The former 27-hole 3M facility at Tartan Park re-opened as The Royal Club in 2018 with a new 18-hole layout comprising of an Annika Sorenstam-designed front side called the “Queen’s” and a back nine called the “King’s” which was laid out by Thad Layton of Arnold Palmer Design.
Overall rating
The former 27-hole 3M facility at Tartan Park re-opened as The Royal Club in 2018 with a new 18-hole layout comprising of an Annika Sorenstam-designed front side called the “Queen’s” and a back nine called the “King’s” which was laid out by Thad Layton of Arnold Palmer Design.
The Royal Club
Numerous golf clubs have generated headlines by combining the design services of multiple PGA professionals to create a single route. Few, if any, have as decorated a trophy case as the pair who designed The Royal Club. Between Annika Sorenstam and Arnold Palmer, 17 Major victories-worth of experience are included here. The course would be Sorenstam’s first in the United Stated and, unfortunately, Palmer’s last prior to his passing during 2016 (Thad Layton contributed on behalf of Palmer Design).
The opening nine, “The Queen’s,” are obviously Sorenstam’s addition. This group works through the more deciduous half of the property, with tree-lined fairways and strategically placed bunkers to muddle the mind of the approacher.
Palmer received the more open eastern half of the property for the "King's Nine" and his holes take advantage of the scenic views along Horseshoe Lake. Although that body of water is the most attractive, the smaller creek at No. 15 may be the water of choice during the round, splitting opinion on whether you should gun for the green on this drivable par four.