TravelGolf.com on Campus: 'Bama vs. Auburn - golf amid Alabama's historic Iron Bowl rivalry

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Each week this season, TravelGolf.com is highlighting a key college football matchup and looking at the golf options around the home team's campus. This Saturday, the Alabama Crimson Tide host the Auburn Tigers. Here's a look at the golf courses in Tuscaloosa and the surrounding area, including Oxmoor Valley, Capstone Club of Alabama and Hidden Meadows.

One can imagine legendary Alabama Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, his iconic houndstooth hat cocked perfectly on his head, leaning against the goal post as he watches his team during pregame warmups.

Or Coach Ralph "Shug" Jordan pacing the Auburn sideline nervously as the Tigers drive down the field in the waning minutes and fans whoop it up with their chant, "War Eagle!"

Those were the days, too, when Keith Jackson was sitting high above the field and, at some point, declaring, "Whoa, Nellie! We got ourselves a barnburner here ..."

This Saturday marks the 73rd meeting between the two schools. They've played long enough for the game to have earned its own moniker. So, how big is the Iron Bowl? It has its own Wikipedia entry. "As the rivalry was mainly played in Birmingham for many years, the name of the Iron Bowl comes from the amount of iron deposits surrounding the city," the Web site explains.

It's in Tuscaloosa this time, at Bryant Denny Stadium, and Alabama will be heavily favored as it tries to complete an undefeated regular season, protect its No. 1 ranking in the Bowl Championship Series standings.

No matter the state of Auburn's disarray this year, you can throw out records and rankings. These two teams simply don't like each other. Indeed, the feud started soon after their first game, on Feb. 22, 1893, when Auburn won 32-22 at Lakeview Park in Birmingham. Alabama counted the game as the final one for the 1892 season, while Auburn disagreed and marked it down as its first victory in 1893.

They argued even more vehemently after the 1907 game, this time over expenses for players and which officials should be used, a dispute that led to the suspension of the series for 40 years.

Can't we all just get along? Maybe play a little golf and barbecue some ribs in celebration of the Iron Bowl?

Well, okay, let's do just that.

Where to play

Since it's only 59 miles from Tuscaloosa, let's start the road trip in Birmingham at Elmwood Cemetery, where The Bear was buried after he died on Jan. 26, 1983. A crimson strip leads from the entrance to his grave site, and cemetery officials still place fresh flowers on this hallowed ground for Alabama fans before the first game every season.

That done, two of the strongest and most picturesque courses on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail beckon, and both are on your way to Tuscaloosa, located about two miles from each other just off I-495 near the I-20/59 interchange.

The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa is in Hoover, just south of Birmingham and the site of the Champions Tour's Regions Charity Classic in May.

Testosterone tends to flow on football weekends, and at 8,191 yards from the back tees and 7,446 yards from the next markers, Ross Bridge is about as macho as golf gets. At the tips, three par 5s measure over 600 yards, including the monster 698-yard 13th. Heck, three par 4s are over 500 yards. This is one time even good amateurs shouldn't let ego get the best of them; go back there, take a look and enjoy the scenic beauty of this layout, but do yourself a favor, play from one of the forward tees.

Its neighbor, 54-hole Oxmoor Valley Golf Course, winds through a gorgeous stretch of the Appalachians and has 100-plus feet in elevation changes. The Ridge and Valley are 18-hole courses requiring all the shots. If you want to test your iron game and hybrid clubs, try and tackle Oxmoor Valley's Short Course, which features all par 3 holes - 18 of 'em - across 3,360 yards.

About 15 miles outside Tuscaloosa you'll find Capstone Club of Alabama, a unique mix of tight, tree-lined fairways and holes with landing areas the size of Bryant Denny Stadium. It also features a 120-foot drop on your shot to the No. 5 green. Located in Brookwood, Capstone Club last year was ranked 15th by Golf magazine among courses you can play for under $50.

Not far from campus sits Ol' Colony Golf Complex, a surprisingly tough municipal course designed by Jerry Pate, a former star at Alabama and winner of the 1976 U.S. Open. Hidden Meadows Golf Course, a semiprivate course built in 1996, is another strong local layout with several dramatic elevation changes.

What to do

Debate all you want about where to eat and drink, but it's usually unanimous when it comes to barbecue. Dreamland Bar-B-Que (www.dreamlandbbq.com, 5535 15th Avenue, East Tuscaloosa) has been a local institution serving celebrities, coaches, presidents and just plain folks since 1958. It's easy to order here ... pretty much ribs and white bread and a couple side dishes comprise the menu. Can't make it to the famed joint? Don't worry, Dreamland is now the official barbeque being served at Bryant Denny Stadium.

You hardly can go wrong anywhere on University Avenue, otherwise known in Tuscaloosa as The Strip. Houndstooth Sports Bar (www.houndstoothsportsbar.com) underwent a complete reconstruction this year and reopened in time for the Tide's run at a national title. It's been nationally ranked by publications trying to find the best sports bar in college towns. Tut's Place (1306 University Blvd.), a popular hangout featuring Italian and Greek food, is also on the Strip. For breakfast, Waysider (1512 Greensboro Ave.) has been the resounding choice among locals for a couple decades.

Adding a little culture to a golf/football weekend might not make any sense. But this isn't just any museum. It's on campus, and it's the Paul W. Bryant Museum (bryantmuseum.ua.edu), which has averaged 40,000 visitors annually in the 20 years it's been open.

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.