[tbowles411]

We're traveling to Williamsburg for a week and mom promised me two rounds of golf of the 7 days we'll be there...what do you locals or those in the know recommend that is good and somewhat affordable? Thanks!

[phsgolfguy]

i used to live in Yorktown so i can give some insight into the courses around the area. Golden Horseshoe (both courses are good), Kiskiack, and Williamsburg National (both courses) are all great tracks within the immediate area and are not overly expensive. if you wanted to head a little further west of Williamsburg (20-30 minutes), Royal New Kent is an amazing track and is right next to Brickshire, one of my personal favorites in the area. there are quite a few to choose from and they're pretty much all solid courses

[title]

golden horseshoe - gold course
kingsmill - river course

[tbowles411]

Great! Anywhere else?

[transientgolf]

Golden Horseshoe is by far the best public option. Kingsmill (River) and Royal New Kent are good as well.

[Subsonic]

Horseshoe Gold and Green are must plays.

Kiskiack is a good warmup course. The Colonial is a good warmup too.

Kingsmill River course is awesome.

Royal New Kent is great. It is a typical Strantz thrill ride.

[phsgolfguy]

i still prefer the Woods course at Kingsmill over the River course, but that's just me.

[bluetrane]

Royal New Kent! Fond memories of shooting 100+

[Subsonic]

Royal New Kent is something that people remember. That is why I would highly recommend it. I had a 100+ day there myself.

I have never played a bad course down in Williamsburg. It's all good!

[luxman]

My personal opinion would be to avoid Stonehouse and Royal New Kent. Good conditions, but if you don't like blind shot after blind shot and greens that are over the top (10th at Stonehouse comes to mind as a green that should be blown up) then those courses are not for you.

I'm a big fan of Williamsburg National. While it isn't spectacular, it's a very fun, playable layout. I also enjoyed the Golf Club at Brickshire (has some replica holes of Augusta, Pinehurst #2, St Andrews and Riviera) and Kiskiack. You also can't go wrong at Kingsmill.

[hollabachgt]

If I could play Golden Horseshoe Gold every day for the rest of my live I would die a very happy man. It is a fantastic golf course. Green, eh, not as good. I would recommend Royal New Kent as well. I walked off that course beaten, bruised, tired and ready to go back the the first tee and try again. that may be the first time I shot 95 and lost only 2 golf balls, both were gamble shots. RNK is quite different but very enjoyable.

[phsgolfguy]

i must be one of the few who really enjoy the Green course. some very fun holes, it's longer from the tips, and a great finishing hole

[squarre]

I too would recommend the Golden Horse Gold Course. It was a very good golf course. The Kingsmill courses are also pretty good. I haven't played anywhere else up there.

[joesgonegolfing]

Royal New Kent...can be too tough for many but a great track and very memorable experience.

JOe

[Simp]

We went there last September and played Kingsmill (River), Golden Course, Green Course and Brickshire. It was a nice trip but all of the courses except the Golden Course had just aerated their greens. So be sure to check their aeration schedule.

[autisticlove]

Love the Gold Course as well as the the Woods Course at Kingsmill. I am also a huge fan of the Green Course not only because I find the layout fun and interesting, but also because it has (for me at least) always provided a more peaceful and out of the way sort of playing experience. It's a fun track and the staff there is wonderful as well.

[sleepy_augusto]

Just got back from Kingsmill, I'd recommend the par 3 course there. I played the Plantation course and while it was nice, the par 3 was more memorable. Right off the water and well maintained. I'd also recommend not playing when it's 103 w/o a breath of wind.

Coming from Ohio/Michigan, I found the rough hard to work with around the greens. Not sure if that grass was really special, but it was something else. Have fun!

[phsgolfguy]

sleepy_augusto, on Aug 3 2008, 09:56 PM, said:

Just got back from Kingsmill, I'd recommend the par 3 course there. I played the Plantation course and while it was nice, the par 3 was more memorable. Right off the water and well maintained. I'd also recommend not playing when it's 103 w/o a breath of wind.

