Amelia Island Resort (Ocean Links course)

Amelia Island Resort (Ocean Links course): GOLF COURSE CLOSED IN 2017, probably on a permanent basis. The resort is also home to the following courses which remain open: 18-hole Oak Marsh and Long Point courses, and 10-hole Little Sandy short course.

[Original Where2Golf description]: If golf courses were limited to 6100 yards in length and had to include six par-3s, the Ocean Links at Amelia Island Plantation Resort/Club would doubtless be hailed as a model for all others. Generally tight and always well-bunkered, you'll need accuracy, good course management and a little local knowledge to prosper on this wonderfully testing and scenic course.

The Ocean Links layout takes you on a roaming seven-mile adventure through corridors of oak, pines and palmettos; alongside the mighty Atlantic Ocean for five holes and finally into an attractive lakeside setting for the closing par-4 17th and island green par-3 18th. The front-nine seaside trio, comprises the short par-4 4th, followed by two beautifully crafted par-3's. All three demand accurately hit irons to find the small and wickedly shelving greens.

On the back-nine you head back out to sea at the wonderful par-3 15th, its elevated green picturesquely tucked into the sand dunes. Perhaps the toughest tee-shot comes at the par-4 16th, especially if a stiff, left to right sea breeze is blowing. Your blind drive over the dunes needs to hit a rolling, links-style fairway, before another challenging approach is demanded to a relatively small, well defended green.

For big (and wayward) hitters, the Ocean Links may feel a tad too constraining. The oceanside holes and natural woodland/wetland stretches have universal appeal, although its more likely to be the technically-minded shot-maker who comes out on top in any match.