Williamsburg Sports & Outdoors

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In the year 1606 King James I sent the first colonist to Virginia, and the game of golf followed soon thereafter. But it was another 300 years later before Dan Maples built a course fit for a king, right here at Ford's Colony.

Now Ford's Colony boasts 54 holes of this civilized pastime. Each one, designed with a solid appreciation of all levels of play. Designer Dan Maples, recipient of Golf Digest's highest award for course design, states: "Ford's Colony is truly a player's course. Built with championship qualities, it's capable of challenging the skills of any pro without taking away from an amateur's enjoyment. Not many courses offer this flexibility."

Equipment: With 54 holes and a magnificent dining room, there is soemthing for everyone at this country club. There is also a Marriott on the premises.

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The River Course:
The River Course served as a popular PGA Tour site for 22 years and is currently home to the LPGA Tour?s Michelob ULTRA Open. Television viewers are familiar with the course?s signature 17th hole ? a par 3 hole perched on the edge of the James River. In 2004, original architect Pete Dye returned to Kingsmill to oversee changes to the River Course layout and green complexes. The renovation included the addition of tees from which golfers of all abilities can enjoy, redesigned fairway bunkering on several holes presents new and exciting challenges, and resurfaced greens allow for faster and smoother putting on the recontoured surfaces.

The Plantation Course:
Golf legend Arnold Palmer created a sister course to The River Course to appeal to golfers of all abilities.

The Plantation Course is more wide open, less demanding of pinpoint accuracy, but it's certainly no pushover. At 6,543 yards, there is less emphasis on well-positioned drives than accurate and consistent iron play and perfect putting on the undulating greens. Water comes into play on eight of the 18 holes, and there is no shortage of rolling terrain.

The Plantation Course is fun, challenging and meticulously maintained. Historical landmarks from a 1736 plantation are woven into the landscape.

Equipment: The Woods Course:
Two-time U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange (Kingsmill's Pro) and golf course architect Tom Clark combined forces to create a parkland-style golf course tucked away in its own private corner of the resort.

The Woods Course, Kingsmill's newest addition, was honored by GOLF magazine as one of the "Top Ten Courses Available for Public Play" when it opened. With rolling terrain, plenty of trees, and even a double green with a bunker in its center, the Woods Course provides a truly memorable round of golf.

Bray Links: psst...This on's open for night golf (AMAZINGLY FUN)
The nine-hole, Par-3 Bray Links is a complimentary amenity for all Kingsmill Resort guests. Located between the Conference Center and the James River, this sporty layout is played by everyone from children to CEO's.

Designed by Tom Clark, the Bray Links is serious golf, however, with bentgrass greens and Bermuda rough maintained by the same grounds keeping staff as the adjacent River Course. Lush and colorful ornamental landscaping changes with the seasons, complementing the course's sweeping views of the river.

As Golf Digest recently stated, "The most opulent pitch and putt in the country must surely be Kingsmill Resort's terrific Bray Links."

Whether you're playing a fun round with your kids, taking a break from a meeting or sharpening your short game, The Bray Links will provide challenging fun.

Nine-hole, par-three course
Complimentary to all guests
Located directly behind the Resort Center
Registration and complimentary club rental at Golf Pro Shop

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The Gold Course:
Opened in 1963 and the work of Robert Trent Jones Sr., who called it his "finest design," this is one of the best examples of traditional golf course architecture in the world. This is a magnificent course. Very challenging, and unforgiving. Bring a few extra balls.

18 Holes
Yardage 6,817
Par 71
Slope Rating 138

The Green Course:
Designed by Rees Jones, Jones Sr.’s son, and opened in 1991, this layout is carved from the same terrain but is simultaneously longer and more forgiving. This track, while longer, is much more open and plays well for the left to right ball flight. This course will also set you back a few less dollars. The clubhouse at the Green Course has a wonderful dining room called the Green Room Grill if you are looking for a nice meal in a casual setting.

18 Holes
Yardage 7,120
Par 72
Slope Rating 134

Spotswood:
Named for Colonial Governor Alexander Spotswood, this is the elder Jones’s 1963 update of the Williamsburg Inn’s original 1947 nine-hole course. Fun little course.

Executive course.
Par 62
Yardage 3,750

Equipment: Colonial Williamsburg offers golf packages through their hotels (The Inn, the Lodge, Colonial Houses, Govenor's Inn, and the Woodlands) to save you a few dollars. This makes it very convenient because you can book your trip, make dinner reservations, tee-times, and buy tickets all in one phone call.

Call 1-800-HISTORY

While walking around on my Williamsburg adventure, I came across this Golf Club. I might of know that such a beautiful area would have a fancy golf club near by. I asked a gentleman who was walking towards the club if he enjoyed the course. He said he loved playing here a lot because it is so well maintained and loved the area. I understood why.

Colonial Williamsburg is first of all privately-owned historical park but it's recreational park as well.

The Historic Area and the surroundings are filled with biking and hiking trails. Well, the colonial Williamsburg is small enough to walk around. We didn't rent a bike there. But it would be great fun to cross by bicycle, instead of driving a car, like we did, the land of James River Plantations in Charles City. If we had more time and energy...

Equipment: The Recreation Center at the Williamsburg Inn and Williamsburg Lodge offers bicycles and tandems to rent and seasonally guided bicycle tours. Hmm... it's colonial Williamsburg, they may charge you much, I think. Call them (+1 757 229-1000 ext.3089 or 4008) and ask about the price or rent a bike outside the colonial Williamsburg (the link below) or BYOB - bring your own bicycle.

In colonial times there weren't many toys for children to play with so they had come up with things to do. This was a detail of colonial life my daughter couldn't not grasp... a world without Barbies and My Little Ponies?

So I introduced her to the sport of the times for children. She got pretty good at it.

Equipment: A stick and a circular piece of wood from a barrel?

I played 3 area courses when I visited Williamsburg. The good thing playing around Thanksgiving holiday is that all the courses are open, and very empty.

I didn't make, or need any advance tee times. The courses I played are as follows:

Golden Horseshoe - Green Course
This is a very nice Donald Ross layout with tight fairways and mounds all over the place. There are tons of pine trees on this course. The say the golden course is the best. I say save your money and enjoy the green.

Kiskiack
This course was very average. It was too open in a park like setting for my taste. A few good holes, and water comes into play on several holes. If you only play two rounds, I would not play this one.

Stonehouse Golf Club
This is a wonderful round of golf. The course is very hilly and you are glad that carts are mandatory. Most holes are framed and isolated. I lost some balls thanks to blind shots and leafs. Some holes you feel like you're really in the wilderness. I will play here again.

Equipment: Your sticks, some warmer clothes in late November. Extra sleves of balls as you'll lose some in the leafes.