Royal Oak Resort & Golf Club

Royal Oak Resort & Golf Club: GOLF COURSE WAS CLOSED IN 2012, probably on a permanent basis. Check for current status before planning a visit.

[Original Where2Golf description]: As one of the closest golf courses to the John F. Kennedy Space Station and Cape Canaveral launch pads you might be disappointed to discover there is nothing out of this world or overly stellar about Royal Oak. This is a course with its feet firmly on the ground; a solidly pleasant, older-style Florida parkland golf course.

The layout's relatively open feel is complemented by a liberal scattering of palms, pines, citrus trees and some wonderful old oaks, laden with spanish moss. If you are wayward its not too difficult to stray onto an adjoining fairway, although housing that flanks parts of the course perimeter is generally well out of harm's way, for all but the most wayward of big-hitters.

Parts of this relatively flat, neighbourhood course will feel pleasantly tree-lined, other stretches are more open. The best of the holes come on the back-nine where there is a little more undulation, and the often well-bunkered greens are also attractively elevated.

Maintenance standards here are good without striving for immaculate presentation. The large, subtly sloping, good quality greens are usually defended by one or two quite large, shallow, round bunkers. With onsite accommodation Royal Oak is a great location to stay and play (and visit the Kennedy Space Station, which is highly recommended.