Yesterday, we shared the comments and photos of one of our readers, John Hangen of Maine, who reported on his and wife Ann's visit to the Stonewall Resort in West Virginia.

        The piece reminded another dedicated reader, Rick Vogel of Asheville, of a recent trip to Mobile, AL.

        "We passed a number of the RTJ [Robert Trent Jones] sites on our way from Asheville to Mobile last week," Rick wrote. "Coming from Alabama, a state not known for cutting-edge innovation, the Trail was a stroke of golf genius.

        "I remember the Wall Street Journal said it was one of the biggest golf bargains in the country," Rick added, "and the NY Times, not to be outdone, said it was some of the best golf on earth."

I've been there, and could not agree more. 

         Thanks Rick.

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Oxmoor Valley near Birmingham is one of 26 superb courses along the Robert Trent Jones Trail in Alabama.

         One of our dedicated readers, John Hangen of Aroostook County, Maine, about as far north as you can get in the continental U.S., has reported from a road trip he and wife Ann are taking on the way to Florida.  He sent some great photos from the Stonewall Resort in West Virginia where, he writes, the temperatures hit a balmy 70 degrees plus last week.

         The state of West Virginia, perhaps mimicking the successful experiment in Alabama, where the Robert Trent Jones Trail has solidified the state teachers' pension, owns Stonewall.  The Stonewall golf course is one of those dramatic Arnold Palmer layouts, although this one appears to show The King a bit more restrained (if the pictures don't lie).

         John and Ann had plenty of company during their golf round at Stonewall, as the photo below attests. The photo at bottom indicates they also played a nice looking golf course.

         Safe travels to them both.

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