PM
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The Auburn/Opelika area is considered by Golf Digest as the best small municipality for golf. The area is blessed with the Taj Mahal, Grand National, and swanky Moore’s Mill and Auburn University Club, but it all started at Indian Pines.
Previously named Saugahatchee and the Auburn Country Club, this fun, par 71, 6,411-yard course (from the tips) has been serving customers adjacent to the Auburn-Opelika Airport since 1946. Saugahatchee is now a private club on the south side of Interstate 85. Indian Pines is purely public and features the most affordable golf in Lee County.
Weekend rates at Indian Pines are $33 for 18 holes and a cart.
“The Pines” as the locals call it, is considered by many as arguably the least difficult golf course in the Auburn-Opelika area, and it is. But least challenging does not make it not challenging at all. Indian Pines offers a number of tricky challenges that require precision. It also features smaller greens, so bring your A-game when chipping.
Indian Pines’ conditions aren’t always as pristine as other links, but this summer the fairways and greens were better than I’d seen in a while. The rough features roots and some rocks and can be hazardous to your clubs. In this case, moving your ball to a safer lie should be acceptable.
After an easy, straight-ahead 367-yard par 4 to kick off your round, the second and third holes provide fun challenges. Your tee shot on the 372-yard par 4 second hole (pictured above) features a straight fairway, but your approach shot offers a challenge. Part of the course’s lake separates the green from the fairway, requiring the player to carry the water or lose a ball. If your tee shot falls short, you may be faced with a tough decision on shot No. 2: go for the green, pictured above, or lay up.
The third hole is reminiscent of TPC Sawgrass’ 17th. Well, sort of. It’s a par 3 island hole, minus a few palm trees and prestige. There is no fairway, only tee box and green. In between is 140 yards of water. The wind can be very tricky on this hole. This would be a fun hole to practice 100 shots on, just to see how many you can land on the green.
Perhaps the most interesting hole on the course is the 497-yard, par 5 12th. The hole goes straight ahead, except for the green, which seems detached and off to the left beyond a cluster of trees. The second shot is vital here in order to set yourself up for a good approach shot. Otherwise, your third shot is wasted just trying to get yourself in better position with hopes of saving bogey.
The 13th and 14th holes offer the area’s only sets of pulpit-style fairway bunkers. Both are located to the right, and both can be reached from the tee box. Slicers beware.
The par 4, 355-yard 17th is another odd-shaped hole with a sharp logleg to the right. Long hitters off the tee might want to consider an iron, otherwise a John Daly-style longball may fly straight into the trees.
Overall, Indian Pines is a place where many players can achieve lower scores and leave feeling better about their game. Then again, this course can be sneaky hard. If you can’t hit the ball straight, chip, or putt worth a darn, it doesn’t really matter how difficult a course is. If your on top of your game, The Pines can be a place to really attack the greens and go for personal bests.
Indian Pines is located at 900 Country Club Drive in Auburn, just off of East University Drive and not far from the Village Mall. It had no Web site at the time of this writing, but you can call the pro shop at 821-0880 to set up tee times or get rates for the day.
The course features one of the best pro shops in town and has an excellent assortment of new and used golf clubs, as well as anything else golf-related. The clubhouse was torched in a fire about five years ago, but today’s clubhouse may be small, but in very good shape. The course also has a snack bar, driving range and small putting green.
COURSE INFORMATION
Location: 900 Country Club Drive, Auburn, near East University Drive
Telephone: 821-0880
Web site: none
Greens fees: With cart: $33 weekend, $27 weekday; Walking: $21 weekend, $15 weekday
Course architect: Eddie Loos
Par: 71
Yardage: Blue tees 6,411; White tees 5,965; Gold tees 5,050; Red tees 4,343
Slope/Rating: Blue tees 68.8/119; White tees 67.1/115; Gold tees N/A; Red tees 66.6/111
Amenities: Driving range; putting green; chipping green; well-stocked pro shop; snack bar
By Joe McAdory
Posted 12/03 at 04:57 PM
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The Food Bank of East Alabama and Auburn Links have teamed up in an effort to raise contributions for food. The golf course, located near Shelton Mill Road and South College Street in Auburn, is promoting “Beans for Greens,“ where players who donate up to four cans of non-perishable food items can play 18 holes for $25 at the facility during for the rest of the year. The offer includes weekends.
The Food Bank of East Alabama is attempting to reach its goal of 2,000 pounds of donated food this year.
By Joe McAdory
Posted 12/03 at 02:05 PM
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Golf enthusiasts hoping to get a first-hand look at the famous 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass can do so without paying a dime. That’s right. Nada.
Sawgrass offers complimentary tours of the Stadium Course’s final three holes, as TPC Storytellers will guide the visitors, give insight about the history of the course and shot exact spots where history was made. Above, my son Joseph was beyond excited to see the island hole last Saturday afternoon and yearns to play it. For now, he’ll have to settle for Tiger Woods’ video game.
You can also be given a free tour of Sawgrass’ magnificent clubhouse, which features a number of plush banquet halls, meeting rooms, restaurants and a pro shop second to none. While you’re there, you could play the Stadium Course, but the going rate for 18 these days is close to $300. Summertime rates could dip below $200, so you might want to wait.
Sawgrass is located about 30 minutes from downtown Jacksonville, Fla., in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on A1A. If you happen to be heading toward the Jacksonville area and you’ve always wanted to tour this magnificent golf course, why not drop in? The facility’s Web site is http://www.tpc.com/sawgrass/index.html.
