Bent Brook Golf Course, Bessemer, AL

Bent Brook Golf Club is a Birmingham area original and is unlike any other golf course in the area. Bent Brook offers golfers three unique nine-hole designs: The Brook, Graveyard and Windmill. Depending on the daily order of play, golfers can enjoy three separate 18-hole layouts that never play the same way twice and you’ll never get tired of playing. Each nine hole layout is unique in its own right and has helped Bent Brook rightfully earn its spot as one of the premier golf courses in central Alabama. Bent Brook opened in 1988 and in 2016 the Brook and Graveyards courses underwent a complete renovation. Windmill’s makeover is slated for 2019.

Bent Brook is meticulously maintained and features Tifway 419 Bermuda grass on the fairways, Zoysia grass on the collars and green surrounds and AU Victory bent grass on their greens. AU stands for Auburn University where the grass was developed. Bent Brook was one of the first courses in the world to use AU Victory Bent grass and the feedback from golf course Superintendent Johnny Perry is that it’s one of his favorites because it is so heat resistant, something most bent grass strains lack.

The Brook Nine gets its name from the stream that comes into play numerous times as you make your way around the layout. The Brook is the longest of the three nines and plays more than 3,700 yards from the back tees. For the most part, it’s wide open off the tee, letting you swing away. Number 3 is the signature hole on this nine; from the back tees, the hole plays 219 yards. Move up to Tee III and it’s still no picnic at 166 yards. The beautifully bricked brook that winds its way down the right side of the fairway and then pools in front of the green was part of the renovation and has been made more pronounced. Bunkers guard the front left and back of the green. Number 4 is this nine’s #1 handicap and at 603 yards from the back tees, it’s a 3-shot hole for just about everyone. Three good shots that is. While playing the course with Director of Golf Mickey Wolf, he mentioned that some players will play down the adjacent fairway to take the trees in front of the green out of play and have a better angle into the green. According to Wolf, the green will be moved this winter, which will make this tactic a moot point.

Bent Brook’s Golf Shop is the perfect place to find all kinds of logoed golf apparel and accessories with names like Puma, Titleist and Callaway. They also have a good selection of golf shoes and other accessories you’ll need for a successful round. The snack bar at Bent Brook may be small, but the food they putout is incredible. I highly recommend any of their burgers and sandwiches to go along with your favorite post-golf adult beverage.

As you’d expect with a course of this caliber, Bent Brook hosts a number of golf tournaments and outings during the year and provides an outstanding venue for tournaments, corporate events and personal gatherings. The experienced staff at Bent Brook will handle every aspect of your event making the experience easy on you and enjoyable for your guests. The incredible surroundings at Bent Brook, including their newly renovated course and clubhouse offer an impressive environment for tournament play and post-round socializing and celebration.

When it comes to learning or improving your golf game, Bent Brook offers several options. They are the home of the Hank Johnson School of Golf and a member of the Golf Channel Academy network of instructors. Hank and his team can put together a program that will meet your needs, whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned professional. In addition to the Hank Johnson School of Golf, Bent Brook offers golf instruction from top professionals in a state-of-the-art indoor/outdoor facility. Class A PGA member and Director of Golf Mickey Smith is one of only 13 PGA-certified golf instructors in the state of Alabama and has more than 30 years of experience teaching groups and individuals of all ages and abilities, including players that have won on the NGA Hooters Tour and the PGA TOUR. PGA Apprentice Jef Alcorn has been teaching golf at Bent Brook since 2011 and has been the head golf professional since 2013. Jef turned pro in 1995 and from 1998 to 2001 played the NGA Hooters Tour. Jef offers individual classes as well as junior and women’s golf clinics. Between the two of them, they’ll help you find your game.