Tag Archives: golf vacation destination

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.

Hampton Cove Golf Club – River Course (Huntsville)

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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 18th 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.

Ballantrae Golf Club

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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.

Timberline Golf Club (Birmingham)

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Just 30 miles south of downtown Birmingham in Alabama, a golf trip haven is nestled among huge oaks and fragrant pines. With its offering of a different golf course experience for players of all levels, the Timberline Golf Club is fast becoming a precious favorite among the courses in Alabama.

The golf vacation destination of gently rolling fairways, bunkers and perfectly manicured greens spans almost 7000 yards at the tips. It offers not only a great view of the Alabama woods but a challenging but fun round of golf at every outing. The Timberline Golf Club is an 18-hole par 71 championship course built by the famous US Open Champion and golf course architect, Jerry Pate. The land on which the Timberline is built on used to be a nine-hole course, and Pate and his team had to overhaul the entire area to achieve the superb golf course that the Timberline is today. The course opened in 2002, and since then, countless additions have been made to complete its facilities, and countless golfers have also gone home satisfied after taking a trip here.

Golfers, whether looking for a course for that desired golf vacation, or looking for a location for a charity golf event, they can never go wrong with the Timberline Golf Club. The challenging holes are complemented by superb practice facilities, a beautiful clubhouse and grille, and friendly and excellent service. The Timberline Golf Club is one of the 26 championship courses of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama.

Farmlinks Golf Club (Birmingham)

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The future of golf is here. Before the newest technologies in golf are used elsewhere, it all starts here at the Farmlinks Golf Club. This perfect golf vacation destination does not only stand in the list of the most beautiful courses in Alabama and in the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. It is also the world’s first research and demonstration golf course. It was built to test products and conduct researches on turf maintenance and improvement, as well as train future golf superintendents.

Visiting golfers at the Farmlinks Golf Club are treated to a sprawling 7,444 yards and 18-holes of Championship golf for a par of 72 built on two dozen varieties of grass. Dramatic elevation changes, close encounters with futuristic equipment and latest product displays characterize the plays here at the this unique golf trip spot. Golfers are not only treated to a great round of golf and a taste of the future, but are given a delight to the senses as well with its breathtaking scenery. Several lakes and picturesque mountains surround the whole area, and the natural wildlife remains intact.

Truly, the Farmlinks Golf Club makes every golf trip one of a kind and extra memorable. It is not surprising why it has bagged one too many awards and merits including: Best Places to Play – 4 ½ stars Golf Digest – 2008-2009; America’s Best: State-By-State Public Access Courses GolfWeek Magazine – 2005-2008; 1st Place Customer Satisfaction & Loyalty Award – Premium Daily Fee Category National Golf Foundation – 2005-2008; and No. 1Customer Satisfaction & Loyalty Awards National Golf Foundation – 2008 among many others. With all these, and more, it is safe to say that the Farmlinks has an even brighter future ahead.

Silver Lakes Golf Club

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Golf at the Silver Lakes Golf Club of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is not for the fainthearted. The three-sets of nines and the short course on this golf vacation destination were built to break even the best golfer’s composure with the challenge they impose. The names of each nine are a tell-all: The Mindbreaker, The Backbreaker, and the most intense, The Heartbreaker. And do not be deceived: the short course doesn’t come short of challenging.

The Mindbreaker nine is perhaps the easiest of the three sets of nines on the Silver Lakes Golf Club. The secret to conquering this nine lies in excellent club selection. The more difficult one is The Backbreaker with its signature hole that features a jaw-dropping 623-yard par-5 hole no. 7. If you think that isn’t difficult enough, water comes into play TWICE in that hole. If it’s any consolation, this nine offers the best view of the Appalachian mountains. And there’s The Heartbreaker. It wouldn’t be called a Heartbreaker for nothing. This has been dubbed as the toughest nine in the entire trail. Holes no. 8 and no. 9 are the most notorious of the third sets of nines in this golf vacation destination. Hole no. 8, a par-3, plays 200 yards over water and uphill to the green, and the par-4 9th hole is a 450-yard shot that plays with the water on the entire left side of the fairway. The short course is a set of “demanding” par-3’s that require water play in 7 of its 9 holes.

