Plan Your Florence Golf Trip in 60 Seconds
8,000-yard RTJ golf above the river in Muscle Shoals music country
The Shoals' Fighting Joe was the first RTJ Trail course to break 8,000 yards, perched high above Wilson Lake on the Tennessee River. Pair championship golf with the music-history pull of Muscle Shoals — FAME Studios and the Swampers — for a trip with a soundtrack.
The rotaCourses
Base campWhere to Stay
houseSleeps 10–16
$300–$1,100 /night
Downtown Florence near the University of North Alabama and the riverfront
near riverporchoutdoor grillgame roomyard
resort houseSleeps 12–16
$160–$350 /night
The Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa — on the river by the RTJ Trail courses
on-site golfspariver viewsrestaurantpool
Dining
360 Grille (Renaissance Tower)
$$$upscaleRevolving rooftop restaurant atop the riverside tower — the marquee group dinner with a view
4.4★Odette
$$$farm-to-tableAcclaimed downtown Florence farm-to-table — the foodie night of the trip
4.6★Big Bad Breakfast
$$southernJohn Currence's big Southern breakfast — fuel before an early tee time
4.5★Ricatoni's Italian Grill
$$italianDowntown Italian staple that handles big groups easily
4.4★Nightlife
Downtown Florence strip (Court Street)
Late nightpatioWalkable cluster of downtown bars and patios near UNA — easy crawl
Pegasus Records / Singin' River Brewing
brewpubLocal brewery taproom in Florence — house pints and music-town atmosphere
Wildwood Tavern
Late nightdiveNo-frills downtown tavern with live music and stiff pours
Swampers Bar & Grille (Marriott Shoals)
Late nightsports barMusic-themed bar at the resort with live acts — named for the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
Activities
FAME Studios & Muscle Shoals Sound Tour
distillery2-3 hours$20–$50/pp
Tour the legendary studios where Aretha, the Stones, and Skynyrd recorded — pure Muscle Shoals lore
Wilson Lake / Tennessee River Fishing
fishinghalf day$90–$200/pp
Trophy bass on Wilson Lake — one of the best smallmouth fisheries in the South
Tennessee River Boat Day
boat rentalfull day$70–$200/pp
Pontoon day on the river below Wilson Dam — the laid-back rest day
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