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We-Ko-Pa Golf Club – Cholla Course

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What else could be more picturesque and more perfect a golf vacation destination than one that is located amidst a sea of unspoilt desert, surrounded by majestic Arizona mountains, without the presence of the usual golf residences? Nothing. Nothing can top this scenic quality of the Cholla Course on We-Ko-Pa Golf Club in Arizona, all the more that it has a layout that was meant to inspire and challenge golfers of all playing handicaps, designed only by one of the most noted names in course design, Scott Miller.

The Cholla Course at the We-Ko-Pa Golf Club is a 7,225 yard 18-hole championship course at a par of 72. Together with its sister course, the Saguaro Course, they make up the newest and best golf facilities in Arizona that winds through the Sonoran desert with the Four Peaks, McDowell, Superstitions and the Red Mountains as its backdrop. The Cholla Course is dotted with cholla cacti from which it is named, and boasts of dramatic plays with more forced carries and few bunkers. The natural desert environment that the Cholla Course plays on is a feature that adds for both beauty and playability, something which makes golf trips hereabouts even more exciting.

Since it opened in 2001, the Cholla Course at the We-Ko-Pa Golf Club has had countless merits to its name. It was named one of the 10 Best Golf Courses in the World by Sports Illustrated shortly after it opened, and ranked highest in the Zagat survey of 2007-2008 for the best courses in Arizona. Nothing can definitely top Cholla’s unique offers of golf vacations that are breathtakingly beautiful, tastefully challenging, and perfect in the best possible ways a golf course can be.

The Shoals – Schoolmaster (Muscle Shoals)

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The Schoolmaster Course at the Shoals Golf Club is named after President Woodrow Wilson , the “Schoolmaster of Politics”, because it sits right next to one of the President’s most noted projects, the Wilson Dam. But there must absolutely be something more about this premiere golf vacation destination that makes it worthy of being a namesake of a President. It could perhaps be the scenic vista offered by the course, or the toughness of it that makes it exciting and challenging for the visitors, or it could be both. All that’s certain about the Schoolmaster course is that it has earned the reputation of being one of the best golf courses in the country that merited it a four-star rating from Golf Digest.

Along with the Fighting Joe course, the Schoolmaster course makes up the 36-hole golf facility, The Shoals Golf Club in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Together, they make up in part the famous Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. This golf trip favorite is said to be a tougher course than the Fighting Joe with its narrower fairways and tree-lined greens. The Schoolmaster Course at the Shoals Golf Club was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr to follow the natural topography of the area surrounding the Tennessee River. It is built, like a schoolmaster, to test the every visiting golfer’s ability.

The Schoolmaster Course at the Shoals Golf Club runs on almost 8000 yards of golf, with 18 neat holes on a par of 72. Whatever it is that makes this golf vacation haven worthy of a Presidential namesake, one thing is for sure: the course, like a true schoolmaster, tests its golfers to help them improve their game. It is one tough challenge made only for those who dare to become better!

Highland Oaks Golf Club (Dothan)

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What could be any better than a Robert Trent Jones Sr-designed nine? The answer: A golf club that features three different sets of nines plus a short course from the same designer ALL IN ONE PLACE. This is what the Highland Oaks Golf Club is all about: a whooping 36-hole facility of three championship nines and a superb short course. A combination that might just be the only thing better than the best golf vacation elsewhere!

The Highland Oaks Golf Club’s three signature nines are each a different world unto itself. Each have qualities uniquely their own, it doesn’t at all feel like they’re in the same golf facility together. The Highlands course features several lakes coming into play, while the scenic Magnolia nine, that can be reached via a wooden bridge that goes through a golden marshland, is dotted with trees that could either be a blessing or a curse on that difficult shot. And the Marshland nine has two of the best, most challenging holes in the sixth, a par-5, and the ninth, a par-4. Both shots require excellent shot-making skills, tactics, and enough nerves to conquer such risky play. And the short course isn’t any easier either. The nine sets of par-3s require as much skills and tactics as the other three nines to get through with a neat scorecard. It isn’t surprising why golfers come back to this golf vacation destination over and over.

Along with 25 other courses on seven other sites in the state of Alabama, the Highland Oaks Golf Club make up the famed Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. With all 36 holes each bearing different characteristics and posing different challenges, there isn’t any reason at all to think that this course cannot deliver the best golf trips.

The Shoals – Fighting Joe (Muscle Shoals)

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It is as tough as it is beautiful, there is no question in that. The Fighting Joe Course at the Shoals has a really long history under the Confederate – as long as its 8,092 yards of golf on 18 neat holes for a par of 72. Golfers would definitely struggle to make the difficult shots, all the while delighting their senses with the wonderful view of the Wilson Lake on Tennessee River. Golf trips headed this way are sure to be exciting and pleasant.

