Azalea at Marriott's Grand Hotel & Lakewood Golf Club

After a steady diet of hilly, cart-ball RTJ Trail golf courses around Birmingham and Montgomery, it was great to stretch my legs at Lakewood's Dogwood course. Lakewood is a private club, but it is playable as part of the Trail by guests of the next-door Grand Hotel & Spa. The Dogwood course mixes some coastal and marsh scenery on the front with more traditional parkland golf on the back for a nice contrast. It's not going to blow you away but the slick greens will keep your interest long enough for you to have a good time.

The Lakewood Club is a private club that offers access through the fabulous Grand Hotel at Point Clear, as well as to RTJ Trail cardholders.

The club offers two 18-hole layouts, though the Azalea course is under renovation and slated to be re-opened in November 2019.

The Dogwood course’s front nine reminded me of Harbour Town with it’s yawning doglegs and relatively small greens. The back nine reminded me of New Orleans’ Bayou Oaks with it’s mature hardwoods cramping many fairways off the tee and putting a premium on driving accuracy.

I was very impressed with the Bermuda greens, which were also part of the Dogwood’s recent renovation. They were receptive and putted beautifully.

Standout holes: the ninth, where driver off the tee will be too much club off the tee for many players, especially down the left side, before playing across a hazard; the 10th, with it’s narrow landing area off tee to a skinny green with an overhanging tree on the right and a massive bunker left; and the par-3 17th, which plays long and is bordered by a hazard all the way down the right side.

Three of the par 5s are reachable in two for many players and offer an opportunity to score.

The practice area is fantastic, with a large range, and unlimited balls. There is also an excellent short game area. The practice facility is open to all Grand Hotel guests. Another fantastic thing about Lakewood is that it is right across the street from the hotel. It is within walking distance, or hotel staff will gladly shuttle you there. The clubhouse is very alluring with a nice lounge and well-stocked pro shop.

My only criticism is that as a first-timer without knowledge of the course, I had to play it blind because I was a single and there is no course yardage guide available in the pro shop or GPS on the carts. Not even hole diagrams on the scorecard.

We played this course as part of a trip to Southern AL. There was a great atmosphere and a genuine friendliness from everyone there. The course has a nice layout with some excellent par 3's. Condition was good for the time of year also. It looks like there is a significant redevelopment underway on the Azalea course and when that is complete it would be a great place for a weekend trip.

Although the weather was really bad and wet the newly renovated Dogwood golf course provided our twosome lots of fun. Tee boxes, fairways and greens have been in best shape, and the pro shop and outside service staff was extremely friendly. And without saying the setting and landscape is great, too. Even if one hits a branch of the old oak trees.

Would always come back and recommend!

We were visiting for a family wedding. Played Magnolia Grove, Rock Creek, and this course. It was our favorite of the 3. Front nine (lots of water, wetlands, hazards) very different from back nine (lots of trees, park-like setting). Staff very friendly. Good pace of play - especially for a resort course. We would play here again if we could - can't wait to try the Azalea course when we return.

This is a mature course that is quite beautiful even in the winter when the grass is dormant. Plenty of challenge. Plenty of water. Greens were soft and holding shots. Both the fairway and green-side bunkers were playable. Greens ran true and were quick. Staff was excellent. Will play again.