The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Ross Bridge

Talk about a big boy golf course, this is it. First off, the practice facilities and clubhouse are awesome. Great way to get your round started. The staff was very courteous and helpful. The course conditions are immaculate. Maybe the best and toughest greens I have ever putted on. Extremely fast but will hold well struck shots. Fairways were like carpet. Luckily I was paired up with some guys that have played the course before because it was difficult on some of the blind tee shots. Elevation changes are difficult and beautiful. Bunkers everywhere. Awesome course. Wish it was a little cheaper but obviously it is priced correctly because the tee sheet was full.

Since leaving BHM in 2003, I have come back several times on business and to play golf. This is the 2nd time I have played Ross Bridge since it opened. Course is not memorable like their Pratville and Grand National locations but it is in good shape and it is better than Oxmoor Valley. Played it from the Orange at just under 6800 yds. Course is very forgiving with plenty of room for my erratic game Greens were tremendous. Stay on property @ the Renaissance and it is totally worth it.

Ross Bridge is a very good golf course. Elevation change, at times dramatic, are one of the highlights of the round, so be prepared to play uneven lies from the fairway. The fairways here, with the exception of Nos. 2, 3 and 12, are wide enough to land a 747 on, so it is very forgiving off the tee for the mid to high handicapper. However, the better players will benefit from attacking the narrow parts or playing aggressive lines off the tee. The bent greens were rolling very smooth and quick, as they should this time of year in these temperatures. The mill-fed creek/waterfall that spills into the centrally-located lake create the best holes. You first encounter it on the par-4 9th, which butts up against the 18th green. More on that gem in a moment. The lake holes ramp up on the par-3 14th, which has a peninsula green. The 15th is a fantastic short par 4. The toothy par-4 18th is one of the toughest finishing holes I've ever played, and I've played Pebble, Sawgrass, Harbour Town and Kiawah. The dog-leg right hole offers plenty of room out to the left off the tee, but if you don't challenge the two fairway bunkers off the tee, you will find yourself facing a 190+ yard approach over water. The Champions Tour used to play a tournament here a decade ago, but it was moved to another area course because the players complained it was too long. The teal tees measure 5,312 yards; white tees measure 6,200 yards; orange tees measure 6,783; purple tees measure 7,446 yards. The black tees tip out at 8,191 yards, including the 698-yard par 5 13th hole. Two of the par 3s are very good. The other two are pedestrian. The practice facility is top notch. Expansive range with a bevy of targets (beware the concrete bunkers), excellent chipping/pitching area with real bunkers, and mammoth putting green. Ross Bridge is the crown jewel of the RTJ golf trail, largely because of the Renaissance hotel adjacent to the course, which is spectacular. This, however, adds to the price tag. Ross Bridge is the most expensive public golf option in Birmingham. Is it worth it? Sure, at least once. Especially if you are staying there for a meeting, etc. But for value, you can drive a mile down the street to another RTJ Trail site at Oxmoor Valley and play the Ridge course, which is arguably a better course. An absolute must if you play at Ross Bridge is this: try to play in the afternoon so you are finishing up near dusk or hang around in the pub until sunset when a bagpiper emerges and makes his way to the putting green. It is so cool.

Truly a championship facility. I tried to find something to complain about but could not. Fortunately we got some good advice from the starter that helped get through the round. The course layout is challenging but allows shot placements that give you a chance to score if you play from the appropriate tees.

Beautiful course with stunning views around every corner. The course is very fun and challenging, but fair. Bring your A game. Lots of bunkers and slopes can get you in trouble.

The staff was great from check/in to starters to cart girls. Facility is A plus.

My only complaint was the hard pan bunkers I wasn't prepared for. I'm used to using the sand to get the ball out. I'll practice this shot before I return, and I will return.

Ross Bridge is the crown jewel of the RTJ Trail courses in Alabama! The course is wonderfully maintained and has some of the most beautiful, natural routing of any course I've played. Golfers of all ability will be fairly tested due to multiple tee boxes. The greens are large and undulating. Plenty of sand await errant approach shots. The staff is cordial, helpful, and appreciative of your visit. Playing Ross Bridge is a truly wonderful golfing experience.

Fantastic golf course.All level of players will love the experience.top notch service.our first round of the Alabama golf trail.great panorama.We will go back a definite YES. the best golf course we played in years

Fall off around the greens and bunkers test your distance control.

