Mobile, Alabama, and “The Trail”
The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail (The Trail) is a collection of great golf facilities stretching from the Gulf of Mexico north to the Tennessee River. In all, there are 10 different sites with a total of 432 holes. Each site usually has at least 36 holes of championship golf, laid out by legendary golf architect Robert Trent Jones. On this trip, we stayed in Mobile, Alabama home to the Magnolia Grove facility, which annually hosts the LPGA¹s Tournament of Champions. There are two great hotel options with the Riverview Plaza and the Battle House Hotel, both Renaissance properties.
The Golf
The Trail is the creation of Dr. David Bonner, CEO of the Retirement Systems of Alabama. He had a vision 20 years ago that championship public golf could bring national attention and economic prosperity to Alabama. He was correct. The Trail sites are state of the art in golf. Magnolia Grove is a perfect example of this. There are 36 holes of Championship Golf with The Crossings and The Falls courses. In addition, there is an 18-hole, par-three course with demanding holes of up to 200 yards as well as a large practice area. There are no homes on any of the courses and the property encompasses close to 1,000 acres. The Magnolia Grove property includes creeks, marshland and lakes with golf holes carved out of a thick forest of hardwood and pine. The Crossings Course is where the LPGA plays and it is more demanding than the Falls, with more hills and elevation especially on the greens. All of The Trail sites feature large traditional clubhouses similar in appearance to Augusta National. Magnolia Grove is about 20 minutes northwest of downtown Mobile.
All of The Trail sites are worth visiting, including one within short reach of Magnolia Grove. About 2 hours away is the Capital Hill site in Prattville, just north of Montgomery. Capital Hill has 54 holes of championship golf, including The Senator, The Legislator and The Judge courses. When I drove up to the property, I happened to go out the back door of the clubhouse. There was a large gazebo which caught my eye. As I walked towards it, I noticed that this entire area was on a huge bluff that was not noticeable from the entrance.When I arrived at the Gazebo, I was rewarded with one of the most spectacular vistas in all of golf. Numerous lakes and golf holes working their way through the wetlands with Montgomery off in the distance. If you ever get there, take a minute to see this. For more info on The Trail visit www.rtjgolf.com.
The Hotels
The Riverview Plaza and Battle House Hotels are located in downtown Mobile at the mouth of Mobile Bay. The Riverview is a highrise hotel, which has just finished undergoing extensive renovation. The top floors are over a panoramic view of the downtown area and the bay. A skywalk connects the hotel to the convention center, historic museums, and restaurants. The Battle House is the more historic of the two properties, having been built in 1852. It has long been a gathering spot for luminaries and politicians, including Ulysses S. Grant, Woodrow Wilson, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Babe Ruth. The Trellis Room, located near the lobby area, is an upscale Italian restaurant with cathedral ceilings, a show kitchen and great food. The Battle House, too, has recently been renovated and continues to dominate the social scene as it has for the past 100 years. A luxury Spa has also been added. For more information visit www.riverviewmobile.com and www.rsabattlehouse.com.
Dining & Sightseeing
The No Ja restaurant is an excellent dining choice within walking distance of both hotels and located in Mobile¹s French Quarter on North Jackson Street. No Ja is the latest creation of owner and chef Chakli Diggs. I had a chance to visit with him and he is a very interesting fellow. Born in Ethiopia and educated in the U.S., Chakli has over 20-years of experience in fine dining, and resort and restaurant management. He has a sharp wit and helps to create a very pleasant atmosphere at the restaurant. No Ja features a blend of Mediterranean, Asian and Gulf Coast cuisine. The restaurant features ironwork galleries, a romantic courtyard and stylish interior all reminiscent of New Orleans. We dined on duck and sea bass. The food was excellent and well worth the trip. For more info visit www.nojamobile.com
Bellingrath Gardens and Home makes an interesting excursion. It is located about 20 miles south of Mobile, on the banks of the Fowl River. The property includes 65 acres of gardens which recently was voted the best Public Rose Garden in the U.S. The Bellingrath Home has been featured on “America’s Castles” on the A&E television network. The property also features a riverboat cruise on the Fowl River. For more info, visit www.bellingrath.org.