Magnolia Grove (Crossings), Mobile, Ala.

This Robert Trent Jones Trail course shouldn't be named Crossings. Sure, train tracks separate the 12th and 13th fairways and players must cross them via cart to get to the 13th tee box, but the tracks have absolutely no bearing on your round.

Instead, this 6,063-yard (from the white tees for wimps like me), playground should bear a name indicative of something that really stands out on the golf course. Take cloverleaf bunkers, for example. There's a ton of them. Their big and they seemingly move in the direction of your golf ball's landing zone.

Let's name the place Cloverleaf Junction, keeping with the train theme.

Regardless, Crossings is a typical RTJ course with plenty of large, undulated greens, sweeping fairways, bunkers in the fairways and obstacles that bring out the target golfer, and long holes that bring out the home run hitters. The course will allow you to use every club in the bag. It has a strong variety of holes, from forced carries to a few doglegs.

The biggest surprise of the Crossings is its surprising undulation. This is Mobile, Ala., folks. Where in the world did these hills come from? The Crossings is very similar to RTJ's Grand National in Opelika, Ala. The only difference is it has very little water, more hills and more than 50 sand traps. Ugh!

Where Crossings lacks water it makes up for in ravines and gullies. A ball into a ravine is the same as a ball into a lake, right? Both are penalties. Water just sparkles and looks pretty.

The Crossings is host to the LPGA Navistar Classic, so it's always neat to play the same greens Natalie Gulbis did.

Word has it that its sister course, the Falls, is more difficult. Wouldn't know. I'll find out one day. Both can be visited online at http://www.rtjgolf.com/courses/magnolia_grove/

The easiest hole on the Crossings is the first, a 364-yard par 4 that's straight as an arrow. Make hay there, because it gets tougher. The third, a 317-yard par 4 features a wicked dogleg to the right. Long hitters off the tee could find themselves in a bunker, so laying up might be an option.

Water comes into play just once on the front nine as the fifth hole's green wraps around a tiny pond that rests at the bottom of the hill. The 378-yard par 4 can be deceiving for those who did not hit long enough off the tee. The hole goes up, then down, and those taking approach shots may not be aware of the wet stuff to the front and left of the green.

Most greens on the back nine are very well-protected by bunkers. Prepare to hit into one, or two, or three. Three traps wrap around the 12th and 13th greens, respectively. Eight bunkers can be found on the 18th hole alone, three on the right side of the fairway.

Two of the neatest holes at the site are the par 3s on the 14th and 17th. The 14th hole, 139 yards, is pretty much and island hole without water. The green is separated from the tee box by underbrush. Shots mildly short of the green can, however, be salvaged.

It's pretty much the same story for the 155-yard 17th, except deep, kidney-shaped traps wrap themselves to the left front and right front of the green. There is little safety here on the tee shot, so bring a mulligan.

After a round of golf at Magnolia Grove, located a few miles west of the city, it's never a bad idea to drive 15 minutes back into town and hit Dreamland, a joint made famous for its BBQ ribs.

Rating (1 to 10)

Fun: The high number of sand traps make it frustrating, but the course is such a challenge and delight, it's impossible not to have a good time. Score: 7

Conditions: Played on a hot summer day, but the greens and fairways were very good. There were some rough spots on select greens, but no big deal. Score: 8

Value: RTJ card-holders get a steal for $39. Otherwise, be prepared for fork over $60 or so. Still, that's not a bad deal considering the high quality of this course. Score: 7

Amenities: Solid. Excellent practice facilities. World-class clubouse. GPS on the carts. Carts and cart paths in excellent shape. Beverage cart visited frequently and even offered cold towels. Pro shop is fully-stocked and hungry folks can dine inside at the restaurant. People at this course, and King and Bear, than any course I visited. Score: 10

Difficulty: Again, the traps bring out problems. Undulation in the fairways and tricky greens with well-placed holes make it tough. There's a reason the LPGA plays here. Score: 9.

Overall: First-class facility that makes the most of its 18 holes without much water. There aren't many flaws. Round was finished in four hours and crowds weren't heavy. Score: 8.6

Spruce Creek, Port Orange, Fla.

I've never seen a "please watch for low-flying aircraft" sign on a golf course. Until now.

Designed by Bill Amick, Spruce Creek Country Club (par 72, 6,063 yards from the white tees), the links jewel in the Spruce Creek Fly-In Community, offers a unique challenge with tight, tree-lined fairways, water on the back nine, and the opportunity to make par in the backyard of the rich and famous.

