Golden Horseshoe GC
Williamsburg, VA
1963, Robert Trent Jones, Sr.
White Tees: 6248, 70.7, 129
Fees: $125 Wknd. or Wkdy. Peak
Tee times 14 days in advance at 10:00
No. 5 by GOLF Magazine: Gold Medal Resorts 1996
#67 Top 100 You Can Play by GOLF Magazine 2000
T&L Golf Review: Golden Horseshoe, Gold ****1/2
John D. Rockefeller Jr., the prime mover behind the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg, decided the place needed a golf course to amuse visitors after they'd had their fill of docent-led tours and candle-making demonstrations. He gave Robert Trent Jones Sr. a prime piece of land, and Jones produced reason enough to visit the area: a course so good that it might have distracted Thomas Jefferson from his legal studies at nearby William & Mary. The strength of Jones's Gold course at Golden Horseshoe Golf Club, in addition to its wonderfully rolling and wooded terrain and meticulous grooming, is its four par threes. Each of them requires a heroic carry—be it over ravine, stream or pond.
401 South England Street, Williamsburg, Virginia; 757-220-7696, Yardage: 6,817. Par: 71. Slope: 144. Architect: Robert Trent Jones Sr., 1963. Greens Fee: $155.
Rees Jones's Green course at Golden Horseshoe (757-220-7696) is not quite up to the standard of his father's Gold (thanks to the somewhat prosaic chains of gumdrop mounds he used to frame many of the holes), but it's a strong layout nonetheless.
Golfcourse.com Review: This resort, which was named to "GOLF Magazine's" 1998 list of "Gold Medal Resorts," features 2 outstanding 18 hole courses, plus a difficult 9 hole executive course. The Gold Course has tight, rolling fairways and is designed to play around a 5 acre lake, across ravines and through woodland glens. The greens are large and notorious for causing 3 putts. This course features dramatic changes in elevation, so expect some interesting lies in the fairways. "Golf Digest" rated this as the 4th "Best in State" course for 1995-96, and the 9th best for 1997-98. In addition, they rated 67th in the category of the "Top 75 Upscale Courses" for 1996. "GOLF Magazine" named it 57th among the "Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the U.S." for 1998. The Green Course was selected by "Golf Digest" as the 9th "Best in State" course for 1995-96, and 8th best for 1997-98. Water hazards come into play on every course. The Spotswood Executive Course is tight and demanding with narrow fairways and small greens. Although metal spikes are allowed, soft spikes are preferred.
Where To Booze & Grub: The Whaling Company, 494 McLaws Circle, visible from Rt 60, serving somewhat upscale, quality seafood, recommended by Jeff. OR, if you're not starving and don't mind a short drive, you GOTTA try Pierce's Pitt BBQ, (Rt 143, 447 E. Rochambeau Dr) in nearby Lightfoot (www.pierces.com ). Outstanding pulled pork smoked BBQ sandwiches, served with coleslaw on the sandwich. Got our food twice as fast as any McDonald's, even though the lunch crowd was starting to pour in, they move some people through here. About $6 for more great food than you could eat, and great service. Take a bottle of the sauce home for grillin'. Locals and friends of mine rave about the ribs & BBQ at Double D (Rt 60 about 1 mi. N of intersection with 199). T&L Golf magazine recommends: Berret's Seafood (119 S. Boundary St.) w/ fresh regional seafood, steaks, and chicken, with casual raw bar outside, $$$. OR, Old Chickahominy House (1211 Jamestown Rd), Southern breakfasts & lunches, $. Colonial Williamsburg Taverns (Shield's, King's Arms, Josiah Chowning's & Christiana Campbell's) offer servers in costume and Colonial-inspired cuisine, but tend to be pricey and crowded, $$$. Washington Golf Monthly recommends The Williamsburg Inn, offering the coat-and-tie Regency Room, which boasts an incredible wine list to go with its meat and fish entrees. OR, for those willing to travel a bit from the hub of Williamsburg, there is the Fox Hunter Grille, located near the Chickahominy River, or the Kitchen at Powhatan Plantation. Be warned: the Kitchen only seats about two dozen, but what a meal! OR, Food Network recommends the gourmet cuisine at Trellis, and their famous, decadent chocolate desserts are some of the best in the country.
Further Distractions: Oh yeah, don't forget to visit Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens (www.buschgardens.com , $47/day age 6 & up, $40/day ages 3-6). Also, Water Country USA (176 Water Country Pkwy, 757-229-9300, www.watercountryusa.com , $35/day age 6 & up, $28/day age 3-6) made #4 on Travel Channel's Best Waterparks in the USA. Directions from Norfolk: 64 West to Exit 243A (BGW) / 242B WCUSA - Follow SR 199 ¼ Mile to Entrance