NWO Golf Links December 2015

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NWO Golf Links
Northern Alabama’s
Golfing Treasure:
WHILE SOME OF THE PREMIER STAY-AND-PLAY GOLF DESTINATIONS IN ALABAMA
ARE affiliated with the Robert Trent Jones (RTJ) Golf Trail, your choices are certainly not
limited to the RTJ courses only. One very attractive destination is th
art of the State Park system, it is appropriate for
a family of four or a group of golfing buddies.
History buffs will remember Joe Wheeler as
a Confederate General in the Civil War, who
was the only Confederate General to rise to
a similar rank in the U.S. Army after the end
of the War Between the States.
The centerpiece of the Joe Wheeler State
Park is the golf course, appropriately named
The General. It is one of six state park golf
courses in Alabama, which are part of the
Parks Path, which complements the existing
RTJ Golf Trail. The General is devoid of
homes and is filled with a number of holes
accentuated by elevation changes, bends,
twists, turns, and blind shots.
There are no ho-hum, straight-away par
fours at The General. Every shot requires
a tactical frame of mind, which adds to its
overall appeal. When playing this intriguing
course, you must stay in the moment. This
course grabs your attention, starting with
a blind tee shot at the very first hole. If
you consistently miss fairways and greens,
this course will give you a chance to post
a respectable score, but you must have
creative chipping and sharp putting skills.
You will want to re-play The General
immediately after your initial round so
that you will remember what to avoid. This
course offers ‘a dash of the unexpected’ and
is well-worth playing time and time again.
Animals are another memorable aspect
of The General, as it sits inside a game
sanctuary. Wildlife sightings are common,
especially deer and bluebirds, but no lions,
tigers or bears, oh my!
When it’s time to ‘hit the hay,’ the Lodge,
located just minutes from the golf course, is
a great place to spend the night. It’s built
in a picture-postcard setting, with possibly
Alabama’s most stunning waterfront view
over Wheeler Lake, an offshoot of the
Tennessee River. It is bordered on all sides
by trees, and without a doubt, the view
provides another ‘dash of the unexpected.’
BY MIKE MAY
Joe Wheeler
State Park