Are you confused about the best golf courses in Alabama?
Alabama is dotted with many courses, and just a quick look at the maps will leave a person confused about where to go. To solve this problem, we have compiled a list of some of the best golf courses found in Alabama so that a quick peek at this article will minimize your options, each of which is better than the other.
However, before we move on to the list of best golf courses in Alabama, we must understand what makes a good golf course. The factors mentioned here are also our criteria for deciding the members of this list and their rank. Firstly, the architecture of the golf course is one of the biggest factors. The architecture is what appeals to the golfer and makes the course interesting and fun to play. The more beautiful a course’s architecture is, the greater the experience the golfer gets.
The course must be interesting, with varied holes and multiple terrains to play on. The course should not feel monotonous and boring. It should pose a reasonable challenge to the golfer. Not all golf players are experts at their game, and a course too difficult will deter most players. The difficulty of the course is another huge criteria for the gold courses. Lastly, the maintenance of the course plays an important role in the criteria. So rest assured, the names in this list are truly the best golf courses in Alabama.
Also, Read Top 10 Golf Courses in Charlotte, NC.
Let us go straight to that list:
Best Golf Courses in Alabama
1. Shoal Creek
Shoal Creek is a very wildly renowned course and tops our list and many others. It is a fun course to play on with different terrain types and is just enough challenging for the average golfer to have a fun and memorable time playing on it. The course is designed by the historic golf course architect Jack Nicklaus, who has designed 20+ excellent golf courses over a large area. This course is just an hour and a half away from the capital city of Alabama, Montgomery.
2. FarmLinks
FarmLinks is another one of the best golf courses in Alabama. Designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, FarmLinks is a wonderful golf course that is very well maintained and green. It is enjoyable to golf on the course, which does not let down its reputation and manages to give peak enjoyment to the golfer. You should visit this course at least once. It takes a similar hour and a half’s worth of drive from Montgomery to reach here. However, the drive is well worth it.
3. Country Club of Birmingham (West)
The Country Club of Birmingham (West) has a long history. It has shifted over various locations multiple times and has finally settled in a site in Shades Valley. Its golf course had been built and modified several times, while Donald Ross being the original architect and Robert Jones and Pete Dye modifying it a bit later. As you can see in the picture, the terrain and maintenance of this course are top-notch.
While it does pose a good challenge, it is not too difficult. It is just 89 miles or an hour and 15 minutes away from the capital city of Alabama.
4. Ledges Country Club
Another one of the best golf courses in Alabama is the Ledges Country Club Golf Course. This course has a unique water hazard, and it makes the course even more interesting. There are various types of terrains on this course, and golfing on this course is very fun. It was beautifully designed by Dr. Michael Hurzan and Dana Fry or their company, Hurdzan-Fry GCD Inc. It is farther from the capital than the other courses taking a whopping 3-hour drive to get there.
However, if you plan several day holidays there, the drive can be well worth it.
5. Old Overton Club Golf Course
Old Overton is a stunning private course that has been in the top five private golf courses of Alabama in 1992. It is a wonderful and appealing course designed by architect Jerry Pate. It clears all the criteria for a good golf course and more. It also has an interesting eater hazard. The only downside to this course is that it is an invitation-only private course. That is, you need a special invitation from someone who is already a member to play on it. Yet, it has always topped the list of best golf courses in Alabama for years.
6. Grand National (Lake)
This golf course is unique and interesting. It is not the usual all-terrain golf course with some or no water hazard. This compound is based around/in a lake, and its beauty is unparalleled. It was designed by the master architect Robert Trent Jones Senior. Grand National is a huge complex with multiple courses stretching across 600 acres. It is undoubtedly one of the best golf courses in Alabama. Every golfer should visit this course at least once as the experience one gets here is one of a kind.
7. Turtle Point
While we are talking about courses designed by Robert Trent Jones Senior, we cannot fail to mention the privately-owned Turtle Point. This course also has a unique water feature with varied holes and well-maintained terrain. Like the previously mentioned Old Overton Golf Course, you will need an invite from an existing member to visit this course. It is another masterpiece by the architect, giving Alabama another one of the best golf courses. The course also has its own history. Being designed and completed in 1961, it has also enjoyed top spots in many golfer magazines over the years.
If you want to know more about the history of golf, you can read this.
We hope you got what you were looking for on this list and could be of help. Just as a reminder, this list does not rank the courses or declare them as better than the other. All the courses mentioned here deserve the top spot and are the best that Alabama can offer.