Short at Silver Lakes
About
Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
---|---|---|---|---|
Black | 27 | 1994 yards | ||
Purple | 27 | 1680 yards | ||
Orange | 27 | 1373 yards | ||
White | 27 | 1153 yards | ||
Teal | 27 | 798 yards |
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black M: 27.3/87 | 253 | 192 | 225 | 236 | 199 | 254 | 186 | 238 | 211 | 1994 | 1994 |
Purple M: 27.0/86 | 213 | 155 | 191 | 198 | 167 | 201 | 170 | 200 | 185 | 1680 | 1680 |
Orange M: 26.9/85 | 123 | 133 | 163 | 171 | 160 | 171 | 147 | 150 | 155 | 1373 | 1373 |
White M: 26.0/84 W: 28.5/89 | 113 | 106 | 146 | 140 | 130 | 138 | 111 | 116 | 153 | 1153 | 1153 |
Green W: 27.6/87 | 90 | 81 | 100 | 94 | 99 | 94 | 94 | 85 | 61 | 798 | 798 |
Handicap | 5 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 3 | ||
Par | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 27 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Available Facilities
Banquet FacilitiesReviews
Reviewer Photos
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Photo submitted by u00000760482 on 08/05/2022
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Photo submitted by u00000760482 on 08/05/2022
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Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 04/26/2020
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Ninth hole, Heartbreaker course Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 07/06/2018
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Fourth hole, Backbreaker course Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 07/06/2018
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Par-3 eighth, Heartbreaker Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 03/01/2018
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Par-5th seventh, Heartbreaker Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 03/01/2018
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From behind Backbreaker's seventh green Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 12/14/2017
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Heartbreaker's seventh approach Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 12/14/2017
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Heartbreaker's seventh hole Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 12/14/2017
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Heartbreaker's third green Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 12/14/2017
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Heartbreaker's ninth green Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 12/14/2017
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Ninth green, Heartbreaker course Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 09/21/2017
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8th hole, Mindbreaker course Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 04/07/2017
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View of 9th green, Heartbreaker course, and clubhouse from across the lake Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 04/07/2017
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Third hole, Heartbreaker course Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 04/07/2017
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View of Heartbreaker #9 from across lake Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 01/31/2017
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Mindbreaker #8 Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 01/31/2017
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View from behind green of Heartbreaker's par-5 seventh hole Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 01/31/2017
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From beside green, Backbreaker #9 Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 01/31/2017
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Ninth green, Heartbreaker Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 01/31/2017
RTJ - yep elevated greens are his trademark!
Greens are fast - yardage may seem short but go up a club to hit the green. The RTJ trail is a must play for any golf enthusiast!
Fastest greens in the state
This review is for the Backbreaker/Heartbreaker nines. Been a while since I've visited, but found a familiar foe.
If there is a course with faster greens in the state of Alabama I want to see them. Silver Lakes' greens are as quick as I ever remember them and they roll so true. Downgrain, downhill putts are delicate. Coming over spines or ridges in greens take a great deal of skill. You will 3-putt!
The course was extremely wet, due to recent heavy rain and overseeding taking place. So, little roll off the tee box. That combined with the recent addition of a sixth set of tees made the course play a great deal longer than in the past. The black tees (tips) measure 7,622 yards. The purple tees play 7,014. The orange tees (regular men's tees with a suggested handicap of 6-12) play 6,533. The white tees measure 6,034. They have added a silver set of tees for seniors, which play to 5,540. The rub, however, is that tee placement has shifted to different boxes with the addition of the silver tees. I noticed about a two-club up difference on most of the holes. That is significant, given the wet conditions and remarkable elevation change. It felt like the course played ~6,800 yards, which is a lot of golf course for me. Play the correct tees or you are in for a long day.
Given the length, difficulty of the green complexes and forced carries, this is probably not a good spot for high handicappers. Better players, however, will appreciate this golf course. As I have said in previous reviews, this is a Trail stop that often gets bypassed for some of the other more popular stops, but is the hardest course on the Trail in my opinion.
Too hard to enjoy
The main difficulty was that every green was elevated with a trap or water in the front of the green. This made for 'target' golf which was not enjoyable. Course was extremely wet, and playing cart path only just wore me out. Just not an enjoyable course for me to play.
Great Time...
Me and my wife enjoyed a round of golf during the evening timeframe and it was superb. Course was in great shape and we're barely into the spring so I can only imagine how much better it will be come summertime. Will be returning in the near future.
