Royal Amelia GolfLinks,
which opened in 2000, is within a five-minute drive of the
Golf Club of Amelia Island. Royal
Amelia sits adjacent the island's airport and borders the Amelia River on the west. Owned and operated by two transplanted
South Carolinians, Royal Amelia is a tight Tom Jackson track that weaves through oaks, wax myrtle, scrub oaks and pines,
and palmettos, and features eight lakes. The course measures from 4,800 to 6,823 yards and carries a slope of 137 from
the tips and 129 from the middle markers (6,128 yards).
A portion of the course sits on what used to be a runway. The early holes play along the
airport where golfers can see small planes taking off and landing. Royal Amelia is a typical
Florida woodland design with some seaside
links features including a few sand dunes here
and there planted with pampas, love and other native grasses.
The signature hole is the 358-yard (322 from the middle) 14th that takes a 70 degree left
turn around a lake. An oak sits prominently and directly in front and to the right of the green,
making the approach a bit daunting. The 17th is a short par 3 with all carry over another
lake and the 18th is a very demanding, long par 5 through the woods. Also of note is
No. 16, a 425-yard dogleg left with a pond on the left.
Put Royal Amelia on your must-play list. There are no homes around the course, the service
and practice area are excellent, and the course couldn't be more enjoyable to play. The
outstanding tif eagle greens typify an excellently conditioned course, an indication that the
owners are intent on providing value to visitors. How refreshing! Be warned, nonetheless, to
bring plenty of bug spray, particularly in warm weather. Huge brigades of gnats attacked
me constantly on the practice tee, finally driving me off.
For tee times at Royal Amelia, call 904-491-8500. 
Amelia Island Golf
