
The Short Course
RTJ Golf Trail at Grand National Golf Club


About this course
The Short at Grand National Golf Club is a par-3 course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Roger Rulewich as part of Alabama's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Located in Opelika in east-central Alabama, Grand National opened in the early 1990s as one of the original sites on the Trail, which was created through funding from the state's pension system to promote golf tourism and economic development. The Short was added to complement the property's two regulation eighteen-hole courses, the Links and the Lake. The course features holes ranging from short pitch shots to longer one-shotters that test the full spectrum of iron play. True to Jones's design philosophy, the greens are characteristically large with significant contour and multiple pin positions, and bunkers are strategically placed to frame targets and penalize misses. The routing takes advantage of the rolling terrain typical of the Alabama Piedmont region, with elevation changes that add variety to club selection and shot values. The Short serves both as a practice facility for members and visitors playing the main courses and as a standalone experience for those with limited time or seeking a more casual round. Like other Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail facilities, Grand National offers accessible public golf with well-maintained conditions and modest green fees, reflecting the Trail's mission to provide quality golf across a broad demographic.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in AL
Quick facts
- Location
- Opelika, AL, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1993
- Designer(s)
- Roger Rulewich, Robert Trent Jones Sr.
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 54
- Length
- 3,292 yards
- Course Vaults score
- 7.5
Getting there
The journey to RTJ Golf Trail at Grand National Golf Club begins at either Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International (ATL), roughly ninety minutes northeast, or Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International (BHM), a similar distance to the northwest, with both routes converging on the rolling piedmont of east-central Alabama. The drive transitions from interstate corridors into the gently undulating terrain just outside Auburn-Opelika, where the landscape softens into a patchwork of pine and hardwood. As you approach the property along Grand National Drive, the scale of Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s vision becomes evident - two championship layouts and a short course spread across Lake Saugahatchee's wooded shoreline, a testament to Alabama's ambitious effort to place world-class golf within reach of the everyday player.

FAQ
Common questions about The Short at RTJ Golf Trail at Grand National Golf Club
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
The Short at RTJ Golf Trail at Grand National Golf Club has a Course Vaults score of 7.5 out of 10 based on 51 logged golfers.
The Short was designed by Roger Rulewich and Robert Trent Jones Sr..
Yes. The Short at RTJ Golf Trail at Grand National Golf Club is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at The Short is 54.
The Short plays 3,292 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The Short is a 18-hole course.