The links style Fighting Joe Course shares The Shoals facility with the Schoolmaster course, and both are part of the roster of premiere golf vacation destinations at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Both courses are wedged between the Wilson and the Wheeler Dams on the River Tennessee. The Fighting Joe Course at the Shoals boasts of a challenging golf facility that involves water play on the lakes surrounding it. Because of its beauty that only its counterpart Schoolmaster course can equal, the Fighting Joe Course was hailed one of the top new golf courses in 2004 by Travel + Leisure Golf.

The signature hole in the Fighting Joe Course at the Shoals has always been a favorite subject of debate among its visitors. They simply couldn’t decide on whether it is the 17th or the 18th hole. These holes are nothing less than beautiful, with awe-inspiring views of the Lake, but are equally as dangerous as a rose with thorns. The only way to decide is to make a golf vacation hereabouts and experience it firsthand. There may still be questions on which truly is the true signature hole, but only one thing remains unquestionable about it: THE FIGHTING JOE COURSE IS AS TOUGH AS IT IS BEAUTIFUL, AND IT’S SIMPLY ONE OF THE BEST.

Magnolia Grove Golf Club – Falls Course (Mobile)

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When breathtaking scenery, affordability and good golf playability combine, a golfer is assured of a golf trip that can only be described as beyond excellent, fun and memorable. These elements are combined quite creatively at the Falls Course of the Magnolia Grove Golf Club in Mobile, Atlanta. As a result, its visitors are treated to a unique golf experience that would make them fall in love with the sport – and the course – over and over again.

The Falls Course of the Magnolia Grove Golf Club is part of the 26-course golf wonder, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama. Two other courses, the Crossings course, and the Short Course, make up the beautiful and highly-praised Magnolia Grove Golf Club. Both the Crossings Course and the Falls course are named Great Value Courses by Golf Digest’s Places to Play. Both courses run on hilly terrain and rolling undulated greens. However, the Falls Course is a more difficult course to play compared to the Crossings Course, which is sort of a ladies’ man in golf – a favorite LPGA course. The Falls Course is known for its large contour greens, huge cloverleaf bunkers, and a scenic falls right next to the course’s signature hole, the par-57 hole number 10. It was after this 8-feet of cascading waters that the golf vacation destination was named.

Every minute of golf trip spent in this wonderful 18-hole par-72 championship course is time – and money – well spent! It lives up to, and even exceeds, the expectations on its being a Robert Trent Jones Sr creation. The Falls Course at Magnolia Grove Golf Club is beautiful, affordable, and delivers a great round of golf every single time.

Grand National – Lake Course (Auburn/Opelika)

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The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail makes Alabama one of the must-visit golfing states in the country. With its array of 25 championship golf courses, any golfer would crave at the thought of a state-wide golfing escapade. One of the most visited, most scenic courses on the Trail is the Lake Course at the Grand National. From the starting hole, a short but challenging introduction to what lies ahead, to the signature 15th hole that is the make or break of the course, down to the very last hole, the Lake Course promises to make a golf trip unforgettable.

The Lake Course is one of the three golf vacation destinations that make up the Grand National, along with the Links Course and the Short Course. The Lake Course at the Grand National has twelve of its eighteen holes along the glistening waters of the Lake Saugahatchee, making the holes as challenging as they are scenic. The Lake Course is famous for its par 3 15th hole. It is a 190 yard shot over the water to an island green – requires excellent club selection and the perfect shot to be able to make it past this very tricky hole. The Lake Course offers a golf view like no other on the whole trail, coupled with a great round of golf one hole after another.

With 25 Robert Trent Jones designs, the Trail definitely promises a one-of-a-kind golf vacation. And The Lake Course at the Grand National would definitely be a good place to start. It has every bit of element that makes a golf course exciting and pleasant to the golfer and a treat to the eyes for the masterful execution of a challenging golf layout.

Grand National – Links Course (Auburn/Opelika)

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The Grand National Golf Complex is a treasure chest of dramatic Alabama scenery and great golfing challenge. Of the many gems it holds, the Links Course at the Grand National is the crown jewel. With its perfect mix of picturesque sights and challenging holes, it’s no wonder why golfers who visit Alabama dig the Links course over and over. It is their top choice for a golf vacation destination.

The Grand National is part of the 25 championship golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones. These 25 golf trip spots are spread all over the state of Alabama and make up the famous Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. The Grand National Complex is composed of two other golf courses apart from the Links course namely the Lake Course and the Short Course. Avid golfers and visitors of the Trail find the most challenging and strongest finishing hole in the scenic Links Course at the Grand National. They come back to and love the difficulty posed by this par-4 18th hole that requires a carry to the corner of the Lake. One shot is satisfyingly easy to conquer but makes the golfer think more than twice on how to tackle that next shot.