Located right at the edge of the Talladega National Forest near Anniston in Alabama, the Silver Lakes Country Club will make for that no-ordinary golf trip. With its three tougher than tough sets of nines, and an even more difficult short course, Silver Lakes will test even the toughest.

Ross Bridge Golf Club (Birmingham)

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The latest addition to the roster of world class, championship golf courses at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail does not have any trace of being new and inexperienced. On the contrary, the impeccable taste that all the other 25 courses on the trail is very much evident in the Ross Bridge Golf Club. It meanders through the even more beautiful Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa to make the complete and perfect golf vacation destination.

The Ross Bridge Golf Club lies at the foothills of the majestic Appalachian mountains, carved into the Shannon Valley bearing the natural topographical features of the area in an old parkland-style course. The par-72 18 hole premiere golf trip spot set on sprawling 8,191-yards of golf was built for tournament play but has multiple tees to accommodate all playing levels. The characteristic beauty and challenge of the course are very much apparent on the ten holes playing along two pristine artificial lakes. The beauty doesn’t end there at all. An even more stunning waterfall connects the two making every golf trip here a true delight to the senses.

Each hole of the Ross Bridge Golf Club offers the perfect breed of beauty and challenge and it’s hard to decide which among its 18 championship holes is the signature hole. One has its own attitude that is sure to bring out the best in every player, regardless of the playing ability. It lives up to the quality of golf courses that has made the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail famous and favorite golf vacation haven.

The Ridge Course at Oxmoor Valley (Birmingham)

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Set amidst the rolling hills, thick forests and creeks of what used to be the mining land of US Steel stands a premiere golf vacation destination designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones: The Oxmoor Valley in Birmingham, AL. The Oxmoor Valley is a championship golfing facility that is part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. It has three 18-hole championship courses that offer diverse levels of challenge and vistas to suit every visiting golfer’s taste. One of the most picturesque courses in the facility is The Ridge Course at Oxmoor Valley.

The Ridge Course at Oxmoor Valley is characterized by tree-lined rolling fairways and large undulating greens. Golfers find the extra challenge on their golf trip when they play at the Ridge course because of the numerous uphill and downhill shots to be taken, not to mention a lot of blind tee shots over the hills that are cleverly disguised by the subtle breaks. Golfers need to arm themselves with a lot of shot-making skills, strategies, and gut to make that risky shot. The signature hole of The Ridge Course is the beautiful 176-yard par 3 with its artful combination of a challenging 90-foot drop and panoramic view of the whole course.

Apart from giving a treat to the eyes, the Ridge Course at Oxmoor Valley also aims to cater to golfers of all handicaps and give them truly memorable golf trips at the course. It has four sets of teeboxes to accommodate every playing level. The developers of this golf course has truly made something out of this mining land, something that makes every round of golf here precious.

The Valley Course at Oxmoor Valley (Birmingham)

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It’s name is a dead giveaway. The Valley Course at Oxmoor Valley is a picturesque 18-hole championship course stretching 2 miles in a narrow valley surrounded by pristine lakes. It makes for the perfect golf vacation destination because of its combination of shot-testing holes, idyllic forest surroundings and superb design only from a design master, Robert Trent Jones.

The Valley Course at Oxmoor Valley is one of the three courses of the Oxmoor Valley Golf Club in Birmingham,Alabama. Together, the three courses make up part of the 26-course Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail all over the state, and provide state visitors with supreme golfing experience. The Valley Course is a traditional links-style design that makes use of its natural water hazards and rolling terrain to challenge players of all skill levels. Two of the most noted holes in the golf trip haven are the par-3 second hole and the par-4 eighteenth hole. The second hole requires play over water to a bunker-guarded green. The 18th hole, on the other hand is a dramatic 441-yard hole that is named “THE ASSASSIN” another giveaway to what is to be expected: an exciting, extremely challenging closing hole.

With everything that the Valley Course at Oxmoor Valley offers its visitors, from the breathtaking vistas to the challenge in every hole down to the great service, it is also a dead giveaway why golfers love it and why they keep coming back to the course for their golf vacations.