Page "Opelika, Alabama" Paragraph 38

In August 2005, the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Statistical Area was named by Golf Digest as the # 1 area for golf in the United States.

One part of the reason this area received this ranking is that Opelika is home to Robert Trent Jones Grand National.

The site for the course, which hugs the edge of Lake Saugahatchee in Opelika's northwest, was described by Jones as the " single greatest " site for a golf complex that he had ever seen.

The course, which is considered to be the jewel of Alabama's Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, has hosted a number of national tournaments, including the 1997 Nike Tour championship, the 1998 LPGA Tournament of Champions, and the 2000 NCAA Men's Division 1 National Championship.

Another reason that the Auburn-Opelika MSA was named the # 1 area for golf in the United States was for the local public golf courses like Indian Pines Golf Course here in Opelika.

Indian Pines Golf Course is an 18-hole public golf course that has a par 71 course with summer Bermuda grass and a bentgrass / ryegrass mix in the winter.