Although not a true golfing destination yet, the Williamsburg area has added a number of public and resort play golf courses. What they lack in quantity they make up for in quality. We found the conditions at most of the courses to be excellent and greens fees ranging from $40.00 to $125.00. Some discounts are available through motels or the Williamsburg Area Golf Association reached at (800-367-4656). The weather can be quite nice in the fall and rates are substantially lower.
The Colonial Golf Course P.O. Box 356 Williamsburg, VA 23187 (757-566-1600) Yards 6809 Slope 132 Rating 73.1 Price: $40 t0 $70 The Colonial was the first daily fee golf course to open in the Williamsburg area. This is a great course for any level of playing ability. The course is cut through hardwood forest and marsh land. Six holes wander through and along Mill Creek Tidal Marsh. The holes feature various elevation changes and most of the fairways are narrow yet fair. Like many courses if you keep it in the fairway it is a very good test of golf. You won't find many of the new "gimmicks" associated with today's new courses at The Colonial. The hazards are will within view as are the landing and target areas. There is a three hole practice course, a teaching center with indoor and outdoor grass practice areas, golf library, club fitting and repair, complete clubhouse facility and an excellent dinning room. The Colonial is a course to be enjoyed as well as played. Fords Colony - Blue/Gold 240 Fords Colony Drive Williamsburg, VA 23188 (757-258-4130) Yards 6769 Slope 134 Rating 72.3 Price $65 to $100 It is very hard when discussing Williamburg's golf courses to comment about conditions. All the golf courses in the area are excellently maintained yet Fords Colony manages to stand out just a little. The Blue/ Gold course is the tougher of the two featuring rolling Bermuda grass fairways, tough doglegs, and undulating bentgrass greens. Water will be a a factor on no less than 13 holes. However, with a choice of as many as four sets of tees per hole, the course is a test for the better player and an acceptable challenge for the average or vacation golfer. Fords Colony's clubhouse is renown for its fine dining and wine cellar. Two and three bedroom condominiums are available on site. Rental clubs are also available in the pro shop Fords Colony - White/Red 240 Fords Colony Drive Williamsburg, VA 23188 (757-258-4130) Yards 6755 Slope 126 Rating 72.3 Price $65 to $100 Not as challenging as its sister course yet in impeccable condition this course offers lots of woods and water. Not as much water as the Blue/Gold yet it is still in play on eight holes. Bunkers dot the fairways and protect the greens. The approach shot on the fourth hole of the Red Course will transverse water on your right and no less that six bunkers up the middle. As with its sister course, all fairways are Bermuda and the greens and tees are bent grass. Playing 6755 yards from the tips and 5614 from the red tees everyone should find this course both enjoyable and challenging. Fords Colony was designed by Dan Maples, one of the top golf course architects in the world. A traditional golf course in terms of targets and greens. A golf course that will sneak up and bite you the minute you feel a little too comfortable. Golden Horseshoe - GOLD 310 S. England Street Williamsburg, VA 23188 (757-258-4130) Yards 6700 Slope 137 Rating 73.1 Price $95 to $125 Robert Trent Jones, Sr.....is there a need to say more. He once called it "my finest design". The par threes alone will make your day. The course has been completely restored and opened again for play this past summer. You can expect rolling terrain, densely wooded ravines, sculptured greens, and one of the first "island greens". There is no getting around the fact that this is a tough golf course from the tips and you must be on your game to score well. There is un-restricted walking and caddies are available. The only other thing that we can tell you is, " If you're there...play it"! Accommodations are available at the Williamsburg Inn and guests receive a reduced rate for golf. Golden Horseshoe - GREEN 310 S. England Street Williamsburg, VA 23187 (757-220-7696) Yards 7,120 Slope 134 Rating 73.4 Price $50 to $125 Designed by Rees Jones the "Green Course" follows or flows with the landscape. Although easier than its sister course, it's still a challenge. Water comes in to play on four holes and the par three 11th, playing 195 yards from the tips over a pond to a green that slopes right to left, is just a fantastic golf hole. This is a shotmakers golf course featuring sculptured mounding and strategically placed bunkers. The fairways are Bermuda and the tees and greens are Bent. If you only have time for a couple of rounds place this on your "next