Williamsburg, Virginia Area Golf?

BEND OF THE RIVER GC · January 7, 2007

Would this be better than MB, SC???

We were planning on a small golf trip to North Myrtle Beach to play these courses:

Longbay
Thistle
Barefoot Love
River's Edge

We will be there the last weekend of March through the middle of the first week of April 2007. Now, we are thinking of shortening up the drive (1 coming from Ohio, 2 from Connecticut) and playing in Williamsburg, Virginia:

The Golf Club at Brickshire
Royal New Kent
Stonehouse
Williamsburg National or another area course

I pretty much know what to expect from MB, Sc as I have golfed there on several occasions....anyone have any input on Williamsburg?

Thanks!

retep · January 7, 2007

what month/date.... as just those 200 or so more miles south makes a difference in weather. i've played around williamsburg, and a number of mb courses.... i would lean heavily towards myrtle. it is to golfing what Vegas is to gambling... so, given the choice to go to atlantic city or las vegas for gambling... ... where would you go??? if you are going every year, try a number of different golf destinations (if the season is consistent/weather/time of the year). good luck!!!! peter

wwhitehead · January 7, 2007

Williamsburg has some incredible golf courses.

Royal New Kent is a must play. Mike Stranz all the way...you'll never play another course quite like it in the U.S.

The Golden Horseshoe (Gold Course) is a Robert T. Jones masterpiece with quite a pedigree.

Kingsmill's River Course hosted the PGA Tour for years, and now draws one of the LPGA's top fields.

If it's an option on the way down or the way home, there are several excellent courses in Richmond you might consider (assuming you're traveling in I-95).

The vibe in Williamsburg couldn't be more different than Myrtle Beach. I'd definitely consider it as an alternative.

PM if you'd like more info.

WW

CUTiger · January 7, 2007

I played Williamsburg National last week...the course was in great shape...but I wouldn't rank it as a "must play". That's the only course I've played in Williamsburg.

Josh T · January 7, 2007

If you are looking for an alternative to MB.. I would look to the Pinehurst sandhills region.

I never get bored there.

BEND OF THE RIVER GC · January 7, 2007

NO to Pinehurst, only because my wife and I will be there golfing for a long weekend around President's Day!!!!

joesgonegolfing · January 7, 2007

We always weather watch at that time of the year coming from Maryland. If the weathers decent we play Williamsburg, but if it's too cold we go to Barefoot and stay playing Love Dye and Fazio.

Royal New Kent in Williamsburg is in my top 3 and we try and play it every year.

Joe

FAHooGolfs · January 8, 2007

I live in Williamsburg. It's a great place to play golf, but make sure to watch the weather, especially around March\April as it can be sunny & 75 one day and cloudy & 50 the next. That said, if you're coming to Williamsburg, here are my recommendations in order...

1. Golden Horseshoe Gold Course - I've played over 100 courses and still haven't found one I like better as far as layouts go.

2. Royal New Kent - a Mike Strantz course, guarantee you won't see anything quite like it this side of the Atlantic

3. Colonial Heritage - brand new course just opened in September. Some of the nicest greens I've ever putted on.

4. Stonehouse - another Strantz course but it's getting a little too house-populated for my tastes

5. Kingsmill River - great Pete Dye course

6. Kingsmill Woods - completely different style from the River, very good course.

7. Golden Horseshoe Green - it's difficult to put it this far down the list cause its such a good course, but it gives you an idea of the depth of golf in this area.

8. Kiskiack

9. Kingsmill Plantation - a shortish Arnold Palmer course, played through a lot of houses, but its got some cool holes and its fun to play from the tips at 6500 yards.

10. Brickshire - in my opinion, I'll never play that course again. It's too contrite and forced. They tried to make it compete with Royal New Kent but a good course designer Curtis Strange is not. If you're out that way, Royal New Kent is a much better way to spend your money.

11. The Colonial

12. Williamsburg National - a decent Jack Nicklaus course, but has too many 'blah' holes for my taste. I'd say only about 7 good holes on the course, the rest were just kinda stuffed in there.

If you want more help or any other recommendations, just send me a pm

mrjrs · January 8, 2007

I played Golden Horseshoe Gold and LOVED it. Awesome par 3's and a lot of fun.

tylerbrowder8-4 · January 9, 2007

I live in Williamsburg. It's a great place to play golf, but make sure to watch the weather, especially around March\April as it can be sunny & 75 one day and cloudy & 50 the next. That said, if you're coming to Williamsburg, here are my recommendations in order...

1. Golden Horseshoe Gold Course - I've played over 100 courses and still haven't found one I like better as far as layouts go.

