RTJ Grand National: A Player's Guide, 15 Minutes From the House
August 2026 · 6 min read
Robert Trent Jones Grand National sits on the shore of Lake Saugahatchee in Opelika, about nine miles from our front door in Auburn. It is the most decorated stop on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, and the reason a lot of our golf guests come to this part of Alabama in the first place.
The Lake Course
Thirty-two of the fifty-four holes at Grand National touch the water, and the Lake Course carries most of them — twelve holes along the shoreline, including a stretch on the back nine that people photograph more than they play well. Take one more club than you think on the exposed holes; the wind off the lake is real and it is never helping.
The Links Course
Firmer, more open, and often the harder scorecard. It has hosted collegiate championships and professional qualifying, and it plays like it: wide corridors that funnel to punishing spots, and greens that reward a low approach. If your group only plays one round, most single-digit players pick the Links and most everyone else picks the Lake.
The Short Course
Eighteen par 3s, walkable, and the single best decision you can make with a mixed-ability group of ten. Two hours, one wedge each, no ego. We send nearly every group here on arrival day.
Practical notes
- Drive time from The Hydrangea House: about 15 minutes, straight down the highway to Opelika.
- Book well ahead for spring, October, and any Auburn home-football weekend.
- Carts, caddieless play, and a big practice facility — plan an extra 45 minutes to warm up properly.
- Ask about Trail multi-round and multi-site packages if you're also playing Highland Oaks or Ross Bridge.
Staying nearby
The Hydrangea House is a five-bedroom Auburn rental that sleeps 10+, set inside a private golf community fifteen minutes from Grand National and ten from Jordan-Hare Stadium. Book direct — no service fees — and we'll help you line up the weekend.