[Mike Hendren]

Hillbilly tour rookie Joey Smith and yours truly daytripped down to the Tennessee River near Florence, Alabama for a round at Turtle Point Yacht & Country Club, a 1961 Robert Trent Jones, Sr. design that flies below the radar screen. 

In addition to the spacious greens and runway tee boxes (which I continue to find visually appealing and highly functional)  the hallmark of the course is an ingenious routing that takes full advantage of the long slope down toward the water and a small valley that cuts through the middle of the property. 

Playing away from the river, nearly a mile wide thanks to Wheeler Dam, Jones quickly takes the player to the top of the property with an uphill approach at the doglet first and demanding one-shot second listed at 190 yards from the penultimate white tees but playing a fully 230 to a back pin.  The third is a fantastic 439/461 straightaway par four paralleling the valley with a crowned fairway and single bunker guarding any approach from the left.  Typical of the large greens, it is 43 yards deep.  This is a simple, classic hole that would fit darned near anywhere in the country.  The 4th is routed around the end of the valley and is the only hole on the course where the mature trees are claustrophobic with the correct line off the tee down the outside of the dogleg left.  The 493/519 fifth requires a decent carry to the a plateau landing area, then the hole plummets right anda down into the valley with a nicely scaled pond protecting the front and left of the green.  The prevailing wind off the lake and a slight downhill lie after a big tee ball makes reaching the green in two dicey.  The direction of the routing is reversed at the 6th as the 380/435 yard hole plays up and out of the valley to a wingnut green, one of the few where the contouring is dramatic.  The 7th turns back toward the lake along the opposite ridge of the valley with a crowned fairway that is difficult to hit.  While the 12th at Augusta National Golf Club is often immitated, the 145/168 8th is as good a replica and I've seen with the green at a 45 degree angle running 44 yards from front left to back right with the green sited down in the valley.  The 433/472 yards par four ninth plays directly at the river, tumbling some 50 feet downhill aabout 200 yards from the green. 

Back nine to follow.

[Mike Hendren]

It often seems that the classic designers, notably Ross, frequently used the 10th hole as a par three to take advantage of a narrow end of the property near the clubhouse.  RTJ does the same here with the 188/211 10th.  The 11th would appear to be a place to gain ground at 475/502 yards but the dogleg right is severe and guarded by a giant tree with smaller trees hiding the small creek that runs along the inside of the dogleg.  A safe 3-wood off the tee down the middle leaves a severely uphill 250 yards second to a two tiered green so there is every temptation off the tee to shorten the second by hugging the dogleg.  Removal of the tree and replacement with fairway bunkering would no doubt be favored by the cognoscenti, but the half-par nature of the hole could thereby be compromised.  The 416/459 12th continues to climb through the valley and plays much longer than the card suggests.  RTJ then provides a couple of parallal breathers with the 13th (336/259) featuring the most shallow green on the course - a mere 23 yards and the 361/378 14th running in the opposite direction with a slightly dogleg right and reverse cant in the faiway.  The 15th and 16th play along the ridge toward the river with the front bunker at the 167/194 yards 16th being the only greenside bunker on the course that precludes a run-up approach.  The pear-shaped green has a well protected pin placement in the rear.  The 524/548 par five 17th swings big to the left down toward the lake from the tee with a tree right and lake left suggesting a lay-up on the second. 

At 341/364 yards the 18th is a unique finishing hole with the drive directly at the river where the hole bends sharply left with the approach over an inlset to a green hard by the river (a little spray on the rocks given the wind).  A well-placed drive down the left side can save at least two clubs on the approach where three back bunkers work in tandem with the wind off the river. 

At 7035 from the tips (though there appears to be an additional 250 yards available from small back tees subsequently added) this course is championship caliber, having hosted the SEC championship among others.  That said, it is surprisingly playable with tree lines well back from the playing corridors, modest bunkering and generous openings at the front of most greens.  Fairways have possibly been narrowed from the original design, particular in the run-up to the greens, but the course is roomy.  Rather than exact strokes, the course likely takes them 1/8th at a time through imprecise approaches from bermuda rough and lengthy three putts that follow.  While the bermuda was just coming around the course condition was impeccable with ample roll on the fairways. 

Ironically the club is directly across the river and visible from the Robert Trent Jones Trail.  Turtle Point is a mile across as the crow flies but lightyears better.  Bottom line for me is that the course dispels the notion that the 1960's were the dark age of golf course architecture.  I cannot fathom that you fans of gca would not enjoy and appreciate this fine course.  The fact that the membership is among the nicest I've encountered is icing on the cake. 
Just ignore the banjo's on the drive in. 

Bogey

[Mike Hendren]

Also, Smith was given a battlefield promotion to The Hillbilly Tour when he sprang for Mountain Dews on the way home and purchased a tin of Skoal for good measure. 

[Joey Smith]

Mike - Very well written.  I agree with everything you said.

