Ridge at RTJ Golf Trail at Oxmoor Valley

The Ridge at Oxmoor Valley, a centerpiece of Alabama's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, presents a stark visual contrast to its sister course, The Valley, despite sharing the same Birmingham landscape. Its Modern design sprawls dramatically across former iron ore mine land, an environment that dictates a rugged, almost defiant character.

Crafted by Roger Rulewich under RTJ's direction, The Ridge favors bold play over strategic nuance. Expect elevated tees showcasing panoramic views, substantial carries over exposed rock, and undulating fairways where a fade can be a weapon. It’s a course that demands confident swings and rewards aggressive lines, with greens that often tilt dramatically, requiring a deft touch to navigate.

While not a regular stop on professional tours, The Ridge has served as a demanding test for collegiate and state-level championships, challenging developing talent with its unrelenting terrain. The clubhouse, perched high, offers striking views that often spark debate among golfers, some finding it uniquely memorable, others conceding it's a brute, but undeniably a spectacle of golf carved from an industrial past. The Ridge is known for its challenging 18th hole, a par 4 that plays uphill and into the prevailing wind, often determining the outcome of matches.