Auburn-Opelika Golf Trip Planning Guide
Robert Trent Jones Sr. called this the single greatest natural site for golf he'd ever seen. Grand National's 54 holes drape along 600-acre Lake Saugahatchee, anchoring a buddies trip with SEC-town energy in Auburn just minutes away. World-class golf at public prices.
Quick Facts
Spring, Fall
ATL (105 min drive)
$30–$110
$180/night
1 of 4
~$248/person
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Auburn-Opelika. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.
Day 1
RTJ Golf Trail at Grand National (Lake Course) — parkland, $65–$110 · 4.7★
Twelve holes hug 600-acre Lake Saugahatchee — voted the #1 public golf facility in America by Golf World readers
Acre — farm to-table, $$$ · 4.6★
Auburn's standout farm-to-table — the nicer group dinner of the trip
Skybar Cafe — honky tonk · Open late
Auburn's legendary game-day bar on the corner — the rowdy heart of campus nightlife
Day 2
RTJ Golf Trail at Grand National (Links Course) — parkland, $65–$110 · 4.7★
Every bit as scenic as the Lake — long, demanding, and routinely top-ranked among U.S. public courses
Lake Saugahatchee / Lake Martin Fishing — half day, $90–$200/pp
Bass fishing on the lake that frames Grand National, or run to nearby Lake Martin
Niffer's Place — casual, $$ · 4.5★
Beloved Auburn wings-and-burgers joint that handles big rowdy groups
1716 / downtown Auburn strip — patio · Open late
Cluster of college bars on the downtown corner — easy crawl on foot
Day 3
RTJ Golf Trail at Grand National (Short Course) — parkland, $30–$55 · 4.6★
An 18-hole par-3 with lakeside holes — the afternoon money game after 18 on the big tracks
Lake Martin Boat Day — full day, $75–$200/pp
Pontoon day on one of Alabama's best lakes — Chimney Rock cliff jumping included
Ariccia (The Hotel at Auburn) — italian, $$$ · 4.5★
Upscale Italian at the campus hotel — easy for a polished crew dinner
The Hound — whiskey bar
Craft cocktails and whiskey with a more grown-up feel for the early night
Course-by-Course Guide
Auburn-Opelika has 4 courses worth playing, including 2 bucket-list tier layouts. 1 are walkable if you want to save on cart fees.
Where to Stay
Auburn-Opelika has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $180/night for the whole house.
$350–$1200 /night
Auburn near campus/downtown — homes walkable to the SEC bar scene
$180–$400 /night
Marriott Auburn Opelika Grand National — directly on the RTJ Trail courses
Group Dining Guide
4 restaurants vetted for group golf trips. Several can handle large parties without a reservation headache.
Acre
$$$Auburn's standout farm-to-table — the nicer group dinner of the trip
Niffer's Place
$$Beloved Auburn wings-and-burgers joint that handles big rowdy groups
Ariccia (The Hotel at Auburn)
$$$Upscale Italian at the campus hotel — easy for a polished crew dinner
Hamilton's on Magnolia
$$$Downtown Auburn Southern spot with shareable plates and a full bar
Nightlife
4 bars curated for groups. 3 stay open past midnight.
Skybar Cafe
Late nightAuburn's legendary game-day bar on the corner — the rowdy heart of campus nightlife
1716 / downtown Auburn strip
Late nightCluster of college bars on the downtown corner — easy crawl on foot
The Hound
Craft cocktails and whiskey with a more grown-up feel for the early night
Bourbon Street Bar
Late nightNo-frills downtown dive for late-night pours after the crawl
Activities Beyond Golf
3 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.
Lake Saugahatchee / Lake Martin Fishing
Bass fishing on the lake that frames Grand National, or run to nearby Lake Martin
Lake Martin Boat Day
Pontoon day on one of Alabama's best lakes — Chimney Rock cliff jumping included
Auburn Sporting Clays / Shooting
Area sporting-clays courses for a competitive rest-day round
Getting There
Fly into Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) — it's a 105-minute drive to Auburn-Opelika. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include Auburn Party Bus and Tiger Limousine). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.