| For a real links-style golf experience we | | | | course is the handcrafted stonework which is |
| discovered the Royal St. Cloud Golf Links, | | | | evident in four bridges found throughout the |
| located in St. Cloud, about 25 minutes | | | | course that have been hand-built by one |
| southeast of the Orlando airport or the | | | | individual brick by brick. Bill said that |
| Disney area. The Royal St. Cloud Links greet | | | | some of the bridges are even a little bit |
| you with a rolling layout of links-style | | | | crooked, just to give them more character. |
| fairways, punctuated by classic links bunkers | | | | The most famous stone bridge can be found on |
| that feature names such as Hell, Spectacles, | | | | the 5th hole and many of the British visitors |
| Devil's Pocket and Hoofprint. True to its | | | | to this golf course come here specifically |
| link heritage, every club in the bag will be | | | | for this unique feature. |
| utilized as the terrain is naturally varied. | | | | |
| | | | Bill explained that his golf course serves a |
| Unlike other Orlando golf courses, the Royal | | | | value-based market that is composed of local |
| St. Cloud is free of any residential | | | | residents, snowbirds escaping the cold |
| developments and offers a pure golf | | | | northern winters, and British golfers, a very |
| experience. The design features four sets of | | | | loyal crowd who refer this facility to many |
| tees and from the blue tee offers a | | | | of their friends back home. |
| championship length of 7,111 yards and a 74.6 | | | | |
| rating, all on flawless fairways and | | | | The Royal St. Cloud Golf Links have been |
| silky-smooth Tifeagle greens. | | | | rated as one of the Top 5 Most Underrated |
| | | | Golf Courses in the Orlando area and they |
| Its motto, as printed above the entrance to | | | | have hosted the 2004 and 2005 British Junior |
| the club house is "Original Golf Played | | | | Amateur. With its wide-open fairways the |
| Here", and indeed the Royal St. Cloud | | | | course looks deceptively simple, however, I |
| features original style golf at its | | | | experienced very quickly the unique |
| unpretentious best. I had a chance to talk to | | | | challenges offered by the Royal St. Cloud. |
| Bill Filson, the Director of Golf and since | | | | Traditional links golf is played on the |
| 2002 co-owner of this facility. | | | | ground, unfortunately I still managed to find |
| | | | water several times, despite the generously |
| Bill has an extensive teaching background. He | | | | open fairways. |
| has personally studied under some of the | | | | |
| top-ranked teaching professionals and brings | | | | The other feature I really enjoyed were a |
| 12 years of teaching experience that featured | | | | number of the ponds on the back nine of the |
| beginners to PGA tour professionals. Bill has | | | | course that were playing host to a variety of |
| consistently been a top-ranked PGA | | | | local wildlife and water birds. I |
| Professional. The Royal St. Cloud's teaching | | | | particularly enjoyed watching a very rare |
| staff is complemented by Dave Rummels who | | | | specimen of wood stork stalking the edges of |
| brings 17 years of valuable PGA Tour | | | | a pond for food, and a crane standing upright |
| experience with him and can share advice from | | | | with stretched out wings. The course had a |
| the "Tour" with the students. Associate | | | | very relaxed, casual and friendly feel to it |
| Professional, Doug Holloway, has 16 years | | | | and we enjoyed a tasty hot dog after our game |
| coaching experience. | | | | on the beautiful patio outside the clubhouse |
| | | | as a way to cap off a very enjoyable golf |
| At the Royal St. Cloud Golf Links the | | | | experience on a gorgeous day. |
| commitment to teaching the game of golf | | | | |
| commitment includes state-of-the art video | | | | Driving Directions from the Disney Area: |
| equipment and even a teaching tent for | | | | |
| inclement weather. Lessons, programs, and | | | | Royal St. Cloud Golf Links is an easy 25 |
| clinics are offered for every skill level and | | | | miles from the Disney area. |
| requirement. Bill explained that they run | | | | |
| very reasonably priced children's clinics at | | | | (25-35 minute approximate drive time) |
| $7.00 per clinic and the club has 120 members | | | | |
| in their junior program. Ladies can also | | | | * Take Osceola Parkway to the Florida |
| learn the sport without embarrassment in a | | | | Turnpike |
| relaxed, comfortable environment. And with | | | | |
| every family membership at the club kids play | | | | * Take Exit 244 to Hwy 192, turn left. |
| for free. | | | | |
| | | | * Go 4.6 miles to Vermont Ave, turn right. |
| Bill prides himself on offering one of the | | | | |
| greatest values in golf in the Orlando area. | | | | * Take Vermont 2.1 miles to Creek Woods Road, |
| For the 2005-2006 season rates vary from $46 | | | | take a left. |
| to $48 from November 1 to January 10, and $64 | | | | |
| from January 11 to April 30, 2006. Discounted | | | | * Go only .7 miles to Michigan Ave, take a |
| tee time rates are available after 11 am or | | | | right directly into the Golf Club. |
| 12 pm respectively, 7 days/week. Bill went on | | | | |
| to say that the fees at the Royal St. Cloud | | | | Statistics |
| are always reasonable, and that he aims not | | | | |
| to oversell his course, but to exceed the | | | | Par 72 Yards Rating Slope |
| visitors' expectations. | | | | |
| | | | Blue 7111 74.6 128 |
| In addition, he offers a very unique | | | | |
| proposition: a 100% money-back guarantee with | | | | Gold 6680 72.2 125 |
| no conditions if you didn't enjoy your | | | | |
| playing experience at the Royal St. Clouds. | | | | Green 6083 69.2 115 |
| He said in the almost three years since he | | | | |
| has run this course only 2 people ever asked | | | | Citrus 5531 66.6 111 |
| for a refund; a phenomenal achievement, | | | | |
| considering that several tens of thousands of | | | | For more information please visit Royal St. |
| rounds are played here every year. | | | | Cloud Golf website or call them at (407) |
| | | | 891-7010. |
| One of the very unique features of this | | | | |