What a great golf course.  I wish more people knew about this place - but I'm sure the members like it fine just the way it is.

Great day!

Joey

I appreciate the battlefield promotion to the Hillbilly Tour - Sir!

js

[Sam Sikes]

I think Turtle Point is an excellent golf course.  Definitely top 3 in the state according to me.

[David Kelly]

Bottom line for me is that the course dispels the notion that the 1960's were the dark age of golf course architecture.  

Mike,

Sounds like a very interesting course but do you really think it dispels the notion that the 1960s were an architectual dark age or perhaps is just an outlier.

[Joey Smith]

Sam -

What would be your top 5 courses in Alabama - in order?  And why?  Just curious. 

Joey

[Sam Sikes]

My favorite courses to play goes something like this.

Birmingham West.
Turtle Point
Shoal Creek

I have played each of these at least 15 times. 

After that, it gets kind of fuzzy.  I like Kiva Dunes, but haven't been there in a long time.  It was tremendous when it first opened.  The ledges in huntsville had the potential to be great, but the encroaching development and awkward routing cost some points in my book.  Old Overton is ok.  Ive only played it twice.  I haven't played Mobile since the work was done, but I wasn't particularly fond of it prior to the work.  Limestone Springs is also decent.

I have not played anything in Tuscaloosa, so I cant comment on North River or Capstone Club.   Nor have I played Steelwood or Farm Links. 

I think I have played everything else of note.  There is not a ton of great golf in Bama, Birmingham west and Turtle Point are my two favorite, hands down.

I forgot Willow Point after the Hurdzan/Fry renovation.  It is pretty good as well.

[Mike Hendren]

Mike,
Sounds like a very interesting course but do you really think it dispels the notion that the 1960s were an architectual dark age or perhaps is just an outlier.

Good question.  I'm thinking that we've been a little too harsh on this period with fundamentally rock solid golf courses falling out of favor, perhaps as a result of the current emphasis on minimalism and aesthetics.

The Golf Club, Spyglass, Desert Forest, the redo of Eugene CC, Hazeltine, Crooked Stick, Boco Rio, Pine Tree and Harbour Town and Greenville CC's Chanticleer course (the latter two being 1970 openings) are notable and I'm guessing there are plenty more Turtle Points out there. 

Just as the muscle cars of the 60's are making a comeback, perhaps this generation of golf course will as well.

Mike

[Mike Hendren]

One other thought.  40 years from now these courses might be considered classic and the 60's an age of enlightenment when compared to the new dark age - the desert course era. 

Mike

[Fred Gray]

For a friend coming in from out of town, Turtle Point or Limestone Springs?

I am a member at The Ledges and we will be playing there some over the next week (member guest) so need one round that is a change of pace.

As to the issues about The Ledges.

Yes, the long ride from 2 to 3 and 6 to 7 is annoying but the views during the ride are very good.
Development is less of an issue than it seems. The course has enough width so that the homes almost never come into play. Only 2 houses, both on #8 effect come into play more than 1 round in 20.

On the positive, as the fairways have matured, they have become much firmer and faster. The entrances to the greens allow run ups from the correct fairway position on almost every hole.

Let me know if you want to see the course again.

[Joey Smith]

Thanks Fred - I would prefer TP...By far...

Your Pro could probably work that out for you.

Joey

[John Goodman]

I'd probably go with Limestone.  It's a little more photogenic (I know, TP has the river right there, but the views at Limestone are just fantastic), and more memorable holes - the back nine especially is superb.

But I agree with Bogey that TP is a rock solid golf course, and you wouldn't go wrong playing there either.  Both are in my top 5 in Alabama.  I think Limestone is the best public in the state.  

[Sam Sikes]

TP is actually a very stuffy club in a town of that size.  I doubt Rob Clark will be able to set up Turtle Point without a member in each group unless the rules have changed in the past 2 years.

Personally, I think TP is a better golf course than Limestone.  I have played both many times.  Furthermore it is usually in tremendous shape.  Best bermuda fairways I have ever seen in the summer.

[Sam Sikes]

Fred,

My family belongs to the Ledges as well.  Good to see another Huntsvillian on the site.  My point was that the Ledges could have been world class with the right vision.  Not that it is not good. 

However, I still cant get over the fact that they put the huge ugly O.B. stakes on the edge of the cliffs now.  That is the biggest eye sore I have ever seen on a golf course.  I am fine with cliff not being treated as a lateral hazard, but OB!! Come on. 

Maybe I am just being anal, but the thought of it makes me not want to play there any more.

[Fred Gray]

I am not a fan of the white pipes. If I ever build a course there will be no OB. If you can get a stance in the ladies locker room you should be able to play from there. Sadly clowns were climbing down and trying to play, became a liability issue.

The stakes around the clubhouse bother me more.

I have been a ghost on the site for a long time but finally decided to speak up.

All in all, I think we have something special. When I play anywhere else, I get reminded of what is at home.

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