2. Royal New Kent - a Mike Strantz course, guarantee you won't see anything quite like it this side of the Atlantic

3. Colonial Heritage - brand new course just opened in September. Some of the nicest greens I've ever putted on.

4. Stonehouse - another Strantz course but it's getting a little too house-populated for my tastes

5. Kingsmill River - great Pete Dye course

6. Kingsmill Woods - completely different style from the River, very good course.

7. Golden Horseshoe Green - it's difficult to put it this far down the list cause its such a good course, but it gives you an idea of the depth of golf in this area.

8. Kiskiack

9. Kingsmill Plantation - a shortish Arnold Palmer course, played through a lot of houses, but its got some cool holes and its fun to play from the tips at 6500 yards.

10. Brickshire - in my opinion, I'll never play that course again. It's too contrite and forced. They tried to make it compete with Royal New Kent but a good course designer Curtis Strange is not. If you're out that way, Royal New Kent is a much better way to spend your money.

11. The Colonial

12. Williamsburg National - a decent Jack Nicklaus course, but has too many 'blah' holes for my taste. I'd say only about 7 good holes on the course, the rest were just kinda stuffed in there.

If you want more help or any other recommendations, just send me a pm

this guy said it all about williamsburg i had the pleasure of playing at kingsmill River and woods course and it is well worth your money

jrgrove · January 9, 2007

well im a member at royal new kent, stone house, and kiskyak which comes in a package. i have not played at brickshire however since i live in richmond i know people who do. my freinds father was a designer there. and at brickshire there are really nice holes and they are some ok holes. however new kent is just one of those modern courses which are alot of fun to play because of the blind shots. all holes there are interest and fun but my favorite holes would be the first the 6th 8th 10th 15th 18th. you will love new kent but stone house is the same concept but not quite as much of a modern course as new kent it has holes of both sides traditional and modern. you will have the most fun at new kent it is worth it. both are somewhat difficult courses and are long specially stone house. but if you are looking for an easier and shorter course go to kiskkiac which is not terribly easy nor hard. i go there and play if i feel in the mood for just a relaxing round of golf. however i love there designer.

all courses are in great condition expecially kiskiac prior form being in horrible condition last year

it also depends on your handycap if its low you will like new kent, if its mid you will like stone house, if its in your shoot in the high 80's or 90's you will like kiskiak

DavidR · January 9, 2007

I think the weather will keep you away in March. There are some weekends that get pretty darn cold regularly until April or so.

jrgrove · January 9, 2007

the way the weather is now here i dont think its going to be that big of a problem its like in the 60 and 70 when it should be in the 30s

JGalls · January 14, 2007

Golf in Williamsburg is fantastic..It's been a while since we've been down there, but we used to head down there a couple of times a year. Some fantastic courses. I remember when Stonehouse (previously a Legends course) was first built. There was nothing around it and it was just a slice of heaven... then they built houses, roads, etc.

Can't go wrong with any of the courses...Royal New Kent, the horseshoes, colonial, etc.

rmbr2 · January 24, 2007

I worked at the Golden Horseshoe for 4 years and since then I have played a TON of golf courses. I know that I am partial to that course b/c of working there but I still believe it is the best layout of any course on the East Coast. It is an old school RTJ layout and I would certainly call it a must-play.

As far as MB goes, I would add Tidewater and The Dunes Club to your list if you can. Both are awesome. The Dunes Club is in my top 10, just a great RTJ re-do. Can you tell I like Robert Trent Jones?? They played Sr. Tour Events there up until a few years ago. It really is awesome!!

Have fun and good luck!

BEND OF THE RIVER GC · January 30, 2007

We are going to wait until Fall to play in Williamsburg. Thanks for all the recomendations!

We made reservations for MB:

staying at Legends, playing Barefoot Dye, TPC MB, Avocet and king's North. Tried to play the best courses the were pretty close together. The next time we'll play southern MB courses and the tie after that the northern courses. The first time I ever went to MB in 1996 I think we ended up driving all over the place! Playing Avocet to sneak in an extra round since it is on the way home!

freddiec · May 4, 2007

I'm heading to Richmond VA in late July for 3 days and will play one day. I'm thinking about playing Royal New Kent. Is that the better than Stonehouse? I'm getting the feel it is. Thx.

gobuckswin · May 4, 2007

Both of those courses are really tough but i would recomend playin new kent. Stonehouse has to many blind shots and is unfair and new kent will be a great challenge for your game

wwhitehead · May 4, 2007

I'm heading to Richmond VA in late July for 3 days and will play one day. I'm thinking about playing Royal New Kent. Is that the better than Stonehouse? I'm getting the feel it is. Thx.

