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Florida’s Amelia Island adds new (and big) course

Long known as one of the south’s top year-round golf destinations, Amelia Island now features another great golf course, Royal Amelia, that features huge tees, fairways, and greens.

Designed by Tom Jackson, Royal Amelia is an upscale public course, with greens fees eventually settling in the $75-110 range (introductory rates now available).

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Located just south of the island’s airport (most people fly into Jacksonville and then make the 30-minute trip), Royal Amelia is a big layout in every way, with back tees playing around 6,850 yards (because of the size of the greens, it can vary by more than 50 yards day-to-day).

The tees and greens are among the largest in the region and the fairways are as wide as any you’ll see anywhere. Most fairways are well separated from adjacent holes and the greens are simply huge (the 17th runs 49 paces from side to side).

Some top holes include the mid-iron peninsula green on No. 17, the par five 18th, and the palm tree sitting in the middle of the 2nd hole.

A clubhouse with a wrap-around porch and views of the Amelia River is currently under construction and should open by the first of the year. Due to the lack of land, officials say this is either the last or next-to-last golf course to be built on Amelia Island (there are now six courses, totaling 117 holes).

Accommodations options on golf-heavy Amelia Island are numerous and widely varied, with many upscale hotels, condominiums, house rentals, B&Bs, and more.