Coures of the Week: The Royal Golf Club

Royal Golf Club, nestled at the heart of The Royal Club community, is a beloved destination for golfers like us who have played here multiple times. The wildlife and the scenic beauty of the course impressed us!

The championship-caliber 18-hole course offers five tee boxes, bent-grass fairways, and wide landing areas, catering to golfers of all skill levels. Annika Sörenstam designed the Queen's Nine, while the late Arnold Palmer designed the King's Nine, making this course particularly unique. As a longtime fan of Palmer, I had the privilege of playing on this course numerous times in the past five years.

Unfortunately, Arnold Palmer, also known as "The King" in the golf world, passed away on September 25, 2016, leaving behind a remarkable legacy. Hollis Cavner, the owner of Royal Golf Club, is also responsible for the prestigious 3M Championship. Cavner's $85 million investment in the course and community has transformed it into a golf-cart accessible community, featuring 291 single-family and villa homes.

After the challenging first two holes, the fairways open up, allowing golfers to strategize their second shots. It's important to note that, like any newly developed course, it takes time for it to become a classic.

Royal Golf Club will soon transition into a fully private golf club at the beginning of the new year. This change aims to create an exclusive and personalized atmosphere, fostering a strong sense of camaraderie among distinguished members. Hollis Cavner plans to sign up to 300 golfing members initially, with initiation fees ranging from $20,000 to $40,000. The membership options include Full Golf, Intermediate, Corporate, Social, or National memberships.

The newly renovated Royal Golf Club, once home to 3M's Tartan Park, showcases the beautiful landscapes with undulating fairways, greens, and topography. Cavner plans to invest $4.5 million in upgrades, including a full-scale restaurant, golf simulators, air-conditioned bathrooms, pickleball courts, additional office space, a new professional golf shop, and new locker rooms.

The decision to become a private club allows existing homeowners and dedicated summer golf members to have priority for membership, contributing to the club's legacy. Once the transition is complete in January, Royal Golf Club will become Minnesota's 33rd fully private golf club.

Though the course may not perfectly suit my eye, I have enjoyed some excellent rounds at Royal Golf Club. The picturesque angles to the greens, water features, and well-maintained grounds provide a unique and enjoyable golfing experience. Despite some physical challenges, I recently played a round on this beautiful course and appreciated the pleasant weather and camaraderie with fellow golfers. Regardless of the ups and downs, the game of golf always draws me back for more. We were able to fit in a round of golf today and I must say, the weather was absolutely pleasant. Our foursome was also enjoyable to play with. It's funny how we can have a love-hate relationship with certain things, and in this case, it's golf. But hey, why not, right? We had some great shots, made a few birdies, and even had a chip-in. However, Mark had some trouble with his back and yet managed to score well . Despite the challenges, we had a blast on the course. There's something about the mixture of good shots, bad shots, the mental game, beautiful scenery, and laughter that always makes me want to give it another shot tomorrow. Golfing is simply irresistible.

Arnold Palmer made significant changes to the back nine, combining portions of the former Blue and Red courses while adding three new holes. These enhancements, Palmer's last project before his passing, have greatly improved the nine holes. The stunning lake views and an incredible finishing hole make it a memorable experience. Palmer also redesigned the new 12th hole shortly before his death, demonstrating his commitment to perfection. The hole now offers various options for playing based on the setup.

On the other hand, Annika Sorenstam reworked the front nine, known as the Queen's Nine. The most substantial changes occurred in holes 2-4, with the transformation of Hole 2 into a par 5, the elimination of the old Hole 3, and the conversion of the former Hole 4 into a drivable par 4. Sorenstam also redesigned the green complexes, making them more expansive and undulating. Overall, we appreciate this new routing and the improvements to the White course.