Sweet Alabama Golf
Owned and operated by the Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority, Ol’ Colony Golf Complex celebrated the grand opening of its new clubhouse in April. The facility, complete with all the modern conveniences, includes a fully stocked golf shop and diner.
Limestone Springs has also been consistently rated 4½ stars by Golf Digest’ s Places to Play, ranked in the top five public golf courses in Alabama by GolfWeek, and named to America’ s Top Golf Courses by Zagat Survey. It was also named one of the Top 10 Best Courses in the State by Golfweek in 2017.
Pate applied his golf course design talents to the canvas of natural dramatic elevation changes, an abundance of creeks and streams, hillside outcroppings of limestone, and scenic ridges and valleys. Limestone Springs provided the perfect canvas for Pate.
A large lake runs down the entire left side of the fairway on the par-4 9th hole at Ol’ Colony.
The Bermuda grass fairways progress through gently rolling terrain, punctuated by well-kept fairways and greens that reward precision. While not a coastal or mountain design, Ol’ Colony’ s parkland style emphasizes strategic play over raw power, with bunkers and water hazards positioned to test decision-making throughout the round. Emphasizing strategic shot placement, its 25 acres of lakes and water hazards come into play on multiple holes, including the memorable par-3 16th, featuring a demanding water carry.
At Limestone Springs, you’ ll find many elevated tees providing spectacular panoramic views down twisting and turning fairways, with free-flowing streams and numerous man-made lakes that pose one hazard after another, but never dampen the spirit. You’ ll see indigenous hardwoods, towering southern pines, and lush vegetation that create natural borders and boundaries. You’ ll play on some of the most pristine Bentgrass greens in Alabama, surrounded by sugarwhite bunkers— a world-class golf course with superb playability.
Limestone Springs winter rates( November – March 28) for 18 holes, Tuesday – Sunday, $ 69 for all-day play. Located at 3000 Colonial Drive, Oneonta, AL 35121. Call 205-274-4653 or visit online at www. limestonesprings. com for more information.
The Gulf Shores area offers several more great golf courses to play. Here are a few options.
Ol’ Colony’ s parkland-style firm fairways and slick greens offer a competitive round that encourages thoughtful, strategic play over brute force.
Ol’ Colony Golf Complex, 401 Old Colony Road, Tuscaloosa, AL 35406. Call 205-562-320 or learn more at https:// golf. tcpara. org.
Limestone Springs Country Club( central Alabama)
Magnolia Grove Golf Course- Mobile, AL.
● Craft Farms- Cypress Bend Club – Gulf Shores www. craftfarms. com
● Craft Farms- Cotton Creek Club – Gulf Shores www. craftfarms. com
● Gulf Shores Golf Club – Gulf Shores www. gulfshoresgolfclub. com
● Magnolia Grove Golf Course- Mobile www. rtjgolf. com / magnoliagrove
● Peninsula Golf Club – Gulf Shores www. peninsulagolfclub. com
Limestone Springs Golf Club is a 18-hole championship golf course in Oneonta and is recognized as one of Alabama’ s top public golf courses. Located 30 minutes north of Birmingham, AL, this course winds through 225 acres of the Appalachian Mountains, offering some of the most striking elevation changes and picturesque views in the state. This par 72 course stretches nearly 7,000 yards from the back tees but has four different tee boxes to accommodate golfers of all skill levels.
Learn more about the Jerry Pate’ s golf course designs and his design firm at www. jerrypatedesign. com.( The Jerry Pate-designed golf course photos shown, compliments of JP Design.)
Catch a nonstop flight to Alabama’ s Beaches. Swing on to Alabama’ s pristine fairways and greens, then swing into charming restaurants you never knew existed. Every round leads to unexpected discoveries. Uncover them from tee to table in Sweet Alabama. Learn more about Alabama golf opportunities at www. DiscoverAlabamaGolf. com. �
TeeTimesMagazine. com TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE Nov. / Dec. 2025 17