Grand National now offers affordable conference center for golfers

OPELIKA, Ala. - In 1993, Golf Digest named the Robert Trent Jones Grand National 54-hole championship golf course among America's Top 10 Affordable Golf Courses. The Grand National hosted the Golf Digest/Golf For Women Couples Classic on October 24-26, 2003 and will host the NCAA Women's Golf Championship on May 18-21 in 2004.

Grand National also has been the host site for such notable events as the 1997 Nike Tour Championship, 1998 LPGA Tournament of Champions, the 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Golf Championship and the NCAA Women's Golf Fall Preview in September 2003.

But there's more to the RTJ Grand National course than national accolades and top-flight tournaments.

Grand National, which was designed by perhaps the best modern-day golf course designer in the world, Robert Trent Jones, offers not only affordable public golf with greens fees ranging from $35-$55 but a luxury hotel and conference center overlooking the championship course. It's called The Lodge and Conference Center at Grand National and it may be the best-kept secret in golfing and business circles.

"The Lodge is an upscale hotel and conference center that's a golfer's paradise and a business executive's dream," says David G. Bronner, CEO of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, who provided the vision for the creation of the facility and the Robert Trent Jones Trail. "We pride ourselves on providing the highest quality and the best service in the country at affordable prices. You'll be amazed at what you get for your money!"

The Lodge is Closer Than You Think

The Lodge and Conference Center is nestled in 2,000 acres along the award-winning Grand National course on the shores of Lake Saugahatchee in Opelika. It's just eight minutes from Auburn University, 90 minutes from Atlanta and Anniston and a two-hour drive from Birmingham.

Most Rooms Overlook The Grand National Golf Course

The Lodge features 129 guest rooms, including one Presidential Suite, eight executive suites and six junior suites. All rooms have high-speed Internet access, a desk, oversize marble bathrooms with separate Jacuzzi tub and shower and some of the most comfortable beds you've ever slept on. As for the view, we hope you like golf since 122 of the 129 rooms overlook the award-winning Grand National course. Room rates range from $89-$109. Rates for suites range from $109-$250.

Other amenities at The Lodge include:

• Indoor/outdoor pool
• Men's and women's saunas
• Nautilus fitness center (Open 24/7)
• Two restaurants under the direction of Executive Chef Peter Idsall (Casual and white table cloth.)
• Room service (6:30 a.m.-11:00 p.m.)
• Outdoor dining by a gas fireplace
• Picnic Pavilion
• Six-mile walking/jogging trail to see deer, turkey and rabbits

An Amphitheater Nicknamed The Star Wars Room

The Lodge and Conference Center at Grand National represents the ultimate in mixing business with pleasure. There are 15,000 square feet of meeting space and an event management team to make sure everything goes smoothly.

The Lodge offers an incredible 96-seat amphitheater, nicknamed The Star Wars Room, for corporations or associations planning important meetings and conferences. Each seating area in the amphitheater is wired to the Internet with T-1 lines. There's a stage for corporate presentations, a 3000 ANSI Lumen LCD projector and a 10-foot screen to view PowerPoint or videos.

Need something a little smaller for your meeting? Check out the three executive boardrooms and three additional meeting rooms. Many of these rooms feature 43-inch Plasma screens for watching computer-generated presentations and comfortable high-back leather chairs.

The Lodge also offers a beautiful Grand Ballroom for 400 people. The Grand Ballroom can be sectioned off to create three smaller ballrooms. Meeting room/guest room combination rates range from $150-$1,500 per day.

"We provide affordable luxury accommodations, the facilities to deliver the most sophisticated business presentations, and the attention to detail that you expect at the finest hotels in the United States," says The Lodge General Manager Jay Prater. "We believe we must earn your business every single day."

The Lodge Executive Chef Peter Idsall

The Lodge Executive Chef Peter Idsall has created dishes for former President George W. Bush, Sr., Comedians Bill Cosby and George Carlin, television talk show veteran Phil Donohue and even shock jock Howard Stern.

Idsall is well versed in the classics as well as contemporary culinary styles. He leads the creation of the beautiful and delicious made-to-order entrees that are served at the Lake View Room (seats 84-people) and the Fairways Lounge (seats 50-people) at The Lodge.

"We believe in delivering excellence, whether it's room service or fine dining," says Idsall. "We set the highest standards for food, presentation and service."

Idsall is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, the world's premier culinary college, ciachef.edu. He is the former chef at The Meadowlands Sports Complex, The Wynfrey Hotel and the Sheraton Hotel in Birmingham. He is a member of the 74-year-old American Culinary Federation, the largest and most prestigious organization dedicated to professional chefs in the United States. In 2000, Idsall won the Bronze Medal at the ACF-sanctioned Sysco Food Show. Sysco is the largest marketer and distributor of foodservice products in North America.

The Lodge and Conference Center at Grand National in Opelika, Alabama, The Legends at Capitol Hill in Prattville, Alabama and Marriott's Grand Hotel Resort, Spa & Golf Club in Point Clear, Alabama are subsidiaries of PCH Hotels & Resorts, Inc., which is owned by the Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA).

Two other PCH properties, the 199-room River Heritage Hotel on the RTJ Golf Trail in Florence, Alabama and the 260-room Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Conference Center on the RTJ Golf Trail in Hoover, Alabama, are scheduled to open in the winter of 2004. The 250-room RSA Battle House Hotel in Mobile, Alabama, will open in 2005.

RSA Chief Executive Officer Dr. David Bronner shaped the Retirement Systems of Alabama into one of the nation's best-performing pension funds. RSA's assets include full or majority ownership of US Airways, Raycom Media, PCH Hotels, 55 Water Street in New York City, Community Newspapers and other interests.

For information and reservations for The Lodge and Conference Center in Opelika, visit lodgecc.com or call toll free at (866) 546-4655.

November 17, 2003