At first, I thought, "It's the capital of Alabama, how good could the golf courses be?" But after looking into it, my perspective completely changed.

It turns out that among American golfers, it is actually more famous as a golf travel destination.

At the center of this is the RTJ (Robert Trent Jones) Golf Trail.

This is a large-scale golf course project designed by Robert Trent Jones, one of America's top golf course designers, operating several prestigious courses throughout Alabama.

Among them, the RTJ Golf Trail - Capitol Hill, located in Prattville right next to Montgomery, is famous as one of the top public golf courses in the country.

It's about a 20-minute drive from downtown Montgomery, and it boasts three championship courses.

The most famous course is The Judge.

With a par of 72 and a length of 7,794 yards, it is quite a long course, and the view from the teeing ground on the first hole is truly overwhelming.

You tee off while overlooking the Alabama River wetlands and fairways, and it is often featured as one of the most beautiful first holes in American golf magazines.

The Senator has a completely different atmosphere. Its style evokes British or Scottish links courses, where wide fairways and playing with the wind are important. Since the greens were newly replaced in 2020, it has received praise for its improved condition.

The Legislator is a traditional course set against the backdrop of the unique southern pine forests of the United States.

It is considered the most straightforward of the three courses, but it is by no means an easy course. The practice facilities are excellent, featuring a 400-yard diameter driving range on a site of about 1,500 acres.

The prices are also quite reasonable. Depending on the season and time of day, the green fees at RTJ Capitol Hill generally range from about $95 to $140 for 18 holes. Cart fees are often included, and discounts for Alabama residents or afternoon tee times are frequently offered.

Considering that other famous public courses in the U.S. often exceed $200 to $400, the pricing is quite competitive.

If you want to enjoy a light round, there are also public golf courses in the city.

The Lagoon Park Golf Course is a municipal golf course in Montgomery with good accessibility, and the green fees are about $35 to $50 on weekdays, making it less burdensome. It's a decent course for a practice round.

Cottonwood Golf Club is also a popular public course. It is known that golf legend Byron Nelson participated in its design, and the green fees range from about $30 to $45 depending on the season. It receives many positive reviews for its course maintenance relative to the price.

Gateway Golf Course is another public course operated by the city of Montgomery, suitable for beginners to intermediate golfers. Online reservations are available, making it a popular choice for local residents.

If you're looking for a more upscale atmosphere, there are private country clubs like Wynlakes Golf & Country Club or Arrowhead Country Club.

These operate on a membership basis, so access for general visitors is limited, but they are well-maintained courses with various amenities, representing the local golf scene.

Looking at it this way, Montgomery has about eight golf courses, including public, municipal, and private options.

In particular, just the RTJ Capitol Hill alone attracts people from across the country for golf trips.

If you enjoy golf, one of the great advantages of Montgomery is that you can frequently access high-quality courses in a city with relatively low living costs.

I can see why retirees in the U.S. refer to Alabama as a golf paradise.