Enjoyed
We started our RTJ Trail adventure here at Silver Lake. Other than the weather being a bit cold (and a little drizzle), we thoroughly enjoyed it. As is always the case, the first time you play a course, you need to learn the little details. The greens are very sloping...not many flat spots, but rolled consistent and true. Took some getting used to. Also, if you happen to "just miss" a green, chances are you will be rolling down a collection area another 30'. Will definitely be back for another shot at this BEAUTIFUL course.
Tour caliber greens at Silver Lakes
Played Mindbreaker/Heartbreaker routing today in some stiff 20 mph, flagstick-bowing wind. Course is in great shape despite torrential rain and storms we had this week. Only one fairway, Mindbreaker No. 6 - which is perpetually damp, was noticbly soggy. The greens were on point and rolling quick. Still the best greens on the Trail and are PGA Tour caliber. The course is really greening up and looks fantastic. The clearing of brushy waste areas is much appreciated as it creates a little more playability from several parts of the course that were previously unplayable if you were fortunate enough to find your ball.
Trail's best-kept secret
This 27-hole championship layout, plus short course, in northeast Alabama is regrettably often overlooked by out-of-towers compiling an itenerary of RTJ Trail courses. Locals, however, know it is among the Trail's best-kept secrets. The primary reason? The greens. The TifEagle Bermuda are ideal for the Deep South climate. They are grainy, but they are as fast and true as any on the Trail. In fact, I've played in all four corners of the country and the only greens that I remember being quicker were TPC Southwind's a week after the FedEx/St. Jude Classic. A tornado ravaged the course a decade or so ago, wiping out many of the trees that dotted the course. Still, I wouldn't call it a linksy course. That term is often used to mislabel exposed courses. The Heartbreaker nine, in my opinion the best of the three, rests mostly on the crown of a hill, so while there aren't many trees, drastic elevation change and uneven lies protect par. The par-5 seventh and par-4 ninth anchor this side. From the seventh's elevated tee, players must fit anything from a long iron to a driver between a pond and several large fairway bunkers. The second shot plays to a bowl collection area over the hazard that is guarded by bunkers, and finally to an elevated, wind-exposed green. It is truly a spectacular hole. The ninth is a poor man's shorter version of the 18th at Sawgrass. It is a great finishing hole in its own right, particularly on windy days. The Mindbreaker loop is the hardest nine. It features even more elevation change than the Heartbreaker nine, but plays mostly through scrub pines. If the pin is in the back right of the green on the par-5 opener, it is one of the toughest approach shots you'll ever play. A bunker guards the front of that portion of the green and long and right carries deep into a swale. A spine dissects the middle of the green from the back right portion, making even well-struck shots difficult to hold the green. Par is a great score there. Mindbreaker's eighth is another excellent hole. The green is shaped like a three-leaf clover facing northeast. It is pitched severely from back to front and guarded by a creek. There are three very distinct pin locations and if it is perched on the left it will appear that there is not enough green to land a shot there. Use the slop to feed the ball from the middle. The Backbreaker nine is kind of combination of the other nines - mostly exposed holes, with a few dips into the trees. This loop is accented by severe uphill approaches. Club selection is key on this nine, as it is on all Trail courses. Remember, RTJ designed these courses with this in mind: "Hard par, easy bogey." Jason and his staff provide the best hospitality I've encountered on the Trail. By all means, don't skip this stop on the Trail. It is rarely crowded and will really test your putter.
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View of Heartbreaker #9 from across lake Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 01/31/2017
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Mindbreaker #8 Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 01/31/2017
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View from behind green of Heartbreaker's par-5 seventh hole Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 01/31/2017
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From beside green, Backbreaker #9 Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 01/31/2017
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Ninth green, Heartbreaker Photo submitted by BrandonWebb on 01/31/2017
RTJ- Silver Lakes
Course was in great shape and the greens were a blast. Challenging layout with some tough greens, overall a very fun course that is worth the trip.
Plenty of great views with lots of elevation changes.
Everything lived up to the hype!!
We played in mid-November, and considering the time of year and the unusual weather the week we were there, everything lived up to the hype about the RTJ Trail of Golf. The staff was outstanding and professional in every interaction. The greens putted very well, but were very difficult to read. The fairways were in good condition considering the time of year and the previous weather conditions. Will try to get here a bit earlier in the Fall next time.
Top Knotch All facets
I have played 693 courses in 50 states/31 countries/6 continents and this is in my top 25 regardless.
Great course
They have done a great job with this course following the tornado. It is now a links style course and was very beautiful and nice to play. The staff was great!. Would definitely play this course again.
Tough course, outstanding scenery.
A great test of golf, requires all clubs in the bag...vistas are great. Greens are somewhat hard, ball jumps. Raised greens need more of a collar to prevent excessive roll-off.
Great experience.