RTJ Golf Trail at Grand National Golf Club

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.