Williamsburg Virginia: Golf Capital of the East Coast by Elaine VonCannon

Williamsburg Virginia is widely known among golf enthusiasts as the golf capital of the East Coast. Many avid golfers retire or relocate to Williamsburg, Virginia so they can be near a wide selection of courses. Following is a sampling of golf courses in Williamsburg, with links to their web sites, where you will find virtual tours, tour packages, and descriptions of the courses.

Royal New Kent (http://www.traditionalclubs.com/ROYAL/) In 2002, Golf Digest deemed Royal New Kent a 4 1/2 star course. The course flows across 7, 372 yards of Virginia countryside and has been likened to Irish links. Tall grasses blowing in the wind against a backdrop of sharp, green, grassy knolls and hand-stacked rocks are the reason for this comparison to the Emerald Isle. Golfers are challenged by the opportunity for blind shots in the contoured fairways. Golfers appreciate the par 72 design with over 120 bunkers. Each hole offers many different playing options. Expect special treatment from curbside attendants, who greet you and unload your bags, and upon completion – wipe your clubs and put them in the car.

Colonial Williamsburg – The Golden Horseshoe Golf Club (http://www.goldenhorseshoegolf.com/) Choose from three courses at Colonial Williamsburg. Visit the web site for a virtual tour of each. The Gold Course This 18 hole course was opened in 1963 and was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Senior, who considers it one of his finest designs ever. The course is 6,817 yards, and offers a par 71 design. The Green Course Another 18 hole adventure, this course was designed by Rees Jones, the son of Jones Sr. The Green Course is a longer design then the Gold Course. Although it is created from the same terrain as The Gold Course, this course is less challenging. The Green Course is 7,120 yards and offers a Par 72 design. The Spotswood Course This 9 hole wonder was named for a former governor of Colonial Virginia, Alexander Spotswood. Jones Sr. updated the 1947 design in 1963 on the Williamsburg Inn’s property.

Williamsburg National Golf Club (http://wngc.com) Golf Digest gave this Nicklaus Design Associates course a 3 1/2 star rating and added their recommendation of the WNGC as one of the top 10 courses in Virginia. The 18-hole design is unique for its tree-lined fairways with challenging holes and wetlands for natural obstacles. The black course is 6,953 yards with a par 73; the blue course is 6,411yards with a par 70; the white course is 5,900 yards with a par 67; the green course is 5, 122 yards with a par 68. Colonial Golf Club, Lanexa (http://www.golfcolonial.com) Golf Digest recently gave the Colonial Golf Club in Lanexa Virginia a 4 star rating. The tree lined course, in a tidal marsh setting is enhanced by a complete lack of development in the surrounding area. A public 3-hole regulation practice course is available for $18 and no prior reservation. This 18-hole course allows the golfer to choose from five sets of tees (4,568-6,885 yards) and is a par 72. Golf enthusiasts love taking the challenge of “The Abyss” – a par 3 that is both renowned and cursed in the Williamsburg area.

Kiskiack Golf Club, Croaker (www.williamsburggolf.com) This course was designed by John LaFaoy and his goal was to balance playability with overall aesthetics. Shorter hitters and golfers more comfortable playing knock-down shots will appreciate this course. Golfers rise to the challenge of the signature hole -- number 11. This 200- yard par 3 is played over a body of water to a peninsula style green set in natural surroundings. The Green course is 6,775 yards with a par 72; the Gold course is 6,405 yards with a par 70; the Black Course is 5,595 yards with a Par 67; The Grey course is 4,902 yards with a Par 67.

If you love golf, you may want to retire, relocate, or purchase a second home in the area. Maybe you are the type of golfer who wants to live and play in your own backyard… If so, visit http://www.voncannonrealestate.com and read my other article: “Live and Play in Your Own Backyard: Golf Communities in Williamsburg.” This article offers a short description of courses inside golf communities in Williamsburg, and nearly all of these are open to the public for golfing.