57 (Public) Golden Horseshoe Golf Club (Gold Course)

March 28, 2014

I had the opportunity to fly out and visit my son (Wes), who is in the Marine Corp and is finishing up training in Norfolk, for the weekend. Since he didn't get liberty until 5 p.m., I decided to take the red eye from Seattle so I could get a round of golf in before we spent an awesome weekend to spend together. After a quick review of the top 100 lists, I saw that Golden Horseshoe Golf Club had it's gold course listed as the #59 public course in the U.S. It does have a second course, the Green Course, as well as an executive course, the Spotswood Course. Usually when a top 100 club has multiple courses, I like to try them all. However, I only had time for one round on this trip so chose the top 100 course.

The golf club is in one of the most interesting areas of the country, literally one block from downtown Colonial Williamsburg and several miles from both Historic Yorktown and Jamestown Settlement. All three played an important role during the American Revolutionary War. Wes and I spent Saturday exploring Yorktown and I highly suggest adding an extra day to the golf trip just to explore these awesome iconic locations of American history.

As for the golf experience, I drove straight from Norfolk International Airport to Golden Horseshoe Golf Club. The weather forecast had called for thunderstorms and heavy rain starting around 1 p.m. and as my tee time was scheduled for 11 a.m., I was a bit worried. I was able to move it up to 10:40 a.m. once I arrived which gave me a bit more breathing room to try and get a full round in.

A view of the clubhouse from the street.

Upon arrival, I made my way to the proshop where I was met by a very "snoody" attendant. She took my money and sent me on my way without even so much as a hello.  As I made my way to the golf cart area, I was greeted by the ranger who pointed out hole #1 and the range. He also provided me with a bucket of range balls and seemed a bit more friendly.

The entrance sign welcoming you to the club.

I drove up to what is the smallest range I have ever witnessed. It had seven mats in use, with one of them tucked behind a large oak tree with only 30 yards of clearance. As the other mats were taken, this is the one I was relegated to. I had to hit hooks during my warm up just to get around the tree. During my 30 minute warm up, I received many stares and sneers by older members who seem to be bothered that a visitor would spoil their club with his presence. I tried to say hello and all I received was upturned noses. It was very disappointing, but I went through my regular warm up routine and proceeded to the starter station. He was more friendly then most I had met and explained the tee boxes, yardages of each, and a few tricky holes to watch out for. He then introduced me to my playing partner for the day, Mr. Schulz, who was a retired Navy man. He seemed friendly enough, though not keenly interested in much conversation.  We started our round.

I was excited to play this course as it does contain two of the World's Greatest 500 Golf Holes at #16 and #17. However, with the looming thunderstorms, I was worried I may not even get to them.

Before I detail the round, let me preface by advising that I was disappointed in the overall condition of the course, even if winter is just ending in Virginia. The tee boxes and some fairways were "chewed up" at best. The fringe around almost all greens were very "patchy" with spots of grass more than one inch taller next to a patch of almost no grass. This was completely surrounding most of every green on the course. I was advised they fill in and are exceptional in the late spring and early summer. However, on this day, a pitch was needed from the fringe because the golf ball would bounce more like a basketball when putted from the fringe. Also, most of the green were in average to below average shape and they were very firm and fast. I saw signs of possible aeration and sanding (maybe a month before), but no one from the club staff I had met had mentioned the condition of the course at all.

A look down the fairway from the #1 tee box.

The first hole is a 402 yard, par 4 from the tips, and starts with a drive down a slight downhill, and then a slight dogleg uphill and to the right. The fairway does angle slightly down and to the left which can send an inaccurate drive into trees and pine straw.

A look towards the #1 green from the dogleg turn.

After making the turn in the dogleg, the hill rises gradually to the green, with a moderate size sandtrap on the front right. The greens aren't very tricky and a shot towards the pin is fairly easy to make.

A look into the #1 green from 75 yards out.

The second hole can be tricky. It is a par 5 that plays 498 yards from the tips. A straight drive of 280 yarsd or so bring you to the edge of a hill that slopes sharply downward.

A look down the fairway from the #2 tee box.

Once you reach the top of the hill, you see that you have approximately 220 yards to the front edge of the green, playing over water.

A look into the #2 green from the top of the hill.

Unless you can hit your 3 wood at least 230 yards, the nest play is to lay up short of the lake and play your third shot onto the green.  The green does funnel back towards the middle and down towards the lake. I mishit can put you in the water very easily.

A look into the #2 green from 130 yards out.

Hole 3 is the first par 3 of the day, playing 201 yards from the tips. The distance is helped somewhat but an elevated tee playing down towards the green approximately 40-60 feet below the tee box. The green slopes very slightly from right to left. The bunkers on the front and back can make for a difficult hole if you find yourself in them because the ball will not stop or slow down coming out of the sand. If you are hitting from the back bunker, you have a very real chance of rolling off the green and into the lake below.

A look at #3 green from the tee box.

Hole #4 is a par 4 that plays 421 yards from the tips. It is a slight dogleg to the right that rolls downhill just after the right side fairway bunker, before the hill rises up towards the green. The best option for your tee shot here is just over the left side of the right sand trap. This will land your ball middle of the fairway where it will catch the hill and roll down, leaving a short iron into the green.