Coming from Ohio/Michigan, I found the rough hard to work with around the greens. Not sure if that grass was really special, but it was something else. Have fun!

i love Bray Links. when i used to work at Kingsmill i used to play Bray Links like 5 to 6 times in a row whenever i'd play it. the rough is like that all around the area, kinda spongy grass right?

[Subsonic]

I too love the Golden Horseshoe Green course. It is a beautiful layout and is very private. I love the Gold course as well but if I could only play one it may very well be the green course.

The great part of the Gold Course for me are the par 3s. Awesome!

Has anyone played the new layout at Williamsburg National? I believe it is called the Yorktown course.

[Sideways]

The original post mentioned "affordable," so I'm curious as to what people in this thread have paid to play Golden Horseshoe and Kingsmill (other than through the VSGA card).

Kiskiack and Williamsburg National are good, playable courses usually in fine shape and not too expensive. Colonial Heritage was fun to play, but very gimmicky and I know that they are hurting financially, so the course may not be in great shape this year.

I haven't played Royal New Kent, but I second the opinion that Stonehouse has too many blind and deceptive shots and weird greens. Plus, it was in poor shape when I played it.

Golden Horseshoe's original course is wonderful. Other than the second hole, every hole is very good and it's the best set of par 3's anywhere. I played and enjoyed both the River and Plantation course at Kingsmill, but would rather spend the money on the Horseshoe.

I need to play the Green Course sometime, because I used to live in a house on Quarterpath Road that is now the site of one of the greens there.

[freddiec]

I played Royal New Kent last year. It was one of the most spectacular and original layouts I've ever played. You'd me crazy not to play it. I have a ton of pics I could send you. IM me you email address and I'll send you a few.

Pics I took July 2007.
http://www.golfwrx.c...=royal+new+kent

[Jer-Jer]

You have to to go to Golden Horseshoe. It's a must. Brickshire Golf Club is pretty nice. Greens are in perfect shape but just too slow for my liking. Won a tournament there a few weeks ago.

[tbowles411]

I keep hearing Golden Horseshoe...isn't it private?

[phsgolfguy]

Golden Horseshoe is definitely not private.

and Jer-Jer, Brickshire's greens are rolling slow? wow. every time i've played there they've rolled about 11 1/2 to 12

[Jer-Jer]

phsgolfguy, on Aug 6 2008, 10:51 PM, said:

Golden Horseshoe is definitely not private.

and Jer-Jer, Brickshire's greens are rolling slow? wow. every time i've played there they've rolled about 11 1/2 to 12

Haha are you serious 11 1/2 to 12? Absolutely no way. That's PGA Tour fast. I will admit it was wet the day I played but you could see the greens were hairy. Perfect shape, just slow. I wouldn't give them more than a 9. I played it in the middle of July, about 3 weeks ago.

Oh and if you've never played Brickshire before it's a b****. Lots of blind tee shots. I had no clue where to hit it on some holes so I basically just guessed. 240yd or so par 3 on the back from tips. I played it at 220yd and smoked a 3 iron to 10 feet. It's up there on Jer-Jer's greatest shots list lol.

[phsgolfguy]

that's really odd. they're usually always fast. i played 2 years of high school golf in VA and Brickshire was New Kent High School's home course and it was by far the most challenging course we played along with Cypress Creek. it's such a great track, i really don't get why a lot of people don't enjoy it. that par 3 you're referring to is a monster from the tips -- the hardest par 3 i've ever played.

[Jer-Jer]

What years did you play there? Because right when it opened in 2001 I bet the greens were super fast but not anymore. Yeah the par 3 on the back nine...#15 maybe? I shot 39-34=73 there. The back nine probably was one of the best nines I have ever played. 8/9 greens and the green I missed I chipped it to like 6 inches (it should have gone in lol). 2 birdies, 7 pars. Great ball striking nine but the putts weren't dropping.

[phsgolfguy]

'03 and '04