Hole 10 Par 4
350 | 330 | 322 | 297 | 280 yards
The 10th offers an elevated tee to a hole that runs adjacent to the 13th hole. The 10th plays slowly uphill as it bends slightly to the left.
A single bunker sitting down the right gives you something to aim at, however it is reachable off the tee. Avoid the left side, where trees run up the length of the hole.
The approach into this green is uphill, guarded by a single pot bunker short of the green.
Hole 11 Par 4
464 | 419 | 364 | 329 | 234 yards
One of the toughest driving holes on the course, the 11th plays straight ahead but has OB down the entire left side. Bailing out to the right can find your next shot hindered by one of the few trees on that side. Some uncut rough is also down the right, separating this hole from the 12th tee boxes.
Your second shot on this hole will require avoiding a massive green short and left that is protecting the elevated green. The right side of this green offers a slope that can be used to funnel balls back onto the green.
Given the choice between the enormous green left or missing right, missing right is the play. When we played the area to the right was under repair but normally this offers by far the better miss.
A look back down the hole shows the difficulty off the tee and the elevation up to the green.
Hole 12 Par 3
143 | 122 | 105 | 90 | 80 yards
A beautiful short par 3. The green is protected by a pair of bunkers short and another set behind the green. To the left of the hole the green slopes off into a collection area. Off the front, a false front will repel shots down and away.
A shot from the left side of the green showing the slope falling off the green. While this hole is short, it is not easy.
Hole 13 Par 4
466 | 432 | 412 | 396 | 315 yards
A long par 4 requires a straight away tee shot over the crest of the fairway.
Once you come over the rise in the fairway, the hole traveles downhill before rising up to the elevated green. For those you didn't hit the best drive and want to lay-up, a large bunker sits down the right side of the hole just inside of 100 yards.
The approach here must navigate the bunker framing the right side of the green and a steep uncut slope on the left that the green wraps around. With the green sloping front to back, and multiple levels, a back pin location makes for a challenging putt.
A view of the green complex from the 9th hole, shows the demanding approach required into this long green.
Looking back down the hole from behind the green, you can see some big elevation changes on the green. Hitting to the correct distance into this green is important.
Hole 14 Par 4
425 | 438 | 360 | 318 | 205 yards
After the 13th green you are routed back by the clubhouse. The 14th hole is to the right around the side of the clubhouse. This tee shot is again a straight ahead drive. There are no real hazards to speak of on this first shot. Favor the right side for the best angle into the green.
On the fairway, the left side, a slope can kick balls back towards the center. Balls hit down this side have a more obstructed view of the green due to this same slope that runs almost to the green.
This green is a demanding target. While no bunkers ring the green, missing on either side will leave a less than favorable pitch. There is a bit more room to miss left, though that leaves you with a chip to a green sloping away.
A miss to the right will find the swale off to that side. A shot from here can be to the green 10 feet above your shot.
Even if you hit the green, a spine that runs down its center makes for one of the trickier putts. The left side of this spin slopes front to back, while the right side of the green is canted opposite, from back to front.
Hole 15 Par 4
309 | 282 | 250 | 188 | 141 yards
This hole is probably the most "gimmicky" hole at Royal. It is also one of the more obvious holes on the course that this golf course is the center of a residential community.
The elevated tees shows the path of the hole as it travels down and the the left before wrapping around a pond to a tucked green. This hole is drivable, but with that aggression you take on the water hazards. Alos, if you hit it too long the trees behind the green can be in play on your second.
A more conservative line can play at the green but short of the water. This just requires carrying the fescue between the teeing ground and short stuff.
A shot played short to the fairway will require carrying some water on the appraoch. The green helps with this though as it slopes from left to right. This means you can play your shots away from the water and have it drift back to the center of the green. There is also a collection area to bail out on short left of the green.
Hole 16 Par 3
190 | 175 | 158 | 125 | 94 yards
Another pretty par 3. This is a mid length hole that plays a little uphill. The green is framed on the left by a pair of large elm trees. A large bunker sits short left, and another sits over the top of the green. This is a deep green so take the extra yardage into account if playing to a back pin.
Hole 17 Par 5
583 | 532 | 482 | 425 | 343 yards
The final 2 holes are both par fives, a little unusual. The first is the longest hole on the course. The tee boxes are level with the fairway, so there is not a lot of the hole you can see. The best play is just to the left of the bunkers you can see running down the right side.
A shot hit down this right half of the green will give you a view towards the green. A shot down the left offers an obstructed view on your second, due to a hill between you and the green.
This is a wide open fairway off the tee, so feel free to rip away. From the fairway, you should be able to see the pin over the top of a small rise further up the hole. The second shot offers a lot of room. There is really no danger as long as you find the fairway.
Over the top of the rise, you can finally see the green which has a single bunker short right. This green is turned perpendicular to your approach so that you hit into the narrowest dimension. A second shot played down the left side offers the best angle to attack the green on your third shot.
Hole 18 Par 5
505 | 485 | 452 | 428 | 205 yards
The final hole is the shortest par 5 on the course. A borderline really long par 4 gives this hole a fairly easy feeling par 5. Even with my horrendous driving lately I was nearly able to get on in two.
A center fairway bunker invites taking it on. There is planty of room to miss on either side of this hazard though.
The only real danger off the tee (aside from that lone bunker) is a pulled tee shot to the water running down the left side.
I missed my drive to the right of the fairway but from atop that hill you actually have a great vantage point to the green. You can see down below how large of a landing zone you have for shots played traditionally up the fairway.
Anything played up the fairway will have a third shot approach to the green that looks something like this. The green is perched at the top of the hill. A green protects things short right. Another is hidden from this view behind the green.
The green has three sections, rising up from front to back. A back pin is a much harder proposition that the front pin I faced.
A view of the green taken from the back right shows the three tiered putting surface.
Conclusions
The opening of a new course in the Twin Cities is a big deal. With the golf industry down-turn you are more likely to count off the courses that have closed in any given location, than those that have opened.
The fact that two such big names signed on to re-do this course certainly made headlines. I think that they did a great job with this routing. While Annika's side undoubtedly benefits from the better topography, both sides feature some great holes. The front nine is blessed with the prettier holes. It takes advantage with great elevated tees. Holes 1-5 are a great string of opening holes. Really, the front nine is outstanding, with maybe the exception of the more pedestrian 4th, 8th, and 9th holes.
The back nine does not offer the same brilliant elevation changes that make the front nine such a stand out. However it does offer some really good holes. 11-13 are probably the strongest string of holes. While some might not like 15, I think it is a really fun risk-reward hole that is uncommon in the area.
16 (like all the par 3s is a pretty little hole) and the 18th is a great finishing hole to have a real scoring chance on.
While it is not the longest of holes, there are some real challenges that make this not an easy course. Chiefly among these are some wicked undulations and movements on the greens. When we played, the greens were not exceptionally fast. I suspect that might generally be the case because with some of their slopes, if the greens were lightning, people would spend hours trying to putt out.
Pricing for 2018 was $59 to walk 18 and an additional $20 for a power cart. This lines up with the types of courses that I think this course competes with. Places like Stoneridge, Chaska TC, etc.
This is really a great addition to the Twin Cities golf scene. If you haven't given it a try, I highly recommend you do so!
The Royal Golf Club
11455 20th St N
Lake Elmo, MN 55042
651 505 9070
https://royalclubmn.com
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