Inside Magnolia Grove, the southernmost point on the RTJ Golf Trail

“The sun never sets on Robert Trent Jones Sr.,” the designer himself liked to say.

There is no doubt about it. The young man roamed, creating more than 500 courses around the world in a career that spanned seven decades.

However, in the early 1990s, Jones. Sr. he accepted an assignment that would keep him in one time zone for years.

The job offer came from David G. Bronner, CEO of Retirement Systems of Alabama, who was determined to transform the pension fund he managed while improving the economic fortunes of his state. The fact that this program is ambitious was an understatement. The plan called for a constellation of courses, a multi-facility lallapalooza spanning nearly 100 miles of golf. It was the biggest golf construction project ever, asking to have an architect with gravitas behind it.

Meanwhile, Jones Sr. he was in his 80s but still full of spirit, with energy to match his famous arrogance. The amount of effort was on his way. It has his name on it, literally. Coming out of retirement, the builder got busy. In 1992, he cut the ribbon on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.

Stretching the length from top to bottom of the region, from Muscle Shoals in the northwest to Mobile in the south, the Trail began with 378 holes at eight sites but has grown to 468 holes at 11 sites. It has grown in recognition, and is gaining popularity as an affordable, accessible, championship-worthy golf tent. No property combines those features better than one of the original Trail stops: Magnolia Grove.

Nestled in a wooded area dotted with wetlands, streams and ponds, Magnolia Grove is home to 54 holes of golf: two 18-hole courses and a par-3 course that is often among the best short courses in the country. Of the two championship tracks, Crossings course, has enjoyed the most TV time; its brawny parkland design has hosted events on both the LPGA Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour. Its 18-hole sibling, the Falls course, which boasts ample, undulating greens and large cloverleaf bunkers, makes a unique addition as the only par-71 course on the Trail.

Given its location along the Gulf of Mexico, Magnolia Grove benefits from a mild climate and proximity to beaches. The slate of recent repairs has added to its brightness. In the Crossings course, for example, new water features and oyster shell dumps sharpened the strategic challenge and increased the visual appeal. The Falls course, on the other hand, has had several holes modified to suit players without compromising Jones’ original design. The result is golf that accommodates all comers: stylish, fun and suitable for everyone from Tour professionals to recreational players, right off the tee.