The courses have many elevation changes and all have multiple island or near island greens, particularly on the par threes. To put in context, they are a significant uplift on the standard of golf course you can play in say Florida (with the notable exception of Streamsong Resort) and in an Australian context are most comparable to the exceptional Bonville Golf Course in Northern NSW and The Old Course at The National. The tour has been constructed by your tour hosts David Cooper and Adrienne Witteman who tested the RJT Golf Trail in April/May 2022, playing all the golf courses and staying at all the hotels used on tour.Īll the Robert Trent Jones courses you will play on the Trail are simply magnificent. Significantly, he never designed an Australian golf course although Australia has two iconic courses designed by his son Robert Trent Jones Junior (The National Old Course 1988 and Joondalup1986). His final course design was opened within 12 months of his death at age 94. Robert Trent Jones Senior (1906 to 2000) was personally responsible for designing over 500 golf courses in 45 USA states and 35 countries. There is no venue in the world where such a golfing experience is possible.The original cluster of 18-member golf courses has since grown to 26, and in 5 locations sit alongside purposely built or redeveloped Marriott and Renaissance branded hotels. Indeed, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is a dream come true for the people of Alabama and for golfers all over the world. Sunbelt Golf Corporation's philosophy from the very beginning was to build the finest collection of public golf courses in the world, and run them as a successful business investment. The courses will challenge the best golfers in the world, yet at the same time allow an enjoyable outing for the casual to beginning golfer." As one Director of Golf put it, "The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is an incredible golfing experience for everyone. The courses offer a tremendous amount of flexibility. The courses were designed to measure as short as 4,700 yards and as long as aboutĨ,200 yards from the tournament tees, with as many as 12 tee boxes in-between. The tee markers on the Trail are pegged to ability level, not age or gender. One of the most unique aspects of the Trail are the tee locations. What lodges in a golfer's mind is the one brilliant shot that (momentarily) conquers a tough hole.
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The rationale: No one talks about or remembers the easy courses. The "Trail" offers genuine championship layouts that will stand the test of time and pose major tests of golf for years to come. Each was extracted from the land, not imposed on it. These are not "manufactured" courses though - all partake of the natural topography. The historic Lakewood Club in Point Clear has undergone extensive renovations and is the Trail's latest addition, bringing the total to 11 Trail sites.26 courses.and 468 incredible holes!
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Over 700 pieces of equipment were in operation at one time.Īfter all eight sites were opened, construction began on two new sites and was completed in 2005, expanding the Trail to 10 different sites. The invasion of earth moving equipment throughout the state was tantamount to a D-Day of bulldozers. The Trail would offer 378 holes stretching to over 100 miles of golf. Once final approvals were given, Vaughan and his staff at SunBelt Golf took off with the largest golf course construction project ever undertaken at one time anywhere in the world. In his unparalleled career Jones had designed more than 500 golf courses around the world, many of which are listed among Golf Digest's "America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses." Jones jumped at the chance and emerged from semi-retirement to tackle the project.
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Enter legendary architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr., arguably the premier golf course architect in the world. When you're looking for someone to design 18 golf courses, start at the top. Vaughan began hiring experts throughout the golf industry and, from that moment, the dream of creating an easily accessible group of public golf courses, which combine quality, value and genuine hospitality, was being realized. Vaughan formed SunBelt Golf Corporation which would develop, construct, operate and manage all 18 golf courses. He brought in Bobby Vaughan, the former director of golf at Tanglewood in Clemmons, N.C., to put together the team for this massive project. Bronner wasn't looking to build just an 18 hole public golf course, he wanted to build 378 holes at eight spectacular sites throughout the entire state, and all at one time!īronner set out immediately to find the right group to put his plan in motion.
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"I don't do windows and I don't do just 18's." Dr. His vision was on a grand scale - big, really big. Bronner's idea was to use a hot (but clean-burning) vehicle like golf to boost tourism, attract retirees, and spur economic growth within the state.