Detailed description of The Shoals - Fighting Joe (RTJGT)
The Shoals golf facility is one of the Robert Trent Jones Trail facilities. The Shoals has 2 18-hole golf courses, Fighting Joe and The Schoolmaster. The courses are located in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
The Fighting Joe course was named after General Wheeler who held Flag Rank in both the Confederate Army and later in the U.S. Army.
Fighting Joe was the first Trail course over 8,000 yards, measuring in at 8,092 yards from the Black tees. This is a links style course. There is a debate over whether the 17th hole or the 18th hole is the signature hole on the course. Most claim it to be the 17th, but the 18th green overlooking Wilson Lake on the Tennessee River is both beautiful and treacherous. You be the judge.
The Schoolmaster (named for President Woodrow Wilson who was responsible for getting Wilson Dam built on the Tennessee River and who was known as "The Schoolmaster of Politics"), may be more difficult than Fighting Joe. This tree lined course is traditional golf with every hole keeping with the natural topography along the Tennessee River. It's wooded, rolling, and spectacular.
Like Fighting Joe, The Schoolmaster is a long course if you desire. From the black tees, it plays to 7,971 yards. Both courses are par-72. Both courses have 5 sets of tee boxes to accommodate players of all skill levels. The forward tees on Fighting Joe play to 4,978 yards, and on The Schoolmaster, the forward tees are set at 5,249 yards.
$66 (cart included), played on Saturday, June 2011 at 8am
I'm a 20 handicapper and the course played tough. But for the price I can play other courses that are just as tough and save a few $$. But it is a RTJ course and I should have expected it. All staff members we very nice. I would recommend to others, but would caution them on the price.
$41 (cart included), played on Wednesday, April 2011 at 8pm
This course and RJT site are tremendous. Great place, friendly people. Love it. World Class.
$41 (cart included), played on Tuesday, July 2009 at 8am
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$76 (cart included), played on Wednesday, May 2019 at 7:00 AM
As part of the Robert Trent Jones Trail, this site is amazing. It is true golf located on the Tennessee River and sculpted out of old farmland with trees, lakes, rolling hills, and lots of land. No houses, no distractions, just pure golf. The Fighting Joe course can be long at over 8,000 yards from the back tees. I have played from there in my younger years but now at age 66 I opted for the two tees up orange tees at around 6800 yards. The course was perfectly maintained during the month of May with no flaws. Fairways are wide enough but if you go about 5 yards off expect tall grass which makes finding the ball difficult. No hole is alike and the rolling landscape makes for challenging lies. A great golf experience I would highly recommend as part of a Trail visit. Don't let the northwest location in Alabama keep you from making the drive to this site! Plus, the SchoolMaster 18 is just as good! (note: want a fun challenge - tee up from the back tee on #12 - the par 5 at 714 yards with a huge lake located in front of the green!)