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.

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 6^th 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.

There are two things that make the River Course at Hampton Cove Golf Club a standout: one, it is reminiscent of the way golf courses were built in the past – builders simply push the dirt to make room for the greens and tees, leaving everything else the way they were; and two, it is the only Robert Trent Jones design that holds no bunkers. But apart from that, this golf trip favorite at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama stands out for its superb conditioning and hefty offering of a fun and challenging round of golf at every visit.

The River Course at Hampton Cove Golf Club is one of the three championship courses at Hampton Cove, the other two being the Scottish links-style Highlands Course and the Short Course. Being what it is, designed the old school way, the River Course has retained so much of its original features including the 250-year old black oak at the back of the 18^th hole, which is said to be the third oldest in the entire state. This golf vacation destination was built on former soybean fields in the flood plain of the River Flint.

 All 7,667 yards of golf on this par-72 18-hole championship course provides a different experience for golfers of all levels because of the slopes and the absence of bunkers. Its signature fourth hole, a par-4, is a dogleg-right, surrounded by water at the back of the greens. It is built to test golfers of every playing level as well as provide memorable games and breathtaking scenery for a complete golf vacation experience. Even alongside other championship courses, the River Course at Hampton Cove Golf Club is simply a standout.

Some golf courses are known for being beautiful. Others are known to be fun and quite challenging. Others, for being affordable. The Ballantrae Golf Club in Pelham, Alabama is all three. Since it opened in 2004, it has made a name for itself for being fun, beautiful, and very friendly – service- and budget-wise. No wonder it is famous not only among Pelham residents but among visitors on golf trips as well.

The Ballantrae Golf Club brings every golfer closer to the Scottish ancestry of golf. It makes for the perfect Scotland golf experience without the heavy burden on the pocket. This jewel of a golf vacation destination is conveniently located just outside Birmingham. All 18-holes of this par-72 course has lovely Alabama woods for a backdrop, and a renowned designer for a creator in Bob Cupp.

For a golf course of this caliber, the Ballantrae Golf Club is quite inexpensive. Because of its friendly rates, it isn’t at all surprising why it was named “ The Best New Affordable Golf Course” in 2005 by Golf Digest. The course has also earned quite a reputation amongst the ladies, as it was also named one of the “Top 50 Courses for Women” by Golf for Women Magazine. This golf vacation favorite is part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail of Alabama, along with 25 other top ranked championship courses known all across the state and across the country for being some of the best. Truly, the Ballantrae has all the essentials looked for by every golfer in a course: fun, playability, and of course, affordability.