NASCAR stars Mark Martin and Mike Skinner have homes here. It's only about 20 minutes from Daytona International Speedway, so that makes sense. Kevin Harvick had a home here. So did film star John Travolta.

You see, the Fly-In is a gated community where residents have aircraft hangars for garages, pull out of their house in their Cessnas, zip down the runway and fly to whereever duty calls. Planes take off above the eighth and second fairways, so be wary of high-lofted drivers.

For $30 for 18 holes, Spruce Creek is a steal. It's a decent, not pristine, golf course, located in a natural setting of woods, water, and yes, a handful of million dollar homes. It can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.sprucecreekgolf.com/golf.htm.

The course isn't overly demanding and there is very little undulation. Greens are of average size with average speed. It fits all styles of play, from power hitters to shot-makers. One interesting aspect is no water really shows up until the 11th hole. From there out, water rears its head on six of the remaining eight holes. There may be water on the eighth hole, but it's far enough out of bounds, so it shouldn't play into course management.

Spruce Creek tests your power right out of the box with a fairway bunker roughly 200 yards straight in front of the tee box. The hole doglegs to the right, so shots bouncing beyond the bunker are in perfect shape on this 475-yard par 5. Shots left of the bunker aren't as ideal. Shots in the bunker, well ...

The front nine is built for power, with few obstructions forcing the technical game and plenty of trees blocking the wind. When water comes into play on the back nine, it's time to pull the foot off of the gas and grab onto your steering wheel. There are also fewer trees, thus, the wind can become a factor. On a hot central Florida afternoon, it can also be a blessing.

Water pretty much runs the length of the fairway on the 338-yard par 4 11th hole, so you get a taste of what's to come.

The 12th hole, a 487-yard par 5, may be the most treacherous on the property. You must tee off at least 150 yards over a marsh, then snake your fairway shots around another lake that hugs the left side of the fairway all the way to the green. It might also be the prettiest hole on the course.

Rating (1 to 10)

Fun: Considering how the back nine and front nine are different, you get a feel that you've played on two courses, which is interesting. It's a mostly flat course, which can be a change for us who've dealt with pedestal greens and rolling hills. The only drawback is the marshal insists all players must play in a group. If you're a solo hoping for a three-hour round, forget it. Score: 7.

Value: For $30, this place blows many others out of the water. Nuff said. Score: 10.

Amenities: Well-stocked pro shop, restaurant on premises. It also has a driving range, putting green, chipping range and golf instruction on-site. Only drawback, there was no beverage cart the day I played. The only drink came from a refreshment stand at the turn. Carts were in good shape. So were the ball washers and cart parths. An interesting note, all carts have sand trap rakes on board. Score: 7.

Conditions: OK. Fairways were average. So was the rough. Some greens were being re-seeded or in need of repair. Traps were in good shape. Only drawback was the a couple of greens, but it wasn't a big deal. Score: 6.

Difficulty: Not the toughest course on the planet, but by no means isn't the easiest either. Place can throw you for a loop because it probably looks easier than it plays. Water on the back nine can kill your score. So can the trees on the front nine. The solution ... hit the ball straight. Score: 7.

Overall: Spruce Creek is one of the better courses in the Daytona Beach area. It's a positive the course, though in the heart of an exclusive community, is open to the public. The atmosphere is relaxed and folks are friendly. Watch out for that humidity in the summertime. Score: 7.4

Reviews on deck

Courses recently played to be reviewed include Spruce Creek Country Club in Port Orange, Fla., North Fulton Golf Course in Atlanta, Magnolia Grove in Mobile, Ala., and Fox Creek, Smyrna, Ga.

Toured the grounds at Kiva Dunes in Gulf Shores, Ala., over the weekend and I'm still drooling. At $92 for 18, it was a bit much. But fees decrease as the day goes on and drops to $59 after 1 p.m. The place looked magnificent. Can't wait to lose a few balls there.

Orchard Hills, Newnan, Ga.

Built to resemble a Scottish links-style course, the 27-hole facility at Orchard Hills nearly pulled it off. Located directly off of Interstate 85 in Coweta County, Ga., the open links-style course gives motorists a brief glimpse of the rolling terrain, high grass in the rough and few trees.

Orchard Hills, located at 600 East Highway 16, is divided into three 9-hole courses: The Orchard (3,006 yards), The Logo (2,946) and The Rock Garden (2,941). The good news is, Orchard and Logo are links courses. The bad news is, Rock Garden isn't. On this day, Rock Garden and Logo were played.

