Area blessed to have beautiful golf courses
By Joe McAdory
Published: February 27, 2008
I’m still amazed at the number of magnificent golf courses we have right here in east Alabama. You can play 18 without breaking your budget and you can play 18 one some of the most attractive and challenging holes in Alabama.
Pictured above is a view from the second hole fairway on Grand National’s Links course. It’s especacially pretty this time of year because the fairway grass is alive and green and the rough is dead and brown. I like the contrast.
Golf’s another big reason why people keep flocking to the area. I can’t tell you how many folks I’ve met at Grand National who came here simply to get on the course. Met five guys from Lakeland, Fla., last October who played all three Grand National Courses in two days. Two weeks ago, I bumped into a man from Columbiana, Ohio, who was amazed at our area’s golf empire. He probably enjoyed the weather, too. In case you haven’t been to Columbiana, it’s pretty darn cold this time of year.
I’ve enjoyed our courses here, but also have the desire to take on new challenges and play holes I’ve never seen. That’s why I try to play at as many places as possible without breaking the bank. I don’t care if the course is pristine, or a dirtbag. The object is to put the ball in the hole whether the grass is bermuda or crab grass.
I’m looking forward to next weekend, as I’m traveling across the Georgia border to play Saturday either in Douglasville or Cartersville (haven’t decided), and then Sunday in Waleska at Callahan Golf Links. Callahan’s a new facility that really earned my interest. For years, it was a family farm—even near Civil War battlefields. Now, it’s growing birdies and bogeys. Hopefully, this will be a true links style course with less trees, more open space, and tall grass. One day I’ll play in Scotland. Next week I’ll play in Waleska.
Those interested in Callahan should visit its Web site at http://www.callahangolflinks.com
Hopefully, playing at other venues will help me improve my game so I can actually break 100 on one of the courses here without excessive mulligans.
