AMELIA ISLAND PLANTATION - Ocean Links Course
800-874-6878
Resort Information
Ocean Links is a 4 star (Golf Digest) Bobby Weed design and is one of three championship courses at Amelia
Island Plantation Resort. Located just north of Jacksonville, AIP features a variety of accommodations (670 rooms) situated on 1350 acres adjacent to the
 Atlantic Ocean. It has been honored as one of America's Top 75
Golf Resorts by Golf Digest. Amenities at this AAA-Four Diamond property include 23 clay tennis courts, a health and fitness center, full service spa,
fine shops and dining options, heated outdoor and indoor pool areas (with lap lanes) with Jacuzzis, a beach, conference and meeting facilities, seven
miles of bike trails, plus fishing and sailing charters. For photos and information on the resort and to log on to their web site, visit our page for Amelia Island Plantation Resort by clicking here. Keep in mind - You Must Stay Here to Play Here, as golf course play is available to guests and members only!
Ocean Links Golf Club Review 2/21/04
The Amelia Links features 36 holes of golf, including the Oaks Marsh and Ocean Links layouts, with the Long
Point Course having its own separate facility. The two golf courses here are serviced by 1 clubhouse with a
shared practice area, including grass range plus putting and chipping green. There is a restaurant and lounge,
featuring breakfast and lunch, together with a full service pro shop outfitted with sportswear, golf accessories and
equipment rentals. On course golfers will find that both courses are well marked with 150-yard stakes on par
fours and fives, yardage blocks in the middle of the fairways, and sprinkler heads measured to the center of the
green. Daily information is provided for three different sets of rotating pin placements. Each tee box also has a yardage block.
Ocean Links is not overly long (6108 yards) - but packs some punch as golfers will encounter 10 holes that
feature lagoons and marsh wetlands, plus 5 that play along a coastal Atlantic dune ridge. The proximity to the
sea and the ever-present coastal breezes provide intrigue and challenge, as the course winds its way along 6
miles of natural sand dunes and seaside terrain. From the tips (blue tees), golfers will find that the par threes as
a group are quite challenging, as are the 4 par fives. A few short par fours figure into the course's lack of overall
length. Small greens and narrow fairways place an emphasis on shot placement and prevailing winds make
accurate iron play invaluable. If you miss the greens - you will often be confronted with complexes that feature
deep bunkers, undulating mounds, swales and collection areas - which combine to create difficult up and downs. For us, this was an extremely fun - but also challenging round of golf.
Average golfers may be tempted to play from the tips here, as the back tees measure just over 6100 yards.
Keep in mind that the 134 slope rating indicates some challenges along the way - including longer par threes
and a par four measuring 430 yards (hole 16) . The white tees measure just 5584 with a 126 slope, and the
green tees weigh in at 5007/117 slope. The forward tees are very playable with a 115 slope from 4341 yards.
The opening hole invites a tee shot that lays up about 100 yards out to the left of the large waste bunker. The
elevated green must be approached accurately, as it is well protected in front by bunkers and undulations. The
par four second has room off the tee but is challenging on the approach, as a pond sits short left of the putting
complex. Number three is a demanding dogleg left par four, which requires a tee shot approaching the 150-yard
stake. Hit it left or short of this yardage and it will be extremely difficult to reach in regulation. The first of 3
consecutive, beautiful ocean holes follows. This short (347 from the back tees) par four presents a tight fairway,
with dunes and ocean right, and the AIP accommodations along the left. A lay up to the 150 is recommended off
the tee. The fifth also plays along the ocean, and presents a very tough up and down for those that miss the
green on this 152 yard par three. The wind and pin placement on this long and narrow putting surface can mean
a difference of 2 or 3 clubs here. The greens on both 4 and 5 break towards the ocean. Six is the second of
back to back ocean front par threes - and like five can be greatly affected by the wind. There is plenty of room
short - but beware that the putting surface here slopes dramatically away from the water. Be careful off the tee
on seven. The hazard on the left is obvious - but another pond rests along the right past the fairway bunker.
Played cautiously as a 3-shot par five, this hole is score-able. Eight is another challenging three par - as the
green is protected by water left and a huge sand trap right. From the tips the closing hole on the front is
extremely tough! At 537 yards this # 1 handicapped par five demands a long carry over water off the tee, with
the target being the narrow fairway along the left. If you miss to the left on your second or third shot, the recovery will demand some creativity as mounding and sloping bunkers line that side.
The back side of Ocean Links begins with short par four along a narrow tree-lined fairway, featuring a tight green
complex defined by undulations and mounding. Eleven plays long from the back tees (543) and best played from
the left side of another tree lined fairway. Be aware of the bunker and water hazard on the left about 100 yards
out. This is the course's #2 handicap. The next four hole stretch presents some good scoring opportunities,
beginning with the short par four 12th. Two good mid irons should get you home in good shape. There is room
short right on 13 - which is another beautiful par three featuring a water hazard on the left. 14 is tight off the tee,
and plays fairly long from both the blue and white tees (414 & 404). Keep it on the left side of the fairway,
approach cautiously to avoid the lake on the that side - and play for par here. The 15th is perhaps the most
gorgeous of all the par threes - and looks more intimidating than it actually is. There is room short left, and also in
the grass collection area just right of the green. Don't be long however, as the green runs off near the back
portion - into some dune roughage. The par four 16th is brutal from the tips - as the tee shot must navigate some
dune hills to find a landing area along the left side. For those hitting from the mid tees - there also is ample
landing area along the right. The approach is demanding - as anything left may find the OB area that separates
the course from the beach. On the par five 17th golfers will tee it up over a water hazard, with plenty of room for
error to the right of the fairway palms. With the fairway narrowing, a lay up right of the fairway traps is
recommended on the second shot - leaving a wedge approach to a green bordered by a lake on the left. The
finishing hole is an island par three - with 10 yards of room between the green and the hazard in front - and a few
more long of the putting surface. Though daunting if the wind is up - this is one of the easiest of the par threes.
What a great round of golf. Do not let the 6100 yards as advertised put you to sleep. You will need your best
effort - at times with healthy breezes to deal with - in order to beat your handicap on the Ocean Links. Enjoy the
scenery and the sound of the waves beating onto shore. This is a wonderful layout at a fine golf resort - and one that we can recommend without reservation!
Click here to visit our informational page for the Ocean Links - which also supplies a link to the AIP Resort website.
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