Capitol Hill (Judge)

The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is one of the largest golf projects ever undertaken, extending to 26 courses and 468 holes, spread over 11 different sites in the Cotton State. The invention of Dr. David Bonner, former head of Retirement Systems of Alabama, this enormous public golf facility was developed by the Sunbelt Golf Corporation to promote a state-wide healthy, environment-friendly outdoor activity for retirees and others.

Situated in Prattville, around 13 miles northwest of Montgomery, the 1,500-acre Capitol Hill campus offers three 18-hole championship courses. It initially opened in 1999 with the Senator and Legislator courses but quickly expanded to a 54-hole complex the following year with the arrival of the Judge, which is one of the longest (measuring all of 7,813 yards) and toughest (with a slope rating of 142) tracks on the Trail.

Fourteen of the holes feature water hazards so golfers should maybe consider moving forward one set of tees and nudging their ball around the course rather than blasting away from the back markers. The 675-yard 7th and 711-yard 11th are a couple of par fives where that strategy just might come in handy. The 6th (played to an island green), 12th and 16th (both of which demand long carries across water) are all excellent par three holes that offer little room for error.