The well manicured greens, fully stocked golf pro shop and friendly staff are all the other things that make the Links Course at the Grand National a precious pick for that golf vacation. With all these amenities, visitors of this championship par-72 course will also feel as precious a gem as the course itself.

Corales Golf Club

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What priceless thing could the rocky cliffs and coral reefs of the Corales bay in the Dominican Republic be cradling among its midst? A supreme golf trip experience set in the par-72, 18-hole, 7,200 yards of golf goodness at Punta Cana Resort’s splendidly beautiful Corales Golf Club.

Another one of Tom Fazio’s world-class designs, the Corales Golf Club is a true example of how nature and exquisite taste, coupled with love for the sport of golf, could create something as wonderful as the Corales. Apart from the picture-perfect Caribbean sea bordering the course on almost all sides, this beautiful golf vacation destination is strewn with lush natural vegetation and lakes that complete the whole paradise scene. The features of the Corales Golf Club are also a paradise of sorts for the golfers, especially at the advent of conquering the final three holes. Seven holes require ocean play and extreme risk management skills. Golfers can choose from among the multiple tees and lines of approach, and trust their golfing IQ to get them through each hole. And the final three holes, called the “Devil’s Elbow” are the most scenic, yes, but most requires trickier and smarter brains to overcome. And the satisfaction of a well played round of golf after conquering the toughest finishing holes in the world is just as awesome as its surroundings.

Truly, the Corales Golf Club is among the top golf courses in the Caribbean, named 6th best in the Caribbean and in Mexico by Golfweek. As priceless a gem it is to behold, its splendor also makes for a priceless golf vacation.

The Signature at West Neck

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The word “signature” always connotes elegance, fine taste and high stature. The Signature at West Neck in Virginia Beach lives up to this connotation. Dubbed by many as destined to be a “timeless classic”, this exquisite golf vacation destination is the latest of the Arnold Palmer signature courses and was made out of the collaboration of Arnold Palmer and the award winning developer Baymark Construction. Since the Signature opened in 2001, it has lived up to be a course that exudes fine taste and a promise of a great golfing experience.

The Signature at West Neck is a par-72 18-hole Championship course that boasts of 7,280 yards of golf surrounded by thirteen magnificent lakes, natural wetlands and a thick helping of forests. Every single feature of this high end golf trip dream escape has been placed dramatically and strategically to bring every golfer’s much desired – and needed – challenge along with a breathtaking beauty of unmatched quality.

The sprawling 20,000 square foot-clubhouse and all its amenities complete the golf vacation package at the Signature at West Neck. Renowned architects from the Chapman, Coyle and Chapman have designed this edifice that stands overlooking the wide and lush greenery of the golf course. It has a covered veranda and terrace, a fully stocked Pro Shop that carries the top golfing brands and a grille that serves all the best dishes. The Signature at West Neck truly embodies a classic in the making, that of remarkable elegance and taste, and too soon an all-time favorite.

Magnolia Grove – Crossings Course (Mobile)

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A Robert Trent Jones design always bears the renowned designer’s principle of encouraging risky and daring play. Nothing comes easy, nothing gained without risk. This principle is now known all throughout Alabama, and perhaps all of United States, in the famous Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Every Robert Trent Jones-designed course in the Trail has perfected the art of marrying beautiful scenery with challenging, skill-testing layouts making it a favorite spot for golf vacations. One of the most loved course at the Trail is the Crossings Course at Magnolia Grove Golf Club.

The Crossings Course is one of the three championship courses at the Magnolia Golf Club in Mobile, Alabama. A thick hardwood and pine forest gave way to make up this excellent 54-hole golf vacation destination that is dotted with picturesque marshlands, lakes and creeks. The par-72 18-hole Crossings Course at the Magnolia Golf Club doubles as a railroad track and is home to the Avnet LPGA Classic. It was a design made for the shot maker, with its hilly terrain and several of its pulpit greens elevated well above the fairways. Along with the other courses at Magnolia Grove – the Falls Course – the Crossings Course was listed as Great Value courses in Golf Digest’s Places to Play.

Robert Trent Jones Sr. won’t make it to the elite list of golf course designers if he hadn’t proven his worth. His designs have been known favorites among golfers all around the globe. And the Crossings Course at the Magnolia Grove Golf Club, despite being inexpensive in comparison to the more high-end Robert Trent Jones designs, lives up to the designer’s legacy of excellence in course design that brings home a satisfied golfer after every golf trip made to any of his courses.