The Crossings Course at Magnolia Grove on the RTJ Golf Course has hosted LPGA and Korn Ferry Tour events.
Kindly
“The sun never sets on the course of Robert Trent Jones Sr.”, the architect himself wanted to say.
There is no doubt about it. The guy rolled around, designing over 500 courses around the globe in one career that spanned seven decades.
However, in the early 1990s, Jones. Sr. accepted an assignment that would keep him in a time zone for years.
The job offer came through David G. Bronner, CEO of Retirement Systems Alabamawho wanted to diversify the pension fund he ran by increasing his state’s economic wealth. To call the plan ambitious was an understatement. The project called for a constellation of courses, a multi-layout lallapalooza spanning nearly 100 miles of golf. It was the largest golf construction project of all time, requiring an architect with gravitas behind it.
At the time, Jones Sr. he was in his 80s, but he was still spirited, with energy to match his famous ego. The level of effort was right up his alley. It has his name, literally. Coming out of semi-retirement, the architect got busy. In 1992, he cut the ribbon at Robert Trent Jones Golf Course.
Courtesy photo
Spanning the length up and down the state, from Muscle Shoals in the northwest to Mobile in the south, the Trail began with 378 holes at eight locations, but has since expanded to 468 holes at 11 locations. It has grown in recognition, too, earning a reputation as a major destination for affordable, accessible and championship-worthy golf. No property embodies those traits better than one of the original Trail stops: Magnolia Grove.
Set on wooded land adorned with marshes, streams and lakes, Magnolia Grove is home to 54 holes of golf: two 18-hole courses and a par-3 course that is routinely ranked among the best short courses in the country . Of the two championship tracks, the Crossings course has enjoyed the most television time; His strong park design has hosted events on both the LPGA Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour. Its 18-hole sibling, the Falls Course, which boasts ample, undulating greens and large cloverleaf bunkers, makes a unique complement as the Trail’s only par-71 course.
Given its location near the Gulf of Mexico, Magnolia Grove benefits from mild weather and proximity to beaches. A raft of recent renovations have added to the glitz. On the crossroads course, for example, new water features and areas of crushed seashell debris have sharpened the strategic challenge and amplified the visual appeal. The Falls course, for its part, has had several holes modified to make them more player-friendly without compromising Jones’ original design. The result is golf that accommodates everyone: scenic, fun and suitable for everyone from touring professionals to recreational players, depending on your taste.
