Royal St Cloud Golf Links

Royal St Cloud Golf Links: Head south from Orlando and Kissimmee and you'll come to the pleasantly open, links-style golf course of Royal St Cloud. Laid out in a gently undulating, almost treeless environment, 27-holes of Scottish-influenced links-style golf will test all facets of your game.

The front-nine (White), back-nine (Blue) and the tighter, newer Red-nine will all give your game an excellent workout in this attractive links-style environment. Good-width fairways lead you onto large and undulating greens, often protected by just one or two smallish pot bunkers. Occasionally more expansive sand traps are also present. There's plenty of bump-and-run chipping opportunities around the greens on this well-maintained layout.

From the first square-cut tee-box alongside the clubhouse terrace, to the final cluster of pot bunkers guarding the 18th green, the traditional characteristics of links golf are much in evidence. Big hitters will enjoy the open spaces, but will need to be careful of small lakes and ponds, and large sandy waste areas that flank several of the holes. Perimeter housing is limited, unobtrusive and kept well out of harm's way.

Pick of the holes: the par-3 3rd played to a green surrounded by water on three sides. The doglegging par-4 5th demands an approach shot over a small creek, which you'll cross via Brent's Bridge. At the par-4 8th a red, English phone-box is on hand for placing your halfway-house order, or perhaps it's to call for help should your ball drift into Hell's Bunker, a huge sand hazard that stares you down 220 yards out from the tee.