Today I played the RTJ Silver Lakes course. The weather was cool and for most of the round it was overcast. There was some rain in the area over the last 24 hours but true to RTJ standards the course had drained quite well.

We started the day playing the 9 hole "Backbreaker" course from the purple tees. This is a total of 3,846 yards for the 9 holes. The fairways are in spectacular shape and the bunkers are both deep and full of soft sand. Shot making is a must on this collection of difficult 9 holes. Virtually every approach shot will be to an elevated green well guarded with bunkers. However, the real challenge comes when you reach the green. The only way to describe these greens is BRUTAL! They are huge, they have radical undulations and they are probably just a bit slower than chrome with a fine coat of oil. Trying to figure out the massive breaks along with the mind numbing speed of these greens will leave you in a rather pronounced state of shock or at least in a slight stupor. Unless your approach shot stops within 10 foot of the cup, go ahead a figure on a three putt.

Once we were finished with the "Backbreaker" we finished off our round with the 9 holes dubbed "Heartbreaker". This is a rather apt name for these holes. There really isn't much different here than with the "Backbreaker". It is a wee bit shorter though, playing a total of 3,827 yards (that's a total of 7,673 yards for those keeping score). The greens are just as unforgiving and the trouble is just as prevalent.

The price to play the course is quite reasonable at $45.00. I went ahead and bought my RTJ Tour Card today so in the future I will be able to save about $10.00 off every round. The card is like $35.00 and is well worth the money so long as you buy it early in the year (they expire on Dec 31. no matter what time of year you buy it). You also get a coupon book worth $100.00 when you purchase the Tour Card. Sorry for my out of state friends, but only residents of Alabama can purchase the RTJ Tour Card.

The club facilities are second to none and the staff is 1st class all the way. The only disappointing part of the entire day was that the token they give you for range balls only fills your basket up half way.

My overall impression of Silver Lakes is that it is your typical run of the mill RTJ course. By that I mean it is some of the toughest and yet best golf you will find anywhere, especially for the cost. At the end of a round you will probably be humbled and yet ready to go back for more.


Stay tuned for my next review coming soon.....

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Oxmoor Valley