The Shoals Golf Club - Fighting Joe Course

I played the Schoolmaster Course at The Shoals with a friend on 11/06/20. This course offers a variety of different holes from downhill par 3’s to uphill par 4’s to downhill dogleg par 5’s. There are some elevation changes, and the fairways are generous in width, but still require an accurate shot on some holes. The course offers 5 sets of tees and plays long. You should take one more club than you normally would hit. On some holes big hitters will need to play for position, rather than “going for it”. The greens were firm and fast. One of my favorite holes on the course is #14 that has a huge hill on the left and water running down the righthand side and in front of the green. If you are lucky and hit the hill on the left, it might help the ball roll down to the fairway. There is a nice restaurant / bar area and they do serve breakfast. The entire staff was very friendly and helpful. A special thanks to the gentleman in the pro shop for getting us out early, so we could get an early jump on the drive home. Thanks again! I purchased a yardage book, which was helpful, since this was our first time playing the course. I would highly recommend playing this course.

The Schoolmaster course provided an excellent round of golf. The layout is what's most impressive. Undulation through the course, interesting greens, strategic bunkers. It's pretty as well, though only one hole (18) gives a great view of the nearby river.

The course was reasonably challenging, but fair. Conditions were very good.

Will be happy to play again.

With rain on the horizon that morning, we still decided to go and get in as much as possible. We arrived early in hopes of getting off early and we could just go...
So, with a 40 minute head start on our round, and being the only ones out there, we zipped around in less than 3 hours and after a little shopping, we left to mist and then the rain came... talk about luck.
Anyway, the course was fun... lots of elevation changes, the greens were good. With the exception of the 2nd hole on the tee box arrangements and signage, it was all good. For the women, their tee boxes were far from the cart trail and the Mrs was a little perturbed at that.
Also, you never go near the clubhouse on this course, so gratefully the cart girl was working and able to get water to drink

The views from the clubhouse are awesome. Staff were very welcoming and friendly. Schoolmaster course was in great shape. Nicest greens on our trip although they were huge. A few blind shots but course layout was still good.

Fairways in good shape. Course would be easier 2nd time around. Hit a few shots I thought were good but ended up in trouble. Greens were fast and in o.k. condition.

This place was great!! Staff was great and very accommodating. The course very well maintained.
Pace of play was excellent. Would like to see the beverage cart more often

Had a blast. Service was a little slow but understandable due to circumstsnces

It was a good day on the course. My first time on an RTJ course. Because of COVID-19, I did not get to enjoy the amenities but the clubhouse and views from the clubhouse of the Tennessee River were spectacular. The fast greens ruined my score but I will definitely be back and will continue to make my way through the RTJ Trail.

For 6 years now every fall 8 of us travel south to this RTJ golf facility for 4 days of golf. The course layout is amazing. This 36 hole “little bit of heaven “ challenges us in every way. We’ve traveled around the country playing different courses, but this is our favorite. This RTJ facility also has a Marriott within 5 miles that offers a free shuttle service and a free round of golf for each night u stay there.

As a high handicapper, Fighting Joe is very difficult. However, it forces me to play smart golf with lots of layups. Low handicappers will really enjoy the risk reward this course offers. Unfortunately, it was 95 degrees today and the course offers no shade; no trees at all except for a few limited areas. Plenty of water coolers and restrooms around the course. We played through 10, then headed for the clubhouse to cool off.
The only negative to this course is all the people not repairing ball marks. Unfortunately the greens are riddled with spots because of careless guests. They do a great job maintaining the course, the greens roll true and the fairways are cushions.
Staff was very friendly.

The pga could play here!!!
Crazy lush green grass everywhere.
Simply AMAZING.

Playing back at 7600 made this one of the best 2 under rounds ive ever played

We played the school master course.This was a nice but wide open golf course with very wide fairways and not too many challenges. It was a fun place to spend a golf afternoon. The pace of play was fantastic as we were the only ones there. Our last of three stops on the Robert Trent Jones trail - I think I would opt for the fighter Joe course on the next go-round.

The Schoolmaster never dissappoints. The course conditions are always top-notch. The practice area has everything one could need and the staff is the friendliest you'll find anywhere. Even at it's length, The Schoolmaster is a fair test and rewards good shots while punishing errant ones. The bent grass graans rolled true even thought they were a bit slower than I was used to. The Alabam summer heat will not allow them to be cut to the same stimp as I see back home in the North East US. Make sure to allow time for a drink on the back veranda overlooking the Tennesse River. It's a spectacular view!

This review is for the Fighting Joe course.

Healing of the greens from recent aeration has been hampered by cooler than normal temperatures. Greens were very bumpy. Putts habitually bounced. You will make some putts you should miss and miss some you should make.

Overseeded fairways were very good.

Bunkers have too much sand in them. Sure, they are supposed to be hazards, but too many plugged lies in bunkers.

The strength of the course is the collection of par 3s. When the wind is howling, these holes - particularly the fifth and ninth - are difficult to club and present great challenges.

Tip: Buy a $4 yardage guide in the pro shop if it is your first time playing. There are a couple of tee shots that can fool you if you aren't familiar with the landing areas.

One of the best autumn golf courses I have ever played. Back nine this time of year it as good as it gets. Fairways were not lush - looks like they decided not to overseeded the fairways - but weren't thin either. Greens are superb. Bent has come in and they are rolling good. Will only get faster. Bunker renovation looked good.