It's not even close. Royal New Kent is one of the most interesting golf courses you'll ever play.

WW

Subsonic · May 5, 2007

Royal New Kent is a definite must play. Unfortunately, they are starting to build houses around it as well. I recommend that you get down there and play ASAP. IMHO it will not be the same surrounded by houses.

yahtzee · May 6, 2007

I would agree...Royal New Kent is one of the hardest courses I have played....I shot a 93 this past Friday at RNC and it was one of my best golfing days ever. Had this been a flatter, more average course I could have shot in the low 80's ( I have only been playing since 2004)

I took 3.5 hours of playing lessons from Del Snyder at Golden Horseshoe last weekend and had a blast....Didnt get to play the gold course because I was there to learn. Williamsburg has a lot of great golf.

freddiec · July 20, 2007

I'm going to be in Richmond VA Sunday , Monday and Tuesday. I plan on playing Royal New Kent on Monday. I'll have my camera.

FAHooGolfs · July 20, 2007

I'm going to be in Richmond VA Sunday , Monday and Tuesday. I plan on playing Royal New Kent on Monday. I'll have my camera.

Played it last weekend, it's in great shape. Just don't end up in the right greenside bunker on 16. :-)

freddiec · July 20, 2007

lol,. ok. I'm sure that's a bad spot. I don't plan on being in any bunkers. yeah, right. good to hear it's in good shape. I just called there and on Monday, it sounds like its wide open for play. gotta love it.

title · July 20, 2007

go to spring creek golf club west of richmond. it is better than any course mentioned in this thread.

freddiec · July 20, 2007

spring creek does look great on the web, but i did decide to lug the clubs for one round, so i think it's Royal New Kent. I should have a ton of pics on Tuesday or Wednesday to post.

hwwong · April 24, 2008

Just played at Colonial Heritage last week here's my review:

The course layout is fun, that is if you've played there before. This was my first outing there and there are A LOT of blind shots. More so than Royal New Kent for those that have been there. The course isn't overly long at about 6900 yards from the back tees. There are a couple tough tee shots on the back nine and overall a few tough holes but the rest of the course is relatively laid back.

The condition of the course must have gone down in the last year. The fairways weren't in the best shape - a bit spotty but not bad at all. The rough was even more patchy and there seems to be a couple of different random varieties of grass growing through the rough and sometimes into the fairway. The sand was beautiful however.

The greens had just been punched but they rolled out pretty well. There are some fun putts on these greens but overall I can't assume much about them because I haven't putted on them when they're in the best condition.

It may be that it was early April when I played and the course hadn't full "come back". To me it seemed that they just didn't have the money to spend to keep the course in the condition it calls for. Greens Fees and Cart fees totaled about $70 a person but the course was WIDE open on a Friday Afternoon (we played a SLOW 18 in 3:45). Additionally another set back was the fact that there was a lot of construction going on around the course and that was a bit frustrating.

All in all I'd rate this course a 6.5 out of 10 simply because of the condition vs. price aspect and the numerous construction sites around the course. If you can get over these the course is out there, can't see it getting busy at all and there are some really fun holes on the course.

freddiec · April 24, 2008

There are some great courses in that area. My experience at Royal New Kent last summer, was 2nd to none. I absolutely loved that course. Probably one of my top 3 favorites of all time. It was a trip. I can't wait to get back there some day.

Sideways · April 24, 2008

I would agree that Spring Creek is a better course than just about anything in Williamsburg, although Golden Horseshoe Gold is a great course and Kingsmill River Course surprised me with how good it is. I thought it looked like a so-so course when I watched the A-B played there years ago, but it was fun to play.

I have not played Royal New Kent. I think Stonehouse is good but contrived. Colonial Heritage had way too many awkward holes for my taste. Williamsburg National is a little vanilla but eminently playable. Kiskiak is a lot of fun.

For a real treat, take the Jamestown ferry over to Surrey, eat at the Surry House and then play at Cypress Creek in Smithfield.

I think the best courses I've played in the state of Virginia are Upper Cascades, Bay Creek Palmer Course in Cape Charles on the eastern shore, Spring Creek, Golden Horseshoe, Stoney Creek at Wintergreen, Poplar Grove (same designer as Spring Creek), and the River Course at Kingsmill.

wwhitehead · April 25, 2008

I think the best courses I've played in the state of Virginia are Upper Cascades, Bay Creek Palmer Course in Cape Charles on the eastern shore, Spring Creek, Golden Horseshoe, Stoney Creek at Wintergreen, Poplar Grove (same designer as Spring Creek), and the River Course at Kingsmill.

You might amend this list if you ever get the chance to play Primland, Kinloch, The Olde Farm or The Virginian.

WW