Early fall is the perfect time of year to get out, tee up and play a round of golf.
Luckily, Alabama is filled with pristine golf courses ranging from extremely exclusive private clubs to quality public facilities.
We've assembled a list of the 10 best golf courses in Alabama, listed from north to south. All courses have 18 holes.
Turtle Point Yacht and Country Club
City: Killen
Public or Private: Private
Designer: Robert Trent Jones
Par: 72
Designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones, the golf course at Turtle Point Yacht and Country Club is known for its challenging layout and lakeside views. Bordering Wilson Lake, less than 10 miles from Florence, this course has been the host site of multiple events, including the SEC Championship, the State Amateur Championship, and Southern Amateur, among others.
The Ledges Country Club
City: Huntsville
Public or Private: Private
Designer: Mike Hurdzan and Dana Fry
Par: 71
Atop the highest point in Huntsville lies The Ledges Country Club golf course. This 18-hole championship course was designed by Golf Magazine 2003 Designer of the Year Mike Hurdzan and includes 250 acres with views of the valley, downtown Huntsville and the Space and Rocket Center.
Birmingham Country Club (West)
City: Birmingham
Public or Private: Private
Designer: Donald Ross, Robert Trent Jones and Pete Dye
Par: 71
Birmingham County Club's West Course, accompanied by its neighboring East Course, opened in the 1920s. Since then, it has been renovated by renowned golf architects such as Donald Ross, Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Pete Dye.
Old Overton Club
City: Vestavia Hills
Public or Private: Private
Designer: Jerry Pate and Tom Fazio
Par: 72
Old Overton is an invitation-only golf club located in the Liberty Park area of Vestavia Hills. It was designed in 1993 by Jerry Pate and Tom Fazio and rated by Golf Digest as one of the best new private courses in 1994.
Shoal Creek
City: Shelby County
Public or Private: Private
Designer: Jack Nicklaus
Par: 72
One of the greatest courses in the United States, Golf Digest ranks Shoal Creek as the single best golf course in Alabama. This legendary course opened in November 1977 with U.S. Open Champions Jack Nicklaus, Jerry Pate and Hubert Green playing the opening round. Since then, Shoal Creek has hosted two PGA Championships (1984 and 1990) as well as the U.S. Amateur Championship, U.S. Women's Open and the National Intercollegiate.
Greystone Country Club (Founders)
City: Birmingham
Public or Private: Private
Designer: Bob Cupp
Par: 72
The Greystone Country Club is home to two top-class golf courses, Founders and Legacy. The Founders course was designed by Bob Cupp in 1991 and now hosts the Regions Tradition PGA Champions Tour each spring.
Robert Trent Jones Grand National (Links)
City: Opelika
Public or Private: Public
Designer: Robert Trent Jones
Par: 72
The RTJ Golf Trail's Grand National is ranked the best public golf facility in the country by Golf World Magazine. Its premier Links course, one of three, is a newly renovated waterside course with 12 out of 18 holes hugging the shore.
FarmLinks Golf Club
City: Sylacauga
Public or Private: Public
Designer: Hurdzan-Fry Environmental Golf Design, Inc.
Par: 72
Golfweek ranked FarmLinks at Pursell Farms the best all-access course in Alabama for nine nonconsecutive years. FarmLinks is a rural course in Sylacauga, resting in the foothill of the Appalachian Mountains. The holes at this course feature a variety of grass types and maintenance techniques.
Robert Trent Jones at Capitol Hill (Judge)
City: Prattville
Public or Private: Public
Designer: Robert Trent Jones
Par: 72
Golf World Magazine's #2 public golf facility and another link in the RTJ Golf Trail is Capitol Hill. It consists of three courses: Judge, Legislator and Senator. Judge is a 200-acre course along the Alabama River. The 18-hole championship course overlooks the Montgomery skyline.
Kiva Dunes
City: Gulf Shores
Public or Private: Public
Designer: Jim Edgemon and Jerry Pate
Par: 72
Want a course a little closer to the Gulf? Kiva Dunes in Gulf Shores was ranked the number one public golf course in Alabama by Golf Advisor in 2017. The course has also received awards from Golf Digest, Golf Week and Links Magazine.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email will.blakely@1819news.com or find him on Twitter and Facebook.
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