Royal New Kent Golf Club

If you want a real golf test with perfect conditions and with speedy greens you got it, a must play course

I've played many great courses -- including all of the venues on the Open Championship Rota in Britain and half of Tom Doak's "Gourmet Choices" from his Confidential Guide -- and Royal New Kent, in my opinion, is a must. The late great Mike Strantz was no cookie cutter golf architect: Almost all of the holes are unique in character and imagination. Don't miss an opportunity to experience it for yourself. If that doesn't come easily for your, then make the effort!

I don’t care how far you have to travel to play this course, DO IT! Phenomenal course in absolutely perfect shape. I’ve had the privilege of playing all over the country at some of the most prestigious clubs and this was one of my most enjoyable rounds of golf I’ve ever played. I guarantee 99% of the golfers reading this review have never seen a track like this. A true Virginia gem. I played in 60 degrees and mist, still amazing. The greens will eat your lunch!! Spend some time on the putting green before heading out, otherwise you’ll hit it 20 feet past all day. Seriously I cannot stress enough how much fun I had at this course, if I lived in the area I would be a member no questions asked. Staff was great, food was great, just go play this course people you won’t regret it.

Was great. The only thing I think need change is more rakes in bunkers. And for the price range balls should be included.

Everything about the course is fun and difficult. The greens are perfect.....but there isn’t a flat putt on the course. A two putt is an accomplishment.

Royal New Kent is a gem of a course. As a high-handicapper, I was intimidated at first glance. However, I was still able to respectfully manage the course thanks to a terrific design by Mike Stranz. The day I played the course was wet but drained very well. Kudos to the new ownership as the greens were well maintained and many of the traps had been reconditioned to a level that was very impressive. I recommend this course to all levels.Just try to keep the ball in play and follow the excellent design of this gem in Virginia.

First time playing here since they reopened, used to play here a lot about 10 years ago. Played the black tees, nervous as it was 6700 yards, more than I like but it did not feel that long. Course was in great shape, greens were hard, but rolled true and were fast if you were on the wrong side of the hole. Keep it in the short grass and you'll be fine. Some blind shots, but it wasn't that bad. First group out today, so no complaints about pace of play. Couldn't beat the $50 military rate, and we did another 18 for $25 reply. Wish I lived in the area, I would would be back in a heartbeat.

PLAYED WITH MY GOLF GROUP OF 32 PLAYERS AND HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE. PLAYING THE WHITE TEES OR THE MEMBER TEES IS MORE THAN YOU . GREENS WERE IN GREAT SHAPE. STAFF WAS EXCEPTIONAL AS WAS THE FOOD VENUES. . WILL BE RETURNING IN NOVEMEBR.

This was my first time playing Royal Nee Kent on a guys trip . What a beautifully designed track, conditioned impeccably, a ridiculously great test for any level of play. Hole after hole of pleasant surprises. Great clubhouse and super friendly staff. Put this course on your bucket list- you won’t be disappointed.

This is a very challenging course for long hitters, but beware if you go way off line. You have little chance of finding any balls in the cabbage! I played off the gold tees and really enjoyed the challenge of plotting a way around each hole.

Royal New Kent by Mike Strantz is my comeback/restoration course of the year by far. Raising like a Phoenix from the ashes Royal New Kent re-opened this year and it is better than ever. Designed by the creative golf architect genius that is Mike Stantz, who also designed new favorite Tabacco Road, NC along with Caledonia and True Blue in SC. The course located outside of Richmond,VA plays like a classic grand Irish Links courses with a touch of Strantz unique vision. The course is fun and very challenging with a slope of 154. Fairways are large, conditions firm and fast and very tricky greens that require your best when approaching. The course is fun and overall visually stunning. There are often many ways to attack the hole but beware poor shots can leave you on the side or behind huge swales or in the deepest of bunkers. I estimate this course will eventually work it's way back into the top 100 public courses as it was before its closure.

Amazing layout that is playing firm and fast. Tees, fairways and greens are all generally in very good condition despite the recent lack of rain. Will definitely be back!

The renovation of New Kent has completely changed my mind on this course. I used to hate playing here as the bunkers were always washed out and the greens were terrible. After playing it with new grass and bunkers, it's like night and day. The greens are the same as the new ones at Pinehurst 2 and 4, and they make all the difference in the world. The greens are receptive without leaving huge craters on approach shots, and putts roll as fast and as true as any course you'll ever that doesn't host major championships. If you hit into a bunker, you can now actually play out of them without either being on hardpan or in standing water.

The course could still use some improvement. GPS on the carts would really help speed up play, especially for people who have never played the course before, and the range gets really swampy, especially compared to the rest of the course. But these are trivial concerns compared to the overall experience. New Kent has finally been set up in a way that gives credit to Mike Stanz's world-class design. It is an absolute must play.

This course is incredible. Mike Strantz strikes again! Dry due to the drought, but course is still in good shape. Kudos to the groundskeepers and management. First time....I’d play it again.

I played this with my brother who lives in Richmond. He had played it years ago and again when it reopened recently. He told me we needed to play it. He was right. Other than getting kicked off the range because they were not ready for our 7:00am tee time everything was great.

I live about 20 minutes from Tobacco Road and have played Caledonia and True Blue. If you like Stranz you need to add this to your Must Play list and if you don't like Stranz, YOU NEED TO ADD THIS TO YOUR MUST PLAY LIST. I called my buddy who lives in Raleigh immediately afterward and told him we needed to make a trip up.

There is too much to write about each hole of the course. No forgettable holes, the greens were immaculate and good speed. There were lots of tee options so if you bring a high handicapper just make sure to pick the correct tees.

I am not exaggerating on how much fun it was to play. I took a day off before I wrote this so I wouldn't overhype it. Also, I am a 4.5 and shot 80 so I am not being biased on the course because of how I played.

Do yourself a favor and go play it.

The course was in great shape, tee boxes almost perfect, plenty of sand in the bunkers and freshly raked fairways were cut tight and speedy like most TPC tour fairways greens roll true and not too fast but fast easy to get the speed down after two holes. I only got to play the front 9 due to a tournament that went off 1 hour ahead of me so at the turn the 10th tee had a group on the green a group in the fairway and a group on the ladies tee and me waiting on the tee box so that was the end of my play for the day would love to come back but will call ahead to check to make sure no tournament is going off or on schedule..

Very tough course unblemished fast greens true test of your game

I've been playing RNK for over 25 years. New owners have restored conditions that made it great. Greens were full, hard and a bit crusty. Rolled well with consistent speed. Fair pin placements. Tee boxes were good. Fairways were full and produce good divots. With a Sunday noon tee time, it was a surpise to see no more than a handfull of other players. I very much enjoyed the course. It's the most challenging course in the area. I hope there's enough play to sustain a wonderful course.

Very challenging course, bring your “A” driving, short game, putting! Interesting layout, placement is the key + avoid the bunkers and missing off the fairway. Greens were slick and some were in spots that made it difficult to stop near the hole. Great value!!! Staff helpful and friendly. Definite course to play!!! Choose the right tees and enjoy.