Ross Bridge - RTJ Trail (Birmingham, AL)

Ross Bridge is marketed as the premiere course on the RTJ Trail. It sits on a massive piece of property that allows the course to be stretched to an astounding 8,197 yards! Everything about the place is huge including the French Chateau style hotel that serves as the clubhouse. It should be noted that Ross Bridge was designed in 2005, five years after the death of RTJ Sr. by Roger Rulewich, Jones lead architect. 

Ross Bridge is defined by two lakes that are connected by a 100’ waterfall that separates the ninth and eighteenth greens. The course plays high on the hillside above the water and then along side it to finish both nines. From its inception, Ross Bridge was meant to be a tournament course, and the greens reflect that desire. They’re very large and tilted. For everyday play, they’re kept at a modest pace, but can be sped up to 13+ on the stimpmeter. The Champions Tour played the Regions Classic here from 2006-2008. Brad Bryant won back to back tournaments the first two years.  

(The long par four second offers this gorgeous view on the approach shot. There’s room to run it on but be careful not to go long otherwise it’ll chase down the slope into the hazard.) 

(The long par three fourth is all carry over water to a diagonal green. A false front in the middle will scuttle balls back into the hazard. A tee left of this makes the shot head on. Note the beautiful clubhouse in the distance.) 

(The par three seventh plays from one ridge over to a green set on another. The high point left center separates the front of the green from the back. A rear pin demands an aggressive line over the sand and valley.) 

Ross Bridge is often times ranked as the second best public course in Alabama. It has wonderful views throughout the property and several terrific shots, specifically on the par threes, that make this a fun course to play. That said, the focus on making this one of the longest courses in the world left a negative impression. The walk back from the green to the next tee was incredulous. It restricts the flow of the course and adds unnecessary minutes to the round. Obviously, the back tees will rarely be used, so I wonder what was the point. It’s possible that courses of this ilk might be the only ones able to adequately challenge professional golfers in the future. I also felt the variety of holes were sacrificed to get the most length at every turn. I’m sure the counterpoint to my opinion is the elasticity of each hole due to the plethora of tee boxes, but how emasculating is it to see a 226 yard par three get lowered to 144 yards for the average player. I know professionals hit it further, but I believe most recreational golfers want a relative challenge so a long par three is a long par three.

(The approach on nine is backdropped by a cascading waterfall that falls in a series of drops. This unique feature is one of the highlights of Ross Bridge…

…this is a close up view. This is an interesting hole mainly because a huge bunker sits in the middle of the fairway and players either go high on the right or slide the drive between the sand and water on the left. It definitely plays shorter going left but there’s much more risk.) 

Ross Bridge has a great set of par threes. I really liked four and it’s shot across the lake. The left side was next to a huge mound which infiltrated the putting surface on that side. Six required a solid strike to carry the valley, and the fourteenth down to the water was very picturesque. Two of the par fives were dramatically downhill and the thirteenth from the tips is nearly 700 yards(!) I reckon on dry days, the longer hitter can eke out 400 yard drive! The par fours were fine but I thought they should’ve been better. A few had cool drives over the lake with the eighteenth being the best hole on the course. My criticism is with ten (a goofy dogleg right that looks like it is going left) and twelve a bland uphill par four. The fifth was another uphill par four too. I just feel great terrain like this shouldn’t have such hiccups. 

(The par three fourteenth is hit over the lake to this handsome looking green. The size of the putting surface should make hitting it in regulation a tad easier. Note the center of the green and the false front. This feature was on two other one shotters.) 

(The long par four seventeenth has a beautiful location for its green. I like that the left side of is open to a running shot.) 

I had high expectations for Ross Bridge that unfortunately weren’t met. I guess that is the literal definition of overrated. I feel that is too harsh a statement because it’s a very good course, but when the most famous golf trail in the country bills you as it’s premier course, then the presumption is one will have an exceptional experience. The truth is that the hotel is best on the trail. It’s world class. Porsche actually uses it for their sport driving school. I give Ross Bridge a 6 (very good)(worth driving two hours to play). 

(The eighteenth is a cape style hole where one must decide how aggressive to be on the tee shot. Playing too conservative may force you to layup on your second shot…
…the second shot is all carry to the green with little room for error. Bailing out left leaves a dicey pitch over the traps with water behind. A four is a terrific score!) 

(Note that three par fours are over 500 yards! And three par fives are over 600!) 

(I love this view of the par five thirteenth because the front is open for any type of shot one wants to hit into it. If more greens were like this, then Ross Bridge could’ve been the best public course in Alabama.)