time list" and then make sure you play it. Caddies are available and walking is un-restricted. Rental clubs are available through the pro shop and the accommodations are world class. Kingsmill River Course 101 Kingsmill Road Williamsburg, VA 23185 (757-253-1703 ext. 1478) Yards 6797 Slope 137 Rating 73.3 Price $45 to $110 Site of the PGA Tour's Anheuser Busch Classic, this is your chance to play where the pros play. A Pete Dye design, seemingly before he discovered railroad ties. Water comes into play on eight holes some bordering the beautiful James River. Typical Dye greens severely sloping with breaks only the pros can read. Actually, it's not as bad as one may think. Most holes are fair with easy to spot landing areas however be aware that some are located on plateaus and if you miss...Ugh! This is definitely a course that should be on your "to play" list and it's always fun when watching the pros on TV to see how they played your favorite hole or if they were able to match your birdies. The downer here is no caddies and no walking. Guests of the resort receive a discount. Kiskiack Hills Golf Club Croaker Drive Williamsburg, VA 23188 (800-989-4728) Yards 6405 Slope N/A Rating N/A Rates $35 to $60 Sorry folks, we haven't had the opportunity to play or visit this new John LaFoy design golf course. However, we have heard some very nice things about the layout and staff. It's cut through forest and is lined with beautiful old hardwood trees. Five holes feature water and the greens are large and difficult with severe undulation. The clubhouse is a temporary one with a grill room and small pro shop featuring golf accessories. There is a practice putting area, chipping area, and a covered driving range. This may be one to try before they are established and the rates go up. We hope to visit this course in the next couple of months and then give you a better idea of what its like. Royal New Kent Golf Club 5001 Bailey Road Providence Forge, VA 23140 (804-966-7023 Yards 7297 Slope 147 Rating 76.5 Rates $85 to $105 This is a course that will scare the pants off you the first time you play it. Designed by Mike Strantz this links style golf course features heather hills, rock walls that crisscross fairways, extremely large undulating fairways and greens, and par threes from the tips that will make you want to give up golf and take up fishing. That's the first time you play it. The second time it will play a little easier. The fairways are wide and you will have an idea of where the landing areas are, where before you were just guessing. On several holes it may be easier to play off some of the mounding. The greens are rather large and placing the ball on the proper level will certainly lower your score and save you from those horrible four putts which can easily happen. One final suggestion, play from the proper tees at least the first time. It will make the round that much more enjoyable. Stonehouse Golf Club 9540 Old Stage Road Toana, VA 23140 (757-566-1138) Yards 6,963 Rating 75.0 Slope 140 Rates $85 to $105 The fairways are wider than you imagine from the tee boxes and it's true that every hole is visually inspiring, or at least was. Housing, which will soon be located around the course, has caused some of the holes to lose their appeal. The course is set in the rolling hills of Virginia. Tee shots are uphill, downhill, and out of shoots to rolling mounded fairways with strategically placed bunkers. You're playing a great golf course until you reach the green. Three and four putts can be a common occurrence. The tenth green in particular is completely unfair. I suggest that no matter where the pin is you should land the ball just short of the green. It will bounce onto the green and where it goes from there is anyones guess. If this course is on your to play list...Do it soon! It won't be the same when the houses are built. Williamsburg National 3700 Centreville Road Williamsburg, VA 23118 (757-258-9642) Yards 6,950 Slope 72.9 Rating 130 Rates $45 to $69 Designed by Nicklaus Design Associates this course features water on five holes, tree lined fairways, and reachable par fives. The 11th hole is a 412 yard par four from an elevated tee to a sloping fairway. Water comes into play on 6 holes. However, it is the heavily-wooded fairways and varied terrain that makes this course a challenge. The designer also included a nice mix of long and short par threes. It is a nice change from the brutality long par threes designed by many of todays golf course architects. With a slope rating of 130, Williamsburg National will test your skills from the tips while allowing the higher handicapped golfer an easier go of it from the middle tees. The rates at $69.00 make this course one to play. |
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