#1: Creek – Par 5 – 518 yards
Measuring just beyond 500 yards this straight forward par 5 is a great starting hole. With small creeks on both the right and left hand side of the rough a good tee shot is key on this hole. On the tee shot there are two large fairway bunkers one on the right and left side of the fairway. On your second shot you are faced with a small creek in the fairway measuring about 275 yards from the tee. A well placed second shot will leave the player with a short to mid iron to the green. Don’t stray to far right on your second shot or you may be in the “Creek” on this great opening hole to your round!
#2: Challenge – Par 4 – 393 yards
On this mid-length par 4 a tee shot will need to find the fairway to avoid trees left and a pond right. The second shot is key on this #3 handicap hole with large bunkers short right you will need to try and find the putting surface to steer clear of a tough up and down. Keeping your drive to the left side of the fairway will make for a more favorable mid-iron shot to this green.
#3: Crown Jewel – Par 3 – 161 yards
Royal American’s signature hole sits on the back portion of the property with a green that is guarded by a large rock wall with water surrounding the front and left of the putting surface. With a large bunker saving most shots that stray left of the green you will need to find the surface or hope your short game can help you out on this jewel!
#4: Blue Bird Run – Par 4 – 418 yards
This longer par 4 calls for a well placed tee shot to avoid out of bounds left and large oak trees to the right. Key to this hole is to get away with a two putt on this back to front sloping green. With a second shot avoiding a large bunker that sits 50 yards from the green you should have no problem getting out with a par on this hole!
#5: Patience – Par 5 – 581 yards
With a very intimidating tee shot this long par 5 will make for one of the tougher tests on your round at Royal American. Out of bounds left and water right on the tee shot make this very wide fairway discouraging to hit. With a creek sitting 265 yards from the tee you will need to try not to go long on your tee ball as well or you will be taking a penalty. A well placed second shot will leave you with a mid-iron to this long bunker guarded green. Par on this hole is a great score. Anything better is superb!
#6: Grass Hollows – Par 4 – 333 yards
“Grass Hollows” is a short par 4 with a daunting task of just making it to the green without penalty. A pond covers the entire right side of the fairway while smaller pine trees cover the left. A large bunker blocks this undulated green short and left while grass hollows lie to the right making for blind shots if found. Beyond the green sits a creek that captures many shots hit past the green. With a good drive on this hole you will be looking at a short iron into this sloped green!
#7: Collection Plate – Par 3 – 168 yards
The largest green on the golf course and possibly the hardest to hit is a mid-length par 3 with a bunker short and large slopes surrounding. With a swell in the right of the green you will need to try and avoid straying to here otherwise you are left with a lengthy putt depending on the pin position. With not to many hazards here missing the green will make for a tough up and down!
#8: Hillocks – Par 4 – 304 yards
This drivable par 4 may look simple from the tee, but beware as many come out with bogey or worse! Large mounds block the green right, but with a fairway funneling towards the putting surface a slight fade is favorable if going for the green. Small pot bunkers to the right will make for a blind second shot as well as a drive straying to the right of the fairway. Once to this green its two tiers will make for a difficult two putt if on the opposite end of the flag, but birdie is an achievable score with a great tee shot!
#9: Revenge – Par 4 – 410 yards
With bunkers recently taken out this #1 handicap hole will still make for a difficult finish. A well struck tee shot carrying the bunkers to the left is key to keeping yourself within 150 yards of the green. If you come up short of the carry you may be left with a lay up on your second shot out of the bunker, which will have to avoid a creek about 60 yards from the green. Once near the putting surface there are two large bunkers one being short right and one beyond to the left. This two-tiered green will give you a test if you leave yourself above the hole. Avoid the water right and creek short and you should have no problem finishing with par or better on this great finishing hole!
