Gene Bates design checks all the boxes
GADSDEN – For designer Gene Bates, the Coosa River was a perfect backdrop for building Gadsden’s city-owned Twin Bridges Golf Club.
And from the first tee shot to the final putt, Twin Bridges meets the expectations of a solid municipal golf course.
Nice layout? Check.
Good greens? Check.
Friendly staff? Check.
Good price? Check.
Checking off that many boxes is exactly the reason the Gadsden muni is a quality option for golfers in the Gadsden/Oxford/Anniston area of Alabama.
Opened in 2002, Twin Bridges won’t wow you with its length – from the tips it tops out at a mere 6,734 yards. The blue tees measure a playable 6,314 yards, while the white tees play to a comfortable 5,710 yards. Twin Bridges also has gray markers (5,126 yards) and red (4,535 yards), and the scorecard also lists purple and orange markers for even shorter yardages.
That said, there is a nice mix of holes that reward quality shots and offer a chance to post a good score. There also is enough trouble to leave you shaking your head post-round on what the heck just happened.
Bates is no stranger to good design work. After all, he’s worked with Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller and Fred Couples. He has designed courses around the world, including South Africa, the Philippines, Ireland, England and Canada, in addition to his work in the U.S.
Twin Bridges, his only course in Alabama, combines some tight driving holes with some that have generous fairways. There are approximately 45 bunkers, most of them strategically placed.
The course features well-maintained TifEagle greens that are receptive and smooth. For the most part, what you see is what you get on the greens. There’s not a lot of undulations, but there is significant tilt so that keeping the ball in the right position is essential.
The par 5s offer scoring opportunities, but they are tricky and can be considered risk-reward types. They all can be reached with two quality shots, but there also is plenty of trouble to be found. The 11th hole is 457 yards from the white tees and the safe play on the second shot is to play to the left to leave an unobstructed short iron to the pin. A miss to the right can lead to a penalty shot from the water while a miss short can leave a pesky, long and uncomfortable bunker shot.
Go for the greens on these three-shotters at your own risk.
Twin Bridges is relatively flat, making easy to walk.
Best Holes at Twin Bridges
No. 8, par 3, 146 yards: Club selection is tricky on this downhill par 3 with bunkers fronting the green and water in play short of the bunkers and to the right.
No. 9, par 4, 367 yards: Straight-forward hole that requires a good drive to set up the approach. The green is guarded by bunkers in front and to the left.
No. 10, par 4, 375 yards: Avoiding the fairway bunkers is critical to have a mid-iron or short-iron approach on this dogleg right with a green guarded by water. The green is tucked in a corner, and anything missed to the right likely will find the water.
Value
Greens fees for Twin Bridges are $45 weekdays and $49 on weekends/holidays, which includes cart. There also are annual pass options and junior passes.
Amenities
The clubhouse at Twin Bridges overlooks the Coosa River and features a fully stocked pro shop and a grill. Chet Hallman is the general manager.
For information, go to twinbridgesgolf.com.
Gregg Dewalt is the editor of Alabama Golf News
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Featured image courtesy of Twin Bridges Golf Club
