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Williamsburg, VA
Kingsmill & Williamsburg
Dye and Palmer on the James River, with colonial taverns after dark.
colonial-nightsriver-golftour-historytwo-resorts
The place
Kingsmill stretches along the James River outside Colonial Williamsburg, and its River Course carries real tournament pedigree — Pete Dye built it, and both the PGA Tour and LPGA played championships over its riverside finishing holes for decades. Arnold Palmer's Plantation Course backs it up inside the resort, and across town the Golden Horseshoe's Gold Course — Robert Trent Jones Sr. at his best, with a famous island-green par-3 — makes Williamsburg one of the East's quiet golf strongholds. Nights belong to the taverns: candlelight, colonial ale and game pie in the historic district.
The courses on property
| Course | Designer | Notes | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| River Course | Pete Dye | Decades of Tour and LPGA history with a James River finish. The marquee. | resort |
| Plantation Course | Arnold Palmer | Palmer's rolling companion round inside the resort. | resort |
| Golden Horseshoe — Gold | Robert Trent Jones Sr. | An RTJ classic with a famous island-green par-3 — the cross-town must-play. | resort |
| Golden Horseshoe — Green | Rees Jones | The Rees Jones counterpart — a strong fourth round. | resort |
Where you crash
The resort
Kingsmill Resort
Condo-style suites along the James with kitchens and river balconies — pools, marina and both courses inside the gates.
◆ The private house
The Private House
Combine adjoining Kingsmill river suites for the crew, or rent a big Williamsburg-area house near the historic district — porches, a yard for cornhole, and every course within twenty minutes.
4-6 BR · sleeps 8-12 · ~$600–$2,000/nt
The 5-day plan
- 1
Arrive & the taverns
AM Road-trip day to the Tidewater — arrive by afternoon.
PM Check in, walk Duke of Gloucester Street, candlelit tavern dinner in the historic district.
- 2
Plantation Course
AM Palmer's opener inside the gates.
PM Marina hour on the James; crab dinner on the water.
- 3
Golden Horseshoe double
AM The Gold Course — save your best swing for the island green.
PM Diehards add the Green Course; others tour the colonial capital. Big dinner out.
- 4
River Course — the Cup
AM Dye's riverside finish for the team match — the James watches everything.
PM Trophy dinner at the resort; cigars on the river balcony.
- 5
River sunrise & home
AM A farewell nine or breakfast over the James, then the drive home.
Why it wins
Pete Dye's River Course — a longtime Tour and LPGA host — plus Palmer at Kingsmill and the Golden Horseshoe's RTJ classic across town. Serious golf density with candlelit colonial taverns for the nineteenth hole.
Booking notes
Kingsmill packages bundle the River and Plantation courses; book Golden Horseshoe rounds separately through Colonial Williamsburg. Tavern dinners in the historic district book out on weekends.