The Ledges

The northern Alabama city of Huntsville is situated in Madison County, close to the border with Tennessee, and it nestles in the Cumberland Plateau of the Appalachian Mountains. The city is partially surrounded by hills, three of which run lie to the east of the city centre and on one of these peaks, known as “Huntsville Mountain,” sits a small residential development that has The Ledges as its sporting focal point.

Opened in 2000, the course was designed by Dr Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry when they were in partnership together and it occupies a rather spectacular site overlooking the city. The front nine holes are set out on the northern portion of the property, where a number of stone walls and rock formations have been cleverly incorporated into the design.

Quite a few of the holes have been routed along ridge lines, especially the finishing four holes, where each of the fairways drop off to the left. The best of this closing quartet is undoubtedly the 403-yard 16th, where the fairway leads to a raised green that’s fronted by a menacing creek and an intimidating 12-foot deep, sod-lined bunker.