RTJ Golf Trail at Highland Oaks

The Highlands course at Highland Oaks is one of two eighteen-hole layouts that form this stop on Alabama's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. with Roger Rulewich in the mid-1990s as part of the state's ambitious public golf initiative, the course reflects the Trail's characteristic philosophy of championship-caliber golf at accessible rates. The property sits in the Wiregrass region of southeastern Alabama near Dothan, where the gently rolling terrain and stands of pine provide the natural framework for the routing. Jones's design approach here emphasizes strategic variety and playability across multiple tee sets, a hallmark of the Trail courses. The layout incorporates the natural elevation changes of the site, with fairways moving through corridors of longleaf and loblolly pine. Water features appear on several holes, typical of Jones's work during this period, creating both visual definition and strategic challenge. The greens are characteristically large with pronounced contouring, rewarding accurate approach play and testing short game skills. Highland Oaks serves both local golfers and visitors exploring the Trail, which stretches across Alabama with multiple facilities designed by Jones and his team. The Highlands course, along with its companion Marshwood layout, provides a representative example of the Trail's mission to bring high-quality public golf to communities throughout the state. The facility includes practice areas and clubhouse amenities standard to the Trail's properties.