ROYAL ST CLOUD GOLF LINKS ( 407-891-7010)
Florida Golf Course Review 9/24/05
Recently renamed (formerly the St Cloud Golf Club) Royal St Cloud Golf Links is an American links inspired
design with traditional features including generous fairways, large undulating greens and a variety of bunkering
designs. Rated in the Top 5 Most Underrated Golf Courses in the Orlando area, this property played host to the
2004 British Junior Amateur, and prides itself on excellent course conditioning (which we found to be the case on our late September 2005 visit).
On property is a clubhouse with pro shop and snack bar serving hot & cold sandwiches plus beverages, with an
outdoor patio. Tent pavilions are set up to accommodate outings and functions of various sizes. Practice
facilities include a targeted grass range, putting green and short game area with sand bunker. A new fleet of golf carts feature rear covers to protect clubs during inclement weather.
Five sets of tee boxes afford golfers with options of playing from distances and slopes measuring 7111 yards/128 slope, 6680 yards/125 slope, 6083 yards/115 slope for men and 126 for women, 5531 yards/111
slope for men and 115 for women and 5027 yards with a 112 slope for ladies playing from the forward sets. On
course yardages are provided on sprinkler heads and yardage blocks (200, 150 and 100) that are measured to
the center of the green, and 150 yard stakes are visible on all par fours and fives. Color coded flags indicate front, middle and back pin placements.
Mildly rolling fairways feature mounding and gentle swales, but well placed tee shots will find level playing
surfaces. Pampas and native brush are often found along the borders, and water hazards come into play on 11
holes. These hazards are not meant to be overbearing, and are located mainly on the perimeters, and never on
both sides of the landing zones. 39 high quality sand bunkers can be found greenside or near the fairways -
some wood or sod walled. The "Hell Bunker" pictured below, is a replica that is about 1/2 the size of the original.
There actually are 8 signature bunkers on this course, patterned after famous hazards of the British Isles. A
"Horseshoe Tee" and other traditional landmarks can be witnessed by attentive observers...This course has a lot
of worthy characteristics, including the fact that no residential buildings are located on property. Designed by
Chip Powell, this is a highly recommended (and a good value) golf experience - especially for those who
appreciate links courses. For more info, visit our page for the property, with direct link to their website by clicking here.
|
