In 1992, the state of Alabama commissioned Robert Trent Jones Sr. to design a statewide network of public golf courses that could compete with the finest resort courses in the country — and charge a fraction of the price. The RTJ Golf Trail was the result: 26 championship-caliber layouts across 11 sites, all public, all accessible, all built to the same standard as private clubs that charge five times the green fee. Birmingham is the hub, and it has the two flagship properties. Ross Bridge — opened in 2005 as one of the longest courses in the world at 8,191 yards from the tips — plays through the Shades Creek valley with dramatic elevation changes, a waterfall at the 18th, and a Ritz-Carlton on property that anchors the whole experience. Oxmoor Valley has two championship 18-hole layouts (the Ridge Course and Valley Course) plus a short course, all carved through the Oxmoor Valley between Birmingham's suburban ridges. The math is compelling: comparable green fees at a private course in any major metro would run $250+. RTJ Trail rates stay well south of that, and the quality is legitimate — these are not 'value' courses masquerading as premium. They are premium courses priced for public access. Pair the golf with Birmingham's restaurant scene — which has quietly become one of the South's best — and you have a trip that earns genuine repeat business.
Dogleg's Pick Courses
Where to Play
In order of conviction. Every course on this list was chosen deliberately.
RTJ Ross Bridge Golf Resort
$100–$175The crown jewel of the RTJ Trail. At 8,191 yards from the tips it's one of the longest courses in the world — but the routing through the Shades Creek valley is what earns the reputation. Dramatic elevation changes, shots across ravines, and a finishing hole over a waterfall that would feel theatrical if the golf weren't so genuinely demanding. The RTJ experience at its most cinematic. Book the stay-and-play package with the Renaissance and treat it like a destination resort, because it is one.
RTJ Oxmoor Valley — Ridge Course
$50–$100The flagship at Oxmoor Valley, ranked the best of the two 18-hole layouts on the property. Carved through the ridges and valleys south of Birmingham, the Ridge Course plays with consistent elevation drama, long carry requirements, and views across the Oxmoor Valley that earn it a place on any Alabama itinerary. The layout is demanding but fair — the RTJ signature. Green fees are a fraction of what the quality would command at a private course.
RTJ Hampton Cove Highlands Course — 40 minutes north of Birmingham and consistently the most underbooked layout on the Trail. Same quality as Oxmoor Valley, half the weekend traffic.
Where to Stay
Lodging Picks
Ranging from splurge to smart. Pick based on what the group wants and how much time you'll actually be at the hotel.
Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa
$$$The resort the RTJ Trail was built to anchor. Marriott's Renaissance brand on property at Ross Bridge — 259 rooms with course views, a full-service spa, multiple dining options, and the 18th-hole waterfall as your backdrop. Walk out the back door to the first tee. The stay-and-play package makes the math obvious. The only question is whether you want to leave the property at all.
Valley Hotel Homewood — Curio Collection by Hilton
$$$The Birmingham base camp for groups that want a hotel in the city rather than on the course. Boutique-style Hilton Curio property in Homewood — a walkable neighborhood south of downtown with good restaurants and bars a short walk from the lobby. 15 minutes to Oxmoor Valley, 20 minutes to Ross Bridge. The right choice if the group wants flexibility between courses and evenings in a real neighborhood.
Pursell Farms
$$$$An hour south of Birmingham in Sylacauga, Pursell Farms is a 3,500-acre working farm turned luxury retreat — with its own RTJ Trail course (Farmlinks), sporting clays, kayaking, and farm-to-table dining. The overnight that turns a Birmingham golf trip into a proper Alabama experience. Worth the drive if the group has an extra day and wants something genuinely different.
Rent a House
Rent the Whole Place
Great for groups of 6–10 who want a shared house — more space, a kitchen, and no hotel hallway noise. Filter by beds, pool, and proximity to the courses.
Where to Eat & Drink
The Right Restaurants
3 picks across the full range — the big dinner out, the post-round decompress, and the morning before an early tee time.
Hot and Hot Fish Club
james beardThe restaurant that put Birmingham on the national culinary map. Chef Chris Hastings won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: South in 2012, and Hot and Hot has been the anchor of the Birmingham food scene for decades. Southern-influenced New American cuisine built on farm relationships and daily market sourcing. Reserve for the last night. The dinner that confirms Birmingham belongs in the conversation.
SAW's BBQ
alabama bbqHomewood institution. Smoked meats, vinegar-based sauce, the kind of pulled pork sandwich that justifies the drive to Alabama by itself. No pretense, reasonable prices, the right post-round lunch when the group is hungry and nobody wants to think about calories. Multiple locations — the Homewood original is the one.
Highlands Bar & Grill
southern fine diningFrank Stitt's flagship — classic French technique applied to Alabama ingredients, a wine list built over four decades, and a dining room that has served as the model for Southern fine dining since 1982. A James Beard Award-winning restaurant and one of the most consistent in the South. The first-night dinner at the Highlands sets the tone for the whole trip.
Beyond the Course
When the Group Needs a Break
All of these are mandatory.
Civil Rights District
Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church, Kelly Ingram Park, and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute sit within blocks of each other downtown — the most significant civil rights history in any American city, all walkable. The BCRI is a genuine museum, not a tourist attraction. Reserve a half-day. Every group that visits comes back changed by it.
Book this experience →Railroad Park & Regions Field
Birmingham's 19-acre urban park along the railroad tracks downtown — skyline views, a good evening run, and the ballpark next door (Regions Field, Double-A Barons) for a minor league game on the off night. Not a must-do, but the right low-key evening option when the group wants fresh air and cold beer between golf days.
Pro Tips
Before You Book
Book the stay-and-play package at the Renaissance Ross Bridge — the rate includes rounds at Ross Bridge and gives you priority tee times. It pencils out better than booking separately.
Play Oxmoor Valley Ridge Course first and save Ross Bridge for day two. The Ridge Course is excellent on its own terms and sharpens your eye for the bigger drama at Ross Bridge.
Green fees on the RTJ Trail are significantly cheaper on weekdays. If the group has flexibility, a Monday–Wednesday trip saves $40–60 per round per person — enough for an extra dinner.
Who This Trip Is For
✓ Best for
- →Groups that want premium golf at genuinely public prices
- →The Southeast road-trip crew looking for a destination they haven't done yet
- →Golf historians who want to play a legitimately famous trail before it becomes trendy
- →Groups that want good golf and a great food city in the same trip
✕ Not for
- →Groups that need beach or mountain scenery — this is Alabama flatlands and ridge golf
- →Anyone expecting Pinehurst-level national destination buzz — this is still under the radar
- →Groups that want walking-first golf — carts are the norm at most RTJ properties
Ready to go?
Start planning your RTJ Trail — Birmingham trip.
Use the AI trip builder to map out rounds, lodging, and dinners day by day. Free to use. Share the link — everyone sees the plan.
Start planning your trip →