Kingsmill Resort

Through the rolling hills of southeastern Virginia, this course will test you. A few forced carries through some scenic history, it will give everyone from the beginner to the advanced player a fair test of their skill. Fun course to play.

If you want a championship test of your golf skills, this it is. LPGA plays here and PGA did until equipment allowed them to overpower the course. Good challenge but fair. No flat lies and greens will challenge you. Great way to enjoy the game.

This course is pretty open and fun to play. Condition is good and the greens are awesome. A good companion to the better river course. Honestly I’d rate it much better if it weren’t for 1 and 18. 2-17 are great and have a lot of interesting challenging holes. 1 and 18 feel forced into a smaller space than needed. Both are short 4s (under 300) without any dogleg or really anything interesting at all to offer protection. Just take your 4 to start your day and look forward to a great rest of the round. If you’re having a good round thru 17, 18 won’t do anything to change it.

Disclaimer I live here, but that doesn’t take anything away from the course. Great condition all the time, playable for most levels of golfer, and the whole facility is great! LPGA plays one of the best tournaments on tour here and there’s so many great holes. 3 is a great par 5 as is 7. 8 and 9 are tough 4s. I’ve played a lot of courses on the east coast and 15-18 is my favorite four hole stretch period. If you’re a history buff check out the site between 16 and 17. This is a course you need to play if you’re in the Williamsburg area it’s a treat.

I cannot say enough fine things about the golf course and golf facilities at Kingsmill. The courses (both the River and Plantation) were challenging, but not so challenging that I ever felt like I was in over my head. Both courses were in fantastic condition. The greens ran true and fast. The driving range was lovely. The staff was fantastic, including the pros (seriously, if you are in the market for golf instruction, consider a weekend at Kingsmill). Great pro shop as well. And a nice bar to have a burger for lunch. Also- the cart girl makes a mean Bloody Mary.

The spa was also world class. The massage therapist really knew what she was doing, and helped me out a lot with a lingering shoulder injury. Really impressed with the spa.

If I were solely rating Kingsmill on the golf and spa, it would be five stars, hands down. Unfortunately, to play there, you have to be a guest of the resort, which disappointed. Again, the facilities were beautiful, and the rooms were fine, but the food left much to be desired (I'm being generous with that statement) and for a resort that charges over $400 a night, the wine list was pathetic. Additionally, the reservation staff messed up our reservation and we were informed that we would have to move rooms halfway through our stay (seriously?). When we finally worked something out so that would not be the case, they messed up our parking passes and room keys and when I tried to explain to the front desk what had happened (all I really wanted to do was go to bed), the girl at the desk was quite rude. There really needs to be better communication between the front desk and the reservation staff. And if you are going to charge that much and market yourself as a five diamond resort, get a chef who can provide something better than Cupcake Chardonnay and slimy crab dip.

Would I go again? Absolutely. In fact, I anticipate that happening. The golf, again, is world class and makes it more than worth the disappointment I experienced with the front desk staff and food. So yes- I would hands down recommend you consider Kingsmill for a great golf vacation . . . just make a plan to go into town and eat dinner elsewhere at the end of the day.

Course is worthy of professional play. Great finishing holes!

Pete Dye was actually brought in a few years ago to soften the course up for the resort player and make it a little tougher for the better player, which is exactly what he did. Fairways are generous and if you can avoid the bunkers, the course is very playable. Loved the closing stretch of holes -- 16, 17 and 18 -- with the backdrop of the James River and clubhouse.

The River course, home of the LPGA Kingsmill Classic, was in good shape for this time of the year. Greens rolled true. Fairways in good shape. Only hideous situations was the removal of cartpaths, especially in the vicinity of 16 tee 17 and 18.

The course was mostly brown this early in the year. Apparently not much attention given to Plantation so preparations could be made to River course for LPGA>