Two nights at the Renaissance Ross Bridge, two rounds in Birmingham, and the Civil Rights Institute in between.
2 Days
Long Weekend
$600–$1200/person
Easy
Not every Trail visit requires a week on the road. This itinerary distills the RTJ Trail experience into a long weekend based entirely in Birmingham, playing the Trail's most expensive course and its most affordable featured course, staying at the only full-service resort in the system, and visiting the city's most important cultural institution. Two nights, two rounds, one city, and enough exposure to the Trail's quality and value to plan the next trip before the plane lands at home.
Fly into Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM). The rental car facility is on-site, and the drive to the Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa takes approximately 20 minutes.
Morning visit to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, approximately 15 minutes from the resort. The National Historic Landmark sits adjacent to the 16th Street Baptist Church and covers the Civil Rights Movement through exhibits that are thorough, respectful, and deeply affecting.
Morning at the resort. The spa opens early for those wanting a treatment before departure.
Rental car is recommended despite the resort's proximity to the airport. The drives between the resort, Oxmoor Valley, the Civil Rights Institute, and downtown Birmingham are all under 20 minutes, but no practical transit connects them.
The 2026 Trail Card ($49.95) provides discounts at both courses and pays for itself on this trip. Purchase through rtjgolf.com before departure.
Total green fees for two rounds: $170 to $265. Total lodging for two nights at the Renaissance Ross Bridge: $360 to $600. The complete trip at $600 to $1,200 per person is competitive with a single-night stay-and-play at many resort destinations, while delivering two rounds on courses that hold their own against far more expensive competition.
This itinerary works year-round. Spring and fall offer the best weather. Summer drops the price at the cost of afternoon heat. Winter provides surprisingly comfortable midday rounds, with Birmingham's January average high of 53 degrees supporting shirtsleeve golf by noon on most days.
$600–$1200
per person
2 Days
1 nights