Orchard and Logo strongly resemble one another and give this course taste of Scotland, minus the red clay and Southern twang. Maybe they should import some bagpipes. From several vantage points, you can see several other holes. That's not the case on the Rock Garden, which offers mostly tree-lined fairways.

Orchard Hills forces the golfer to use most of the clubs in his or her bag and offers an array of slopes to hit from. You will have your share of uphill/downhill lies, and even a few lies on perfectly flat terrain. Sand traps aren't a big issue here as most greens feature just one of the hazards.

Overall, the course was in decent shape. Nothing special. Greens were okay. The Rock Garden wasn't exactly picturesque. Work can be done at Orchard Hills to really make the place stand out, as far as cleaning up in some underbrush areas. It's got great potential.

Check out the facility's Web site at http://www.orchardhills.com/ or call 770-251-5683 to set up a tee time. Rates range from $39.95 to $49.95, depending on the day. Special twilight and replay rates are also available.

Several holes stand out. The Logo's first, a 306-yard par 4 gives heavy hitters hopes they can reach the green in one. Except there are three problems: 1) the hole travels uphill, and 2) there's a pesky sand trap directly in front of the green, and 3) much of the fairway travels to the right of the green, forcing those wanting to reach the green in one to carry the rough and the trap.

The fourth hole is a pretty, 141-yard par three with an elevated tee box and small pond in front of the green. Landscapers were busy working on the green the day I played, creating a bizarre mental hazard. They motioned to go ahead and hit, then proceeded to work. Not good.

The 97-yard, par 3 eighth hole also forces the player to carry water. It's not a pretty hole, as much of the lakebed was dry, exposing the red clay, and the rough to the rear of the green was overrun with unsightly weeds.

A fun, yet bizarre hole was Logo's ninth. This 536-yard par 5 featured a number of small hills to the right of the fairway, creating a tough second shot for those who land along their slopes. Also, the facility's driving range is just to the right of the fairway and the hills. Any slice to the right, and your ball is one of hundreds of other white ones. Good luck locating it.

Logo was fun and impressive. I'd play it again. I wish my back nine was the Orchard. Instead, I was treated to the Rock Garden. It's an OK nine, but not a links course like I wanted and not pretty enough to drive 75 miles from home to try. But, I did anyway.

Standout holes on the Rock Garden are No. 2 and No. 8.

The par 4, 304-yard second hole features a wicked, 90-degree dogleg to the left. Power hitters might want to steer clear of their drivers off the tee. Anything beyond 250 yards, and perfectly straight, could be trouble. A good 225-yard shot off the tee sets up a nice approach shot back to the left.

The eighth hole, par 4, 295 yards, has another dogleg to the left, just not as wicked. The fairway is undulated, so the approach shot can be fun.

Orchard Hills isn't the most pristine course on the planet, nor is it Scotland in Georgia, but it's worth a try for those in the Atlanta area who want to experience something different at a reasonable price.

Rating (1 to 10)

Fun: Links courses are often the exception rather than the norm, so just having the opportunity to play one is fun in itself. This isn't the most difficult place, so that helps too. The hills and high grass offer challenges. Score: 7.

Value: At $40-$50, the price isn't bad. I'd like to see some improved course, and rough, conditions for the money. Score: 6.

Amenities: Orchard Hills offers a stocked pro shop and restaurant. It also has a very nice putting green and driving range. Carts were gas-powered, but worked well. Never saw a beverage cart on the course. Score: 6.

Conditions: Fairways and sand traps in decent shape. Greens were ok despite the summer heat. Underbrush area in Rock Garden was hideous. Score: 6.

Difficulty: Overall, pretty easy. Hills provide some challenges, as do a few doglegs and forced carries. But not a bad course to start your kid on, or one to go for a personal best. Score: 6.

Overall: This is a fun place to play, but didn't meet my personal expectations. Orchard Hills has a lot of pluses and a few minuses. With more work and dedication to making this "Scottish links" course in near-perfect shape, Orchard Hills could really be one of the stronger venues in west central Georgia. I'd enjoy this place more, and give it better ratings, had I played the links-style Orchard nine rather than the Rock Garden. Que sera, sera. Score: 6.2

King and Bear, St. Augustine, Fla.

I learned two more things about Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus: they like sand, and they like water.

King and Bear, the only golf course in the world designed as a joint effort between Palmer (King) and Nicklaus (Bear) is loaded with sand traps (some deep) around the greens, sandy coquina that runs along the fairways, and water that seemingly comes into play on every hole.

