Discover the Amazing Golf Courses at Kingsmill Resort in Virginia

Built in 1975, Kingsmill Resort is located southeast of Williamsburg. It's situated on 2,900 protected acres along the picturesque James River. The resort is home to three unique golf courses designed by the famous architects Pete Dye, Arnold Palmer, and Tom Clark. For over 30 years, the River Course has hosted the world's best players on PGA and LPGA tours. Now, the golf course is home to the Pure Silk Championship after a redesign by Pete Dye. Still, a lot more can be said about each golf course at Kingsmill Resort, so let's discover what they have to offer!

1. The River Course
With terrific views and challenging play for golfers at every skill level, this golf course is a very good example of a Pete Dye layout that is extremely player friendly. The River Course sits quietly on the land and allows the natural movements of the wooded area, instead of sharp architectural features, to define its character. There are elevated greens with deep bunkers, mounds, and fall-offs, so you must be careful. The green complexes are more in line with what you might find on a traditional Dye course.

Bordered by the calm waters of the James River, this renowned championship golf course has tested the mettle of the game's most famous names. The final three holes circle near the river, including the par-3 17th, playing on a bluff above the water. Undoubtedly, the tranquil atmosphere on the property will make you forget that there are other activities to do besides playing golf. The acclaimed course designer tinkered just enough with the layout, highlighting the subtle details that make for a truly memorable round of golf.

2. The Plantation Course
Designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, this golf course offers generous fairways. It plays through a housing development and is relatively short, tipping out at under 6,500 yards. Although the Plantation Course is a perfect "first-day" course, you'll still be challenged by water on eight holes, numerous trees, and some breathtaking rolling terrain. The course features wide fairways and multi-tiered greens. It's fun, challenging, and meticulously maintained.

Fairway landing areas are generous, water comes into play on eight holes, and there's no shortage of deep woods or yawning ravines. The greens are large and offer inviting targets for approach shots. With landmarks from Richard Kingsmill's 1736 plantation woven into the landscape, a round of golf on the Plantation Course is truly historic. The Plantation Course is wider open and less demanding of pinpoint accuracy, but it's no pushover. There's less emphasis on well-positioned drives than on accurate iron play and perfect putting on the undulating greens.

3. The Woods Course
This golf course is a 6,659-yard layout with a very interesting mix of long and short holes, allowing golfers to use every club in their bag. A unique feature is the double green with a bunker in the center by the par-3 12th hole and the par-4 15th hole. Set along the banks of the James River, just several minutes from historic Jamestown, the Woods Course is one of two award-winning 18-hole courses at Kingsmill Resort.

The back nine winds through a thick forest, and the golf course's signature hole is perhaps the par-3 12th, which ends on a double-green shared with the 15th. A bunker splits the two halves of the huge putting surface, which is dramatically lower on the side of the 12th. The famous architects Clark and Strange have fashioned a track at Kingsmill that is both challenging and fair, as the exclusive Woods Course is considered to be the most difficult at the resort.

Kingsmill Resort will offer you some well-deserved moments of relaxation and tranquility. Regardless of how good your game is, your golf vacation at this mesmerizing destination will definitely be unforgettable. In addition to playing golf, you can enjoy other luxurious amenities at Kingsmill Resort, including a spa, dining, and swimming. This golf destination in Virginia should, without a doubt, be on the bucket list of every golf aficionado.