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From our Directory of the most recommended golf courses
Royal Links Golf Club
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Royal Links holes are designed as replicas of holes from courses from the British Open. It's a bit overpriced, like most of the courses in Vegas, but it's cheaper than going across the pond to Scotland or England. It's located 30 minutes east of the Strip off Desert Inn Road. From the back tees, it's 7029 yards, 135 slope, and a 72.7 course rating and is a tough course. Sometimes the conditions aren't up to par, as well as the overall service, but it's fun to play a course where the holes aren't typical desert or parkland styles, especially in Vegas. The course was designed by Perry Dye, and has holes from the Old course at St. Andrews, Royal Troon, Carnoustie, Turnberry, Royal Liverpool, Prestwick, Royal Lytham, Muirfield and Royal Birkdale, along with a castle-like clubhouse.
Published by: Jason B
Posted by: BunkerTlk
Oct 31st, 2011
As you drive into Royal Links and to the Club House, you are instantly transported to the British Island style of links courses, grand old clubhouse, like being at St. Andrews. The course itself, again done in a Links style, was amazing and difficult. There is over 100 bunkers throughout the course, with some of them right in the middle of the fairway. I hit a couple of fairly good drives of around 200-220 yds around the middle of the fairway and found my ball smack in the sand trap. Because I'm a high handicap(25), this course although beautiful and challenging was probably too much for my limited talents. It is however, a course that must be played at least once if you're a golfer and visiting Las Vegas.
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Posted by: Pmontgomery
Oct 24th, 2010
it is supposed to be replicas of the best holes played in the rotation at the British Open. Yes, they are replicas in yardage, dimensions, green shapes, pot bunkers; but it is maintained in the "american" style of greenskeeping with manicured greens and fairways rather than "links" type grasses. it is located in a god forsaken place over 20 miles from the strip in the middle of some pretty poor neighborhoods and next to a sewer plant or something of the sort. Unlike many of the other nicer courses that line the foothills of the nearby mountains, this course is smack in the center of a runned downed neighborhood. The service was exceptional though. All employees try very hard to make sure you get what you need and want. Generally, a good course, don't buy into the British Open hype, look at it more as a well manicured course with a very high green fee. If you can get a discount and get the fee down to under $100, then it is worthwhile. BTW, you can get the "female caddies" at the Rio Secco course, they're called T-mates. Comparable condition at a lesser cost for the round.
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Posted by: Russell
Aug 22nd, 2010
The Royal Links was my first expericence playing golf in Las Vegas. It did not disapoint. From the moment you arrive at the golf course you feel like you are transported from the desert to the links of Scotland (minus the weather of course). The clubhouse is a castle, and inside it is decorated with pictures and items all relating to "The Open". The eployees in the golf shop and restaruant were five star! As we teed of we were given a yardage book depicting each and every hole as well as the Starter giving us a few hints about the course. As you play the course make sure you check out the Bunker on #8 "the Postage Stamp" it has to be 8 feet deep. We finished the round in 4 hours and grabbed a pint at the Bar. We didnt want to leave but we had a show to go to. Royal Links is a must play!
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Posted by: Marve
Jul 31st, 2010
Frankly, I didn’t like the course much, but the layout is so unique I’d still recommend it at least once. The holes are designed from courses in the British Open rotation. It was neat playing the Postage Stamp and Road hole, but the overall condition of the course was brought down by greens that were a little slow, a little patchy, and quite a bit thatchy. I paid $150 for a 12:30 twilight rate and would not have even come close to finishing 18 had I decided move on to the back nine after finishing the front. The front nine alone took us 2 ½ hours so when we made the turn our group decided to play the front again, which we breezed right through.Beware of the pot bunkers. If you roll up to the edge of one of these babies make yourself comfortable cause you’re going to be in there awhile. We saw one player in front of us take 8 swings, only to bend over and throw his ball out. I would also not recommend you use MapQuest for directions to this course. The directions took me to the Stallion Golf Course, which is about two miles SE of Royal Links
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Posted by: Brian
Jul 13th, 2010
I played Royal Links last Friday and what a treat. Replicated Holes from the British Open Rotation. The Road Hole was great, and I can't wait to watch this year's British Open to see how the guys do on that same hole that I got to play last week. The difference was I didin't have to spend $10,000 to go all the way over to Scotland and saved me a lot of time. The staff was great, and the layout was very fun. Some very easy holes and a few that will challenge you based upon the set of tees that you play. Great Course and fantastic idea to build this course! Brian
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Posted by: dannyp
Jun 13th, 2009
Royal Links course review by Dan Perry Was attending a conference in Vegas and was asked if I would like to play Royal Links. You can guess what my answer was. The only thing I had heard about Royal Links was that it was so tough that they wouldn’t/couldn’t give it a slope rating. Because of all the bunkering the number was just too high. After playing it, I see what they meant. I proudly shot a 94. It was my first round of the year, AND I was using rental clubs, although they were very nice. The woods were the new Callaway Diablo’s, the irons were Callaway X-22’s and the putter was an Odyssey blade. All in all, very nice set of rentals. Each hole on the golf course is “inspired by” a famous golf hole from various courses that have hosted Open Championships. The first hole was inspired by #10 at Royal Lytham Golf Club. The third hole was inspired by the 2nd hole at Prestwick. It’s a 146 yard par 3, and even from the tee you can tell the bunkers are significant. Once you get closer, you can see that a lot of the bunkers actually have steps to enter them. Like I said… significant. The fourth hole (inspired by the 8th at Royal Liverpool) is a par 5 that only has one bunker on the entire hole, located in front of the green. The real difficulty here is the slope of the fairway itself; it’s like an elephant burial ground. The odds of getting a flat lie, even with a perfect drive are heavily stacked against you. The 5th (inspired by the 12th at St. Andrews Old Course) is only 303 from the Gold Tees. Obviously it’s all about the bunkering, with 5 of them dispersed throughout the fairway. In addition this fairway doesn’t have a flat lie on it anywhere. I will say that it provides a great view of the top of the Stratosphere, and the snow on the mountains. The steps up to the eighth (inspired by the “Postage Stamp”, the 8th hole at Royal Troon). This was easily one of my favorites, and one I had been looking forward to. I remember the coverage this hole got when the Open was last played at Royal Troon; it played so difficult, The 10th is the Road Hole (17th at St. Andrews Old Course). What was surprising was the difficulty of the tee shot. If you don’t have a fade, forget it. Use a 5-wood and turn it into a personal par 5. Of course, I had to take a shot out of the Road Hole bunker. True to form, it’s as difficult as it looks on TV. The fourteenth (inspired by the 15th at Turnberry) was 178 yard par 3. The 16th is inspired by the 15th at Carnoustie, it’s a 438 yard par-4 from the Gold Tees. Royal Links finishes on a hole inspired by the 14th at St. Andrews Old Course, a 495 yard par 5. Of course, nothing is as easy as it sounds. I counted at least 14 bunkers scattered on this hole. In fact, some of them are impossible to see from the tee (consider buying a distance guide at the pro shop if you have any interest in your score for this reason.)
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