Azalea at Marriott's Grand Hotel & Lakewood Golf Club

A friend and I played the Dogwood course at the Lakewood Club on 12/09/23. This is a private course only accessible by booking through the Robert Trent Jones website or staying at the Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa nearby. This course is relatively flat compared to the other courses on the RTJ trail, but the greens are just as big, firm and fast as the other courses on “the trail”. The Dogwood course seemed to play a little tougher than its sister course Azalea course. The first hole is a relatively easy par five that might lure you into a false sense of security. After that you will be faced with water, marsh and sand traps coming into play. You will also have to deal with hidden hazards from the tee such as the lake in front of the green on #4. The Dogwood course also seems to play a little tighter off the tee, with a combination of pines, oaks, and magnolia trees, than the Azelea course. My favorite holes on Dogwood were #2, 4, 7, 9, 14, 17 and 18. The members were very friendly, and the entire staff inside and out were very friendly and professional. If I’m in the area again I would not hesitate to play this course again. Do yourself a favor and have a drink outside on the patio looking over the 18th hole on Dogwood.

A friend and I played the Azalea course at the Lakewood Club on 12/06/23. This is a private course only accessible by booking through the Robert Trent Jones website or staying at the Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa nearby. This course is relatively flat compared to the other courses on the RTJ trail, but the greens are just as big, firm and fast as the other courses on “the trail”. This course was apparently renovated back in 2019 but still has the RTJ feel, although the course was designed by another designer. The course was in outstanding shape from tee to green. You will tee off on #1 (obviously) and you will not make your way back until the 18th green. The course is very forgiving, but you can get into some trouble if you are not careful. Water, marsh, and sand traps do come into play. The sand traps are deep. The course also boarders a few holes on the Dogwood course. My favorite holes on Azalea were #4, 5, 9, 10 and 14. The members were very friendly, and the entire staff inside and out were very friendly and professional. If I’m in the area again I would not hesitate to play this course again. Do yourself a favor and have a drink outside on the patio looking over the 18th hole on Dogwood.

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.