RTJ Golf Trail at Grand National — Local services in Opelika

As an avid golfer, I've had the opportunity to experience many golf courses across the country, but few have left such a lasting impression as the Grand National in Opalaka, Alabama. From the moment I arrived, the friendly and accommodating staff went above and beyond to ensure my experience was nothing short of spectacular. Their dedication to customer satisfaction is truly commendable and sets the tone for a memorable golfing adventure.

The practice facilities at the Grand National are equally impressive, with a wide range of flags set up from 70 yards out to 300 yards out. This thoughtful layout allows you to practice your attack with every club in your bag, helping you fine-tune your skills and prepare for the challenges ahead on the courses. The driving range and practice greens are meticulously maintained, ensuring optimal conditions for honing your craft.

The Grand National boasts a challenging Links-style course that is sure to test even the most skilled golfers. With its rolling fairways, strategically placed bunkers, and meticulous greens, the course pushes you to elevate your game and rewards you with a sense of accomplishment. The natural beauty of the surrounding landscape adds to the overall experience, making each hole a picturesque delight.

But the true gem of the Grand National is its breathtaking Lake course. With several holes designed to play along the serene shoreline, the course offers stunning panoramic views of the pristine waters. The layout demands precision and strategy, as water hazards come into play on numerous holes, challenging golfers to maintain focus and keep their nerves in check. The Lake course is a testament to the perfect marriage of nature and golf, offering a truly immersive experience that is sure to captivate any golfer's heart.

For those looking for a more casual round, the par 3 course is an absolute blast to play. With its creative hole designs and relaxed atmosphere, it provides the perfect opportunity to unwind and have some fun on the greens. The course is suitable for all skill levels, making it an ideal spot to introduce newcomers to the game or to simply enjoy some quality time with friends and family.

In conclusion, the Grand National in Opalaka, Alabama, is a must-visit golf destination for enthusiasts and novices alike. The friendly and attentive staff, exceptional practice facilities, challenging and diverse courses, and the stunning natural beauty combine to create an unforgettable experience. If you have the opportunity to visit, don't hesitate—your golfing soul...

I kind of wanted to keep this review to myself because there weren't a lot of people here when I visited and that added to the experience. But I've realized that was kind of selfish, and golf resorts need business to stay in business, so here goes.

My wife and I had a super fun time during our visit June 27-July 1, 2017. Stayed in the Marriott Grand National, just a short drive from the clubhouse. Unfortunately the hotel and golf course don't seem to have any reciprocal relationship - no price break on greens fees for staying at the hotel, no storage of golf clubs at the course during extended visits. Minor quibble, but it would improve the overall experience if such a service could be implemented.

As for the resort experience, it was five stars in my book. I'm not looking for fancy dining or accommodations, just a good steak in the restaurant or pizza at the patio bar, with some live music and relaxed atmosphere. Pool nearby, corn hole games going on, grassy area to take a stroll, even some tennis courts. We even felt part of the party when we ordered our meal to-go and sat out on our balcony which overlooked the patio bar and recreation area.

But I've buried the lead here, which is that the golf itself is was separates this place from the competition. Two absolutely top shelf golf courses, in immaculate condition, at pretty reasonable prices. There was one day the Lakes course got a little crowded in the afternoon, but overall my wife and I played as a twosome at a comfortable pace, neither pushing someone in front of us nor being pushed by a group behind.

And the golf itself was spectacular. The Lakes course seems to be generally considered superior - I believe as many as 12 of the 18 greens actually border Lake Saugahatchee making for impressive approach shots and green complexes. But the Links course has by far the most impressive finishing hole, a tough tee shot to an island fairway with a forced carry to an elevated green with a rock wall staring you back in the face. It's an intimidating shot, best on the course.

We are from Maryland and will be back. It's a bit of a haul for us but this place has everything we like to have. Casual atmosphere, premium golf, comfortable but moderately expensive accomodations, recreation opportunities when not playing golf, pool to relax beside and patio bar for food, drink, music and conversation. It's all here. ...

I have played golf for 40 years and never met a more rude and unprofessional staff at any course public or private. You can spend your time and money better elsewhere.

After reading through the various reviews there is a common theme that we experienced. A lot of the actual workers were pleasant tried to make apologies for the management. Craig the manager seems to be the core issue. They have serious pace of play issues, and bounce from guardrail to guardrail. Our first day we were informed that we were not allowed to eat lunch at the turn. It took an hour - a majority of that time due to their backed up kitchen. Even though there were no groups behind us we basically had a ranger accompaniment for the entire back nine. All of the rangers were rude to the point of amazement. When we discussed this with Craig his explanations were flimsy and basically outright lies. He said they had numerous complaints, yet we didn't have one group in sight behind us the entire day. And when we finished we appeared to be one of the final groups. The next closest came into the club house 20 min. after we were done. So between calling us liars, and telling us that we weren't allowed to eat at the turn, pretty much told us all we needed to know on this place. Again I've played golf since I was 11, and we were playing a best ball, so this was not a player issue.

The next day on links we abided by the "rules" and didn't eat lunch and played the 9 in around 3 hours again with a ranger hounding us the entire day. Third day played the short course. Well apparently all the ranger staff haven't heard of that 18 since we waited on every hole and finally gave up on 16.

Long story short, like others I had heard this was a value and good course / experience. It was miserable and had we more time to find alternatives would have left after the first 18. But like so many we traveled in town to do this so made changing plans difficult.

Save your money, or plan to go somewhere else, this place is a total dumpster fire of a golf course. Oh and the Links greens had been recently aerated which was never...