#10: Tourer – Par 5 – 491 yards
This short par 5 may look like a piece of cake from the yardage, but don’t be fooled as there are many obstacles to achieve a score of par or better on this hole! With a fairway that strays to the right around 240 yards from the tee lies a large bunker at the left corner making it impossible to go for this one in two if found. With a creek lining the entire left side and also short of the green, it takes a great second shot to get on this large undulated putting surface. A well placed drive and second shot will make the “Tourer” a simple starting hole to your back 9. Also, beware of the large bunker lining the entire right side of the green making for some blind shots to the flag
#11: Little Lovely – Par 4 – 324 yards
Demanding a well placed tee shot, this short par 4 will test your accuracy from start to finish. Stray to far to the right and you have trees to cross over. Stray to far to the left and you may find yourself in the creek that lines the left side of this hole all the way up to the pond guarding this small and narrow green. A large bunker beyond the green saves those shots over, but come up short and you are looking at a penalty. A tee shot of 200-250 yards in the fairway is perfect for Little Lovely!
#12: Treachery – Par 4 – 323 yards
This hole looks favorable to the first-time player, but don’t let its short yardage deceive you. With a pond a creek to clear on the tee shot you will be faced with trying to place the ball in a narrow fairway lined by trees on the right and left side. On your second shot to this two-tiered green you will have to avoid the bunkers short left and right if you hope to come out with par or better on this treacherous hole!
#13: Corner View – Par 3 – 163 yards
In the far corner of the Royal American property sits this mid-length par 3, which you will have to maneuver your tee shot to get to the putting surface. With a large bunker on the short left guarding the green and also a grouping of trees to the right, you will need to try and not stray to far in any direction or you will pay the price. Water lines the left side of the bunker and rolls all around the back of the green. Make it through the first four holes with par or better and you are on track for a great round!
#14: Lulliby – Par 4 – 320 yards
Lulliby is a short par 4 that gives you a great opportunity for a birdie after the difficult four starting holes. With 3 grass mounds in the middle of the fairway the tee shot can be intimidating. Straying right may not hurt you, but trees lining the left side of the fairway will almost certainly call for a chip out to get to the putting surface. Avoid the large bunker short and center and you should have no problems with this par 4!
#15: Needles Eye – Par 4 – 388 yards
With a large church pew bunker this hole may remind a player of holes #3 & #4 at the prestigious Oakmont Country Club. A well placed tee shot to the left of this bunker will set you up with a mid length second shot to this two-tiered green. With a carry of about 215 yards over the bunker on your tee shot beware of the mounds to the left which will leave you with a blind second shot to this large putting surface. There is also heather lining the right rough with a large bunker just left of the green blocking the out of bounds. A par or better score on this hole is a great takeaway!
#16: Hidden Sisters – Par 4 – 422 yards
Hidden Sisters is a long dog leg left par 4 which requires a well placed tee shot to determine either a short or long iron into this green. With the fairway weaving its way between two large bunkers the key is to carry the bunker to the left, which will leave you with a 150-175 yard approach on your second shot. Take note that there is long heather lining the mounds to the left of the fairway. With a large green you will need to try and get on the putting surface to avoid 3 small pot bunkers short of the green and the long grass beyond.
#17: Shadows – Par 3 – 189 yards
A large grouping of trees beyond “Shadows” this large green. With bunkers short right and left of the green, just making it on the putting surface of this long par 3 is key to a par or better. With a large landing area of fairway short of the green the hazards left and long do not pose a threat on a mishit tee shot. With this being the longest of the par 3’s a good score here will keep you right on cue!
#18: Coming Home – Par 5 – 501 yards
Originally the finishing hole to ones round this reachable par 5 is an easy birdie hole with a great tee shot. With the water being a short 250 yards from the tee you may think twice when pulling your driver! A well placed tee shot short of the water will leave you with a 190-210 yard second shot to either go for the green or lay up in this wide fairway. Key to this hole is to avoid the out of bounds right that lines the entire hole and also the large bunkers short left and right of the green.
