Backbreaker at RTJ Golf Trail at Silver Lakes

The Backbreaker course at Silver Lakes is one of two championship layouts that form part of Alabama's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, the ambitious public golf development completed in the early 1990s. Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed the course with assistance from Roger Rulewich, his longtime associate, creating a layout that exemplifies the Trail's philosophy of championship-caliber golf at accessible rates. The course sits in the rolling terrain of northeast Alabama near Glencoe, where the landscape transitions between the Appalachian foothills and the broader valleys to the south.

The routing takes full advantage of the property's natural elevation changes and water features, with several holes playing along or across Lake Martin and other constructed lakes that define much of the strategic challenge. Jones employed his characteristic design elements throughout: large, undulating greens with multiple pin positions, expansive bunker complexes, and generous landing areas that reward accurate placement over pure distance. The course measures over 7,600 yards from the championship tees, though multiple tee boxes allow for varied experiences across skill levels.

The Backbreaker name reflects the course's demanding nature, particularly from the back tees where forced carries, strategic angles, and the ever-present water require both power and precision. Silver Lakes, like other Trail facilities, operates as a public resort with lodging and dining available on-site, making it a destination for golfers traveling through the region. The facility's two courses together have hosted various state and regional amateur championships since opening.