Ohio Golf Journal August 2019

Williamsburg Golf Is On the Upswing—and That’s Putting It Mildly By Len Ziehm H istoric Williamsburg, Virginia, was hit hard by the recession, which negatively impacted its golf business. Williamsburg got back in revival mode and is now offering great golf for travelers. Royal New Kent w as a smash hit, when it opened in 1997. Golf Digest named this Mike Strantz design its Best New Course and it was also on the magazine’s America’s Top 100 list. As prestigious as that is, the course had to be closed for eight months after a series of ownership changes. Its Grand Re-opening was on May 6 of this year, after a $2 million rehab. The Club at Viniterra w as designed by Rees Jones, who has long been one of the world’s most respected course architects. During the bleak years, Viniterra stayed alive by providing affordable greens fees. A new clubhouse and $66 green fees, low for a Rees Jones design, will keep golfers coming back for more. Williamsburg National i s a 36-hole facility that sits closest to all the area’s colonial attractions. The Jamestown course, a Jack Nicklaus design, was closed for over a year, while its companion, the Yorktown course remained open. Chris Hartig was a long-time club professional and Director of Golf at Kingsmill, which has hosted 37 pro tour events, most recently the LPGA’s Pure Silk Ohio Golf Journal Golf Travel