My wife and I played Ross Bridge. The area had just finished 3 days of rain and it was cart path only. It is a hike from the cart path to your ball on most holes but for us it was well worth it. The greens rolled fast and true for this time of year (I hear in the summer they run near 13 and today they rolled out about 9-10) The layout was challenging but fair, even more challenging due to the wind being up. The views from the course are exceptional as is the golf. We had the good fortune of picking up a single. His name was Scott and he works at Ross Bridge and was playing on his day off. We could of not ask for a better 3rd to play our round with. He was extremely helpful with local knowledge and the nicest all round guy you could've ask for. Kudos to the rest of the staff as they were all very helpful, from the bag boys upon arrival and departure, to the starter. All made us feel welcome and in a sense like this was our club.

The best public course that I have played Fabulous .

This is a great course, very challenging. The greens were fast and had some bad spots on them from a fungus. This is still one of my favorite RTJ courses even though it is overpriced compared with other comparable courses. Worth playing if you have never played it before.

Simply put, this course is amazing! Beautiful views, and the course condition was perfect. Best fairways I have played on and that includes TPC Sawgrass.

This was a fantastic layout, one of my favorites of all time. Plus, the staff in the pro shop as well as the cart guys and the starters were all fantastic. The practice facility was top notch with an amazing driving range. As for the course, the layout was amazing but sadly they lost some of the greens fringes to this summer's heat. If I was rating Ross Bridge after nine holes it would have gotten five stars but the back nine has some issues on the edges of the greens. I thoroughly enjoyed playing this course and will be back to the trail again.

my father and i went down to play a few different courses on the trail over spring break and this was one of our last stops. the practice facility was phenomenal and i spent many hours there that day before our round. we played the course and it was phenomenal it was challenging and well maintained with the exception of a little fungus and dead grass but nothing that hindered our play. the next morning we were to play this course again in the morning and oxmoor valley in the afternoon. when we arrieved they informed us that we would be behind a very large outing and that the pace of play could be 6 plus hours, this would in turn cause us to miss our second tee time. the head pro said i have an idea hold on after we expressed our disapointment in only getting one round that day. he calle dthe other course and figured out a way to fit us into the tee slot at oxmoor valley, once he found out we didnt have transportation as my mother and brother had gone to the zoo, said hold on ran out got his personal vehicle and took us to the other course and we were able to then come back and play ross in the afternoon after the concluion of the outing even if it was a finish with the sunsetting. but the pro went out of his way to take us to play as much golf as we could thats the definition of hospitality i will be back for sure what a great collection of people and golf

Played several times as a trail card reward round. Always a fun, enjoyable round. I just wish the rest of the RTJ Trail courses would adopt the in-cart GPS system they use here!

Played there during the summer and had a great time. The staff are very friendly and all facilities are great. It is in great condition very well kept and is challenging for all level golfers. I can't wait to go back!

The RTJ Golf Trail is known for great golf at affordable prices. Ross Bridge, the only stop on the trail with just 18 holes, was designed to be its star. It has hosted a Champions Tour event, and the experience tends to be worth the highest greens fee on the trail. Everything is grandiose. Massive greens and fairways make it playable, yet hard to score. The lakes of the back nine are scenic and daunting. Elevation changes add even more drama. I'd love to go back.

Awesome track and well worth the expense. Resort prices for beverages off set by excellent service and attention to detail. Greens were outstanding and held shots. Played both Oxmoor tracks following Ross Bridge and there is definitely a premium with RB. I preferred and would highly recommend RB and the Valley at Oxmoor when visiting Birmingham.

Thought course was in great condition. We played in winter so rough was dormant. Locals said they like it better in summer because the fairways are softer and the course is greener. Several holes had nice elevation changes which coming from south Florida is always nice change. There are several different tees to play from including the black at over 8000 yards! It's about a half hour drive from downtown Birmingham so if you're in the area put it on your list of places to play.

We played whites and teals (24 and 36 indexes) and had a great time. Open fairways but incredibly challenging. Slope from white seems wrong - much more challenging. LOTS of water to shoot over from the whites. With wind, you'll be challenged, to say the least. Very dry, especially compared to Oxmoor Valley Valley course. Very friendly marshalls who care about you having a good time. VERY fast greens, as they warned us in the pro shop. White te RTJ Golf Trail website had deals for the winter, Golf Now cost was less.