Water runs along the fairway from tee to green on some holes. Coquina runs along the fairway on some holes. Sometimes there are both. The best bet is to hit the fairway.

King and Bear (par 72, 6,132 yards from the blue tees, which are second-longest to the tips) forces the player into an afternoon of trying to keep the ball on the grass. With hazards looming on either side of the fairways, it's really not that difficult a golf course if you can keep from slicing or hooking. Otherwise ...

There are a few carry shots, but the course layout gives you the option to lay up, take the safe way around water hazards, or try to carry a few water hazards and land on the green. The aquatic hazards put more of a mental strain on the golfer than anything else. The sight of water to the right, 350 yards from tee to green, can freak you out.

This course, located just a few miles west of the World Golf Village and World Golf Hall of Fame between Jacksonville and St. Augustine, Fla., opened in 2001 after Nicklaus and Palmer worked together on the project. The setting is resort atmosphere, with some isolated holes and several holes within plain sight of mammoth luxury homes. It is the World Golf Village's second course, following Slammer and Squire, named after legends Gene Sarazen and Sam Snead.

If you play here, plan to lather up the sunscreen because there is very little shade. Few holes have woods that come into play.

Three holes stick out on the front nine, two of which are reminiscent of Bay Hill's par 5 sixth hole. First, King and Bear's par 5, 519-yard fifth hole wraps around a lake from left to right. It's best to keep the ball to the left or the middle, or your second shot forces you to carry more water than you want. A shot to the left sets up a much safer approach.

The same can be said of the par 5, 529-yard seventh, except this hole wraps around a lake from right to left. The green is reachable in two with a strong tee shot and confidence your second shot will clear 150 yards of H2O.

An interesting hole was the 154-yard, par 3 third hole. The good news is, it had no water. The bad news is, the fairway was mostly sand, or coquina. For a second I thought I was at TPC Scottsdale. No cactus, only palmettos.

Water runs along the ninth and tenth fairways, to the left then right, respectively. You can get into trouble at No. 15, a 311-yard par 4, as water again follows you from tee to green to the right. What adds to the hole's difficulty is the green sticks out into the lake to the right, making a "partial-island" hole. A bad approach shot can easily get wet.

Coquina follows you to the left from tee to green on the par 5, 527-yard 18th hole. The green wraps around the apex of the coquina, turning this into a difficult target. An approach shot to the right of the green would be safe, except for the deep sand trap just before the green.

Greens at King and Bear are somewhat undulated, with only one, the par 3 10th, running seriously uphill-downhill. Greens are large and well-guarded, but are not elevated.

King and Bear can be viewed online at http://www.golfwgv.com/. The pro shop number is 904-940-6088.

Rating (1 to 10)
Fun: Golf is always fun, and knowing that you're on the only course Palmer and Nicklaus designed together adds to the appeal. If you stay out of the water, your afternoon is more fun. Score: 8.

Value: Here's the issue. Rates go from $89 to $129, depending on the time of day. That sure is a lot of money. Imagine how many balls you could buy with that. Better yet, you could get a new Oddysey putter for that price. You still must consider the prestige of the course and its developers, and the fact it's pretty darn nice. But this isn't budget golf. Score: 5.

Amenities: Beverage cart arrived four times. Chilled apples on the first and tenth tee boxes. Unlimited range balls with greens fees. Chipping range and putting green. Cart had GPS signal with immaculate course map in view to tell you exactly where you and other carts were. Attendants were friendly. Pro shop well-stocked. Clubhouse perfect. Restaurant inside clubhouse. Two bathrooms on the course with water fountains. Overall, pretty sporty. Score: 10.
Conditions: I expected them to be immaculate. Instead, they were just very good. Greens were Bermuda and in good shape. Fairways were plush. But hey, this wasn't Augusta National. Score: 8.

Difficulty: Depends. If you're a straight-shooter, it's not that bad. If not, you're toast. There are a few forced carries and your mental game is put to the test because you will find water. Can you bounce back from this? Score: 8.

Overall: This certainly should be on your golf to-do list simply because of who designed it, and for the fact the World Golf Hall of Fame is down the road and there are plenty of things to see there too. It's really on par with Robert Trent Jones Trail courses, or its Honours Golf sister course, Moore's Mill. But King and Bear offers unusual challenges with the redundancy of water and sand. Every part of your game will get tested, and that's what we want anyway. Could be the best course I've reviewed, excluding the steep price of admission. Score 7.8