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Article #181: Hello From Orlando: Golf In Orlando - Playing Links-style At The Royal St. Cloud - Unpretentious Golf At Its Best

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






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