The Venerable Shoal Lake Alabama Golf Course

Shoal Creek in Birmingham Alabama is very much off the "beaten track" when it comes to golfing tournament play. Indeed, in terms of the sport of golf's historical record, it was quite a surprise when the Professional Golfers Association (PGA), chose Shoal Creek to host their championship in 1984. Indeed this was the first time that any "Tour Event" had been held in the state of Alabama, then, since the 1960's.

Overall it can be said that the Shoal Creek golfing course, at that point in time, was a relatively new one but had risen most rapidly in esteem and reputation. Good news and information about challenging and upcoming golf courses travels quickly in the duffer's crowd, the serious golfers "grapevine".

Why was this course chosen then? To put it simply , Jack Nicklaus , Hall Thompson , who after all was a Augusta member, had bought some land for a golf course and a select housing development some 25 miles ( 40 km) south of Birmingham Alabama , and looking for a course architect , was advised to try Nicklaus. Nicklaus not a legend yet, indeed was at an early stage of his future renown was taken physically to the site to help assess its merits. At that point the areas that would become the venerable Shoal Creek links were little more than a rocky and forested landscape - waiting for the golf gods to create and develop it to greatness.

The results contain many of Nicklaus past and even future golf links "trademarks". Many of the shots are slightly downhill. The shot to the green always allows a most clear view of the flag. Another interesting if not standard and notable feature is that the entire pars 5 generally seem to all be over the 500 yards (460 meter) ranges. For example the 6'Th, at 554 long yards (507 m), is the longest. Highly rated tournament players can reach and cover this in two shots. The 11'Th hole is a good example of this. Anything short to the left, right or front will find the shallow, but broad creek of water. If not these challenging areas, you can bet that the sand bunkers will catch most of the shots that you play, that are not of the highest or most consistent quality.

On the whole courses, the par 4's are perhaps the most severe as well as demanding "test". Eight of these are over 400 yards themselves (335 meters), of which four are around 450 yards. Only one par 4 is shorter than 400 yards, the 14th. Yet this 14'Th hole is scarcely of drive and pitch length. On top of that there is a lake confronting the tee shot. Don't count out the 4; Th hole. The black humor is that while there is not a single bunker on the hole, that Nicklaus placed a most challenging grassy hollow in front of the green area itself, reckoning that good players after all would find sand itself a lot easier to play from.

All in all it can more than said, that the reputation of the venerable golf links at Shoal Creek Alabama is more than deserved and well earned. A round of golf, or series of events played at Shoal Creek will long be held in the pleasant memories section of most in the golfing crowd lucky and privileged enough to play "Shoal Creek".