Twin Bridges Golf Club, Gadsden, AL

As golf destinations go, Gadsden, AL is well down most golfers’ list; if it weren’t for the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, it probably wouldn’t even be on the radar. And, if the truth be told, the RTJ Trail course at Silver Lakes is what keeps golfers coming back.

Another course in the area that is worth at least one visit on your trip is Twin Bridges Golf Club which is owned by the city of Gadsden and, as municipal courses go, it’s quite a pleasant surprise.

As you stand on the verandah behind the clubhouse, you can tell that there are some significant elevation changes in-store and as you make your way around, you won’t be disappointed. You’ll also encounter several hidden hazards such as the creek that crosses the fairway in front of the 7th green. It could be a problem if you’re long off the tee. Looking at the scorecard, Twin Bridges gives you 13 different yardages to choose from.

One very memorable hole is Number 5, a 521-yard par 5 that is chock full of pitfalls. Standing on the tee box, there seems to be only a small landing area, with a sad trap encroaching on the left side and wetlands on the right. Believe me, there is plenty of room; just carry the trap. Push your drive right and you’ll likely never see it again. Choose your layup stick carefully; you’ll want to hit it short of the wetlands that front the green while at the same time avoiding the bunkers on either side. A single deep bunker guards the front right side of the green.

Number 11 is another challenging par 5. There’s a canal all the way down the right side that shouldn’t come into play until your second shot and a good drive will allow you to get home in two. There are pine trees that seemingly stand in the middle of the fairway if you hit your ball down the right side. There’s also a large gap between the pine trees and the woods on the right which can create a clear shot to go for the green in two. The well-undulated green sits elevated above the fairway and may require an extra club. A large bunker guards the front. Par is a good score here.

Unfortunately, Twin Bridges doesn’t offer accommodations however the nearby Holiday Inn Express and Suites is a great place for golfers. Not only do they offer freshly appointed rooms and a hot breakfast buffet, but they are also conveniently located to both Twin Bridges Golf Club (15 minutes) and Silver Lakes (20 minutes).

Holiday Inn Express goes the extra mile with the little things, like free coffee and tea and Wi-Fi connections in every room and common area. The rooms are spacious with either 1 king or two queen beds that are extremely comfortable 50" TVs, Keurig coffeemakers, and best of all, lots of outlets. The black-out shades are a nice touch and keep the room dark at night.

Awesome course. I played this course for the first time this week and I am from birmingham. Drove 50 minutes hoping for the best and was very satisfied. Greens and fairways are perfect. I love this course, would recommend to everyone!