Amelia River Golf Club

Amelia River, renowned as one of the best conditioned courses in North Florida, continues to feature public and private play on its links-style layout. This Amelia Island gem, first opened in 2001, is one of the few in the area featuring TifEagle greens resulting in smoother surfaces for testing the golfer’s short game.

Add to that the wide-open putting green – and the spacious practice range – both of which allow golfers to be at their best after warming up for a round of golf. In the spring and summer of 2008, Amelia River Golf Club will be implementing an amazing price structure to keep golfers of all ages and abilities even more happy with the course.

In April and May 2008, golfers can play for $100 per round, per person when booking a foursome, including cart and range balls. In June and July 2008, golfers can book a foursome and pay only $75 per person per round, including cart and range balls. These prices will be available even after extensive renovations that added the new clubhouse and improved playing conditions at the public/private course.

Better playing conditions also can make for more accurate placement, one of the keys to beating this course’s natural hazards. A stream, appearing peaceful and placid, instead is home to a golf-ball loving alligator that is second only to the green in its challenge to the local and visiting player alike.

While nature is a key to Amelia River, so are the five tee boxes, the seven pin placements and the large, firm greens on every hole. The par-72 track, which plays to a yardage of 6,843 from the back tees, is sculpted around a forest of majestic live oaks, Sabal palms, Southern pines and wax myrtles. Together with those majestic live oaks are natural and planned challenges to keep the everyday or even accomplished golfer interested and engaged in the round.

“This course was designed to take advantage of the natural beauty of the water that runs alongside and through it,” said Barry Richardson, head professional at Amelia River Golf Club. “We have found that our golfers enjoy the look, feel and playability of no houses, no condos, no interruption of their round of golf. They enjoy just having the time and the venue to enjoy great golf in a Scottish links-style setting.”

Amelia River consists of 18 holes of challenging golf where ball control and accuracy are keys to a great game. Golfers often say that once you have played the first three holes, you have a pretty good idea of what awaits you with Tom Jackson courses. The way in which these styles are woven together is what makes his courses such masterpieces. Pond clusters, tree clusters, bunker clusters, and even deeper woods offer an opportunity to make or break a round at Amelia River. Always in pristine shape with wellmanicured rolling fairways, smooth bunkers and greens that challenge all skill levels, the course is unique in character and is a treat to play.

The first hole at Amelia River is located along the border of the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport, a general aviation facility, as is No. 5 and No. 13. The airport actually acts as a buffer with its mostly grass surroundings, serving to protect the course from the north. The fairways are wide open giving the golfer a sense of this traditional Scottish links course. Amelia River’s signature 17th hole is a par-3 surrounded by water, demanding an accurate shot to the island green. The final hole ends at the edge of the Amelia River and its expansive tidal marsh.

On most people’s must-play list, Amelia River is located on the island near the historic Victorian seaport of Fernandina Beach. With a nod to that history, Amelia River Golf Club now features its new cedarshake clubhouse with the feel of a seaport as it faces westward toward the Amelia River and the Intracoastal Waterway.

The recent addition of this Cape Cod-style clubhouse adds warmth to the overall experience at Amelia River. It also boasts an outstanding restaurant with a menu that is friendly both to the golfer with a hearty appetite and the visitor wanting lighter fare. Next to the seating area in the clubhouse is the pro shop that features designer and signature wear, top-of-the-line golf accessories and bags. In addition, the building houses new locker rooms and restrooms for golfers and visitors.

“Our island neighbors and our resort guests alike tell us how much they enjoy the golf at Amelia River,” said Robert Dugger, Director of Golf at Amelia Island Plantation. “We have four superb courses here at Amelia Island Plantation and so many find the layout, the beauty, and the excellent conditioning of Amelia River to be the one they go back to over and over again. We have placed our golf special on this private/public course so that everyone can enjoy its beauty and its playability.”

To play Amelia River at their absolute best, golfers can make reservations to visit the Amelia Island Plantation Golf School, directed by Ed Bowe. Bowe is the director of instructor training for ESPN golf schools throughout the country, including the ESPN golf schools held at Amelia Island Plantation. Ed’s style of instruction is to focus on the individual’s swing and style, improving each person’s game based on their own abilities and style of play.

The golf school also offers individual video swing analysis that compares the golfer’s stroke for before-and-after visualization. As well, it compares those swings to the pro players showing the do’s and don’ts of each. For clinics and lessons, call Ed Bowe at the Amelia Island Plantation Golf School at (904) 277-5976.

To make reservations at Amelia River, call (800) 305-6647 and touch #8 for tee times and other rates or specials. Amelia River is located on Amelia Island, just off the Amelia Parkway on Buccaneer Trail.

After coming over the Shave Bridge onto Amelia Island, turn right on the Parkway. Veer to the right just past the airport and industrial park onto Buccaneer Trail. Amelia River is located on the right just before the canopy road begins, 1/3 mile from the turn.

Amelia River, being an Amelia Island Plantation property golf course, is a part of a 1,350 acre resort which offers three additional golf courses, plus 610 accommodations, including the all oceanfront Amelia Inn and its 249 rooms, plus 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom villas with ocean, golf and resort views.

In addition, Amelia Island Plantation has 3 ½ miles of wide, uncrowded beach, an award-winning children’s camp, 11 dining opportunities, Segway tours, nature center, bicycles and tag-alongs, 20 swimming pools including the two-tiered/three pool Beach Club, 23 tennis courts, more than 7 miles of hiking, biking and running trails and much, much more.

The resort offers all inclusive packages for families, special Family Tee golf programs in the summer, and packages with add-on golf for just $99/day/per person.

Amelia Island Plantation is located just 29 miles northeast of Jacksonville International Airport, off the northernmost coast of Florida. Its 2-by-13 mile size makes it ideal for visitors to soak up both the resort’s ambience and the beauty of the Victorian seaport town of Fernandina Beach at the north end of the island.

For reservations or more information about Amelia River Golf Club, call (800) 305-6647, or visit the website at www.aipfl.com.