Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail golf courses: tee times & green fees 2027
The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is a chain of public courses across Alabama, paid for by the state pension fund and run by SunBelt Golf, and three of its sites make a natural first trip. Two sit on the south-western fringe of Birmingham, two miles apart. Oxmoor Valley opened in May 1992 as the first site on the Trail, in a valley between Red Mountain and Shades Mountain. Ross Bridge followed in 2005, a very long course below a resort hotel in Hoover. The third, Grand National, lies 117 miles away by road at Opelika, on a reservoir near Auburn, and its Lake Course runs 12 holes along the shore. All three share one booking system, one dress code and one set of seasonal deals. This page sets out how they differ on price, carts and timing.
- Courses compared3
- Winter deals fromUS$85 a day
- Fly intoBirmingham (BHM) or Atlanta (ATL)
- Best monthsMar–May, Sep–Nov
- Furthest apartAbout 119 miles
Compare Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail courses
Tap a pin for photos, prices and a booking link.
| Course | Green fee from | What’s included | Getting there | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 1RTJ Golf Trail at Grand National (Lake Course)Public 54-hole Trail site | US$85Checked November 2026 · details | Bookpackage via GolfbreaksRead the guide | ||
 2RTJ Golf Trail at Ross BridgePublic resort course | US$125Checked November 2026 · details | Bookpackage via GolfbreaksRead the guide | ||
 3RTJ Golf Trail at Oxmoor Valley (Ridge Course)Public 45-hole Trail site | US$85Checked November 2026 · details | Bookpackage via GolfbreaksRead the guide |
Prices are the lowest published or listed visitor rates we found, with their source and date on each guide. Partner links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. How we work
Which Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail course should you book?
RTJ Golf Trail at Grand National (Lake Course)
Grand National’s Lake Course on Lake Saugahatchee. The 15th plays 230 yards from the back to a green circled by water, and the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship came here from 2015 to 2017.
Green fees & bookingRTJ Golf Trail at Ross Bridge
Ross Bridge, 8,168 yards from the blacks, with a 698-yard par-five 13th. The teal tees cut it to 4,817 yards, and a bagpiper plays at the resort hotel every evening at sunset.
Green fees & bookingRTJ Golf Trail at Oxmoor Valley (Ridge Course)
Oxmoor Valley, the Trail’s original site. Pair the hilly Ridge with the Valley, rebuilt in 2021, and finish on the nine-hole Back Yard. Note that the Ridge is shut from 10 May to 1 October 2027.
Green fees & bookingAll Alabama golf packages on Golfbreaks
What a round really costs.
- Green fee+
- Cart+
- Season+
- Your bed
The Trail keeps single-round prices inside its online tee sheet, so the figures you can plan with are its specials. From 16 November 2026 to 7 March 2027, two or more days of golf start at US$85 per person per day at Grand National and Oxmoor Valley, with cart and range balls, and unlimited daily golf from US$115. Ross Bridge charges more for the same deals, US$125 and US$180, after US$190 a day in the autumn. The Magic special puts a round at Ross Bridge and one at Oxmoor together for US$200. Nine holes cost 60% of the full rate, and there are no senior rates.
Getting around.
You will need a hire car, because no useful rail or bus links reach any of the three. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth (BHM) is the closest airport for the city pair, under 20 miles from each. Atlanta (ATL) has far more long-haul flights and is 102 miles from Grand National, though about 167 miles from Ross Bridge. A sensible loop flies into Atlanta, plays Opelika first, drives 117 to 119 miles west to Hoover, and flies home from Birmingham. Remember that Alabama is on Central time, an hour behind Atlanta. Groups can book buses and vans through Prideline, which works with the Trail.
When to play.
Spring and autumn are the seasons to aim for; Birmingham summers are humid, and every site stays open in winter, when the specials are cheapest. The 2027 calendar has some dates to dodge. Oxmoor’s Ridge closes from 10 May to 1 October for new greens, and the Valley has full aerification on 5–7 July. The Lake at Grand National is aerified on 16–17 March and 5–9 July, then overseeded on 1–4 November. Ross Bridge shuts for aerification on 12–16 July and is overseeded on 8–10 November, when carts are kept to the rough.
Questions golfers ask.
How do I book tee times on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail?
Online at rtjgolf.com or in the RTJ Golf app, up to seven days ahead; since 1 June 2026 the golf shops take phone calls for same-day play only. A card holds the time and is charged at check-in. Trail Card holders get 11 days, and Platinum members 14.
Can I book RTJ Trail golf more than a week ahead?
Yes, as a package through RTJ Reservations on 1-800-949-4444 (option 2), from 12 months to seven days before play. It needs a US$100 deposit per golfer, the balance 30 days before arrival, and can include rooms at the Marriott in Opelika or the Renaissance at Ross Bridge.
Can you walk the courses on the RTJ Golf Trail?
At Grand National and Oxmoor Valley, yes, with a carry bag or your own pull trolley, since none are hired out. Ross Bridge requires a cart, as does Lakewood at Point Clear. No caddies work at any Trail site, and the Back Yard at Oxmoor is walking only.
Do I need a handicap to play the Trail?
No handicap certificate is asked for. What the Trail does enforce is a sleeved, collared shirt with slacks or knee-length shorts, no personal coolers, groups of four or fewer, and a pace of about 4 hours 20 minutes. Arrive at least 30 minutes before your time.
Who designed the courses on the Trail?
Robert Trent Jones Sr. is credited with Grand National and Oxmoor Valley, both opened in 1992. He died in 2000, so Ross Bridge, which opened in April 2005, is credited to his long-time associate Roger Rulewich, though it carries the Jones name like every other site.