Golden Horseshoe Golf Club: Gold Course
Williamsburg, VA • Public
Overview
Back in 1966, Golden Horseshoe was ranked among America's 200 Toughest Courses by Golf Digest. How times change. In 2012, we ranked The Gold Course as one of America's 50 Most Fun Public Courses. "Trent Jones in his kinder, gentler persona," we wrote. "Even the island green seventh hole is a generous target." The evolved Williamsburg track hosted the 1999 USGA Men's State Team Championship.
About
Awards
100 Greatest: The course was part of Golf Digest's inaugural America's 200 Toughest Courses list in 1966.
100 Greatest Public: Ranked since the inaugural edition in 2003.
Highest ranking: No. 32, 2009-'10.
Previous ranking: No. 43.
2023-'24 ranking: No. 60.
Best in State: Ranked inside the top 10, 2011-'16, 2019-'24. Ranked 12th, 2017-'18.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Pretty property, good layout of holes, nice elevation changes, really good greens."
Read More2022
Review
“Great combination of risk/reward front nine followed by increasingly challenging inward nine holes. The water hazard placement on all four par 3s is outstanding with extreme elevated tee boxes playing into dramatically undulating greens. Hole #12 green has been modified to add an extended back plateau, creating a world class Sunday pin option, challenging even the lowest handicappers, while the enhanced bunker placement and depth creates a very difficult "over-the-top up and down" for the novice player who chooses to bail out short and left away from the water. The only downgrade from previous years is that the 70 degree approach angle shifted left side tee box at #16 has been discontinued (due to lack of sunlight) leaving only holes 11 "
Read More2020
Review
“Fun golf course to play that is a challenge for a resort course. Great conditions, fast greens, great staff. Elevation changes and strong green complexes make it interesting and enjoyable."
Read More2019
Review
“Condition is improving--#17 green is still pretty rough. New greens are extremely firm, you can play the bounce to get it near the pin in some cases. If your idea of fun is playing back and forth across water hazards--this will suit you fine. A little tight off the tee overall, but good variety and good playing environment, despite central location in downtown Williamsburg."
Read More2019
Review
“Solid RTJ course that is in his usual "heroic" style."
Read More2018
Review
“Excellent public course with great variety, ambience, aesthetics, and great resistance to scoring from the back tees, but very enjoyable from the middle tees for a 5-10 handicap"
Read More2018
Review
“Exceptional playing surfaces; short front, longer back; descent to the central lake creates nice features and elevation changes; attentive staff and ambience from Colonial Williamsburg; enjoyable, worth playing."
Read More2018
Review
“Very pretty to look at, but will still kill you if out of position. Slow play is always an issue."
Read More2018
Review
“Challenging and scenic layout. Lots of interesting holes and a very good test of golf."
Read More2018
Review
“This is a venerable old Robert Trent Jones design that has undergone a fine facelift. Additionally, it is in Williamsburg, which is one our most historic and beautiful towns."
Read More2018
Readers
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