Kingsmill Resort (River) – Played July 2018
- Rankings: Golf Digest Public #90
- Location: 1010 Kingsmill Road, Williamsburg, Virginia
- Year: 1974
- Architect: Pete Dye
- Course Access: Resort
- Walking Rules: Carts Available
Score Card Information:
- Gold: 6,831 yards, Par 71, 73.2 Rating/136 Slope
- Blue: 6,326 yards, Par 71, 70.9 Rating/131 Slope
- White: 5,704 yards, Par 71, 67.9 Rating/126 Slope
- White/Red: 5,191 yards, Par 71, 65.8 Rating/119 Slope
- Red: 4,814 yards, Par 71, 68.4 Rating/122 Slope
- Green: 3,424 yards, Par 71, 60.5 Rating/102 Slope
The Kingsmill Resort is well known in Virginia. It has an incredible setting along the James River with historic Williamsburg nearby.
The resort has so much to do for couples and families, that you could go and be entertained without golf. I highly recommend you check it out here.
All that’s great, but you know who you’re talking to and I was there for the golf. I didn’t even stay on site! The management of the River course got me all set up to play on a Friday as part of a weekend trip where I’d be visiting four states including the driving.
So after a drive up from SC to Williamsburg, I was ready to tee it up. I want to preface this tour with some comments about the course conditioning. 2018 has been a brutal weather year for the US, with Virginia taking a huge beating. Due to ridiculous amounts of rain, the course was not at its usual level of conditioning. The pictures will show this, but don’t judge the course. It has been in prime shape enough to host all the tournaments seen in the photo below.
I want to give another shoutout to the management at Kingsmill. They treated me great and made the day very enjoyable!
I played the blue tees and all yardages are from there.
Hole 1 – 349 yards – Par 4
The first tee shot eases you into the round. It’s best to keep the drive up the left side.
After a good drive, the green comes into view between two bunkers.
The green has plenty of slopes to challenge you on putts.
Hole 2 – 177 yards – Par 3
This mid-length shot varies in difficulty depending on the pin position. Flags tucked on the right near the deep bunkers are dangerous in your quest for par.
Hole 3 – 481 yards – Par 5
With the wet conditions, it was harder than usual to get to this green in two. The hole bends to the left with a drop off from the fairway on the inside of the dogleg.
The fairway takes a dip and then rises back to the green. There are no great places to miss here excepts just short.
Hole 4 – 379 yards – Par 4
The tee shot here is a difficult one with the elevated fairway and bunker on the left. Hitting the fairway is imperative.
Below is a look at the approach shot and the green.
Hole 5 – 157 yards – Par 3
The trouble is all out in the open for you to see. The hazard and sand occupy the space from tee to green. The green sits from left to right.
Hole 6 – 350 yards – Par 4
Not much to explain here. Take whatever gives you a comfortable yardage into the green and wail away.
The green is perched above the fairway with the sand on the left seen below. An extra club is a good idea.
Hole 7 – 495 yards – Par 5
This hole is flat for the first 350 yards or so, then it bends to the left and goes downhill. Bunkers guard the fairway on the tee shot.
The approach shot has danger to the left.
Hole 8 – 401 yards – Par 4
I viewed this tee shot as the most difficult on the front nine and perhaps the entire course. A steep hill and hazard guard the left side. Bunkers line the right. All I can tell you is to hit it straight.
The second shot plays long and uphill. The bunkers on the right sit well below the green and are not easily managed.
Hole 9 – 445 yards – Par 4
This long par four finishes out the front side. Bash your drive down the fairway or par will be hard to come by.
We’ve seen elevation change from fairway to green on many the holes so far. That will continue to be a theme. This approach shot is another example.
Hole 10 – 405 yards – Par 4
This hole doglegs slightly to the right. Good drives up the right will shorten the hole, but be aware of the bunkers and trees at the corner that can block out the green.
The approach shot is more straightforward than some of the others we’ve seen.
Hole 11 – 375 yards – Par 4
We have another curving hole here that moves to the left. You can run out of room on the right, so keep the tee shot up the left side of the fairway.
You don’t want to miss left on the second shot with the abundance of sand.
Hole 12 – 378 yards – Par 4
This hole is hemmed in by trees on the left side. If you are too far on that side of the fairway, the green is obscured.
Over the green is not a good miss, but hopefully, you’re close enough to hit a precise shot.
Check out the slopes in the green below.
Hole 13 – 158 yards – Par 3
Caution to the slicers on this hole!
Hole 14 – 357 yards – Par 4
I only got the tee shot on this hole. It’s a straight hole with some fairway and greenside bunkers.
Hole 15 – 473 yards – Par 5
The carry to the fairway isn’t as long as it appears in this photo. The bunker in the distance is a good line to follow.
The hole continues to bend around to the green with the deep valley to the right.
Hole 16 – 428 yards – Par 4
I missed the tee shot on this hole, but on the approach, we start to see views of the James River.
I liked the setting of this green up against the hill with the river in the background.
Hole 17 – 156 yards – Par 3
The 17th is the signature hole of the course for sure. In addition, a lot of history occurred on the site. It played a part in the Revolutionary and Civil wars, as seen below. It has had plenty of significance before that as well.
Once you get the history lesson there is a hole to play. The James provides great views to the right. The green is a large target, so the right bunkers shouldn’t come into play.
Hole 18 – 362 yards – Par 4
The hazard on the final hole is self-evident. There is more fairway than you can see.
The approach shot plays to a large green with two bunkers. Once you get into the fairway the hard work should be done.
The cool Kingsmill landscaping provides the backdrop for the final green.
Despite the unfortunate weather and conditioning, I enjoyed the golf course. I would implore everyone reading this to give the course a call. Make sure the conditions are up to their usual standards. If they’ve gotten some breaks from the weather, I am sure the course will be in great shape. Add that to the great staff and Kingsmill is well worth your time!