A look down the fairway from the #4 tee box.

The #4 green is guarded by a large sand trap left and a small sand trap right. It is a fairly easy, straight shot to the pin.

A look into the green from the middle of the fairway even with the sand trap.

Hole #5 is a fairly short par 4, playing 348 yards from the tips. The tee shot is a blind one as you can't see the kidney-shaped green. However, the fairway is fairly straight, with one bunker on the right side approximately 50-60 yards before you reach the green.

A look down the fairway from the #5 tee box.

A look into the #5 green from the right side sand trap, 50-60 yards from center green.

A look into #5 green from center of the fairway, approximately 50 yards out.

Once you top the hill, you can see the green. A shot too far will send it off the green and down the hill into the woods as it is a kidney-shaped green that turns to the left.

A closer look at #5 green.

Hole #6 is the second par 5 on the front 9, playing 485 yards from the tips.The fairway turns a slight right and downhill once you clear the uphill drive.

A look down the fairway from the #6 tee box.

A drive of 230 yards or so will get you to the top of the hill so you can see the green.The fairway narrows slightly, making for a more difficult third shot if your ball catches the hill poorly and rolls into the woods.

A look into the #6 green from the top of the hill.

A closer look into the #6 green from 200 yards out.

The bunkers on the front left and right, and the very large bunker across the entire back of the green calls for a precise shot onto the middle of the green. If you hit a wood from out here trying for under green in regulation, there is a high probability your ball will find the back bunker as almost every green is impossible to stick.

A look into the #6 green from 100 yards out.

Hole #7 is the second par 3 of the front 9. Like the first par 3, you play from an elevated tee box, 206 yards from the tips. The green has three bunkers guarding it in fairly strategic locations. If you do not land the green, chances are your ball will be in a trap or it will roll down hill into the water. The wind was also blowing into our face on this round, adding an extra club to the shot.

A look into the #7 green from the tee box.

A closer look at #7 green.

Hole #8 is a slight dogleg left and is a par 4, playing 337 yards from the tips. A long drive will allow you to cut the corner over the trees, leaving an excellent chance at birdie. A straight drive to around 220 yards will fly you through the fairway and into the three sand traps waiting for you where the fairway turns left.

A look down the fairway from the #8 tee box.

Once you make the turn in the center of the fairway, the green and the two green-side bunkers come into view. This was the first "tricky: green I experienced in the round and had to read the break from both sides of the hole.

A look into the #8 green from 150 yards out.

Hole #9 is a par 4 that plays 372 yards from the tips. At approximately 250 yards, the fairway turns slightly left towards the green.

A look down the fairway from the #9 tee box.

Once you make the turn to the green, you find it is guarded by two left-side bunkers and one right-side bunker.  The green also rolls up hill, and half way up, runs back down hill. The flag on this day was situated on the precipice of the hill. If you hit your shot too far, it will roll down and into the trees.

A look into the #9 green from 50 yards out.

Hole #10 is a par 4 that plays 466 yards from the tips. It turns right and downhill after 250 yards or so.

A look from the center fairway of #10 back toward the tee box.

After making the turn in the fairway, the green comes into view. It is guarded by two moderately deep bunkers on each side.The green slopes slightly right to left but shouldn't have to much affect on your approach shot.

A look into the #10 green from 200 yards out.

A look into #10 green from 75 yards out.

Hole #11 is a par 4 that plays 403 yards from the tips. What is not pictured below is the difficult tee shot from all but the front tee box. The middle and back tee boxes are almost 150 yards further back and have to hit through a 25-30 yard wide opening in the trees and across a ravine, that turns to the right after clearing the trees. Any errant shot that is not straight will get lost in the woods.

A look down the fairway from the #11 front tee box.

Once you have cleared the narrow opening through the trees, your approach shot is into a green that is sloped fairly sharply from right to left. As fast as the greens are, it is important to place your shot below the hole. Any putt downhill is almost impossible to make.

A look into the #11 green from 100 yards out.

Hole #12 is the first par 3 on the back 9, playing 188 yards from the tips. It is also sloped towards the water and too much spin will have your ball roll into the hazard.

A look at #12 green from the tee box.

Hole #13 is a short par 4, playing 363 yards from the tips. The fairway turns slightly left to a green guarded by four bunkers.

A look down the fairway from the #13 tee box.

A 200 yard drive will take you to the center of the fairway and the turn so you get your first view of the green.

A look into the #13 green from 150 yards out.

Hole #14 is a par 4, slight dogleg right, that plays 445 yards from the tips. Much like the 4th hole, the drive should cross the left edge of the right-side fairway bunker. This will allow the ball to land middle of the fairway and roll downhill towards the green.

A look down the fairway from the #14 tee box.

The approach shot is to a slightly elevated green that rises uphill in the front half and rolls downhill on the back half. Again, if you hit your ball to the back of the green, there is a chance it will roll off and into the woods.

A look into the #14 green from 120 yards out.

Hole #15 is the longest par 5 on the course, playing 634 yards from the tips! It is a fairly straight hole that can be reached in three with well placed, straight shots.

A look down the fairway from the #15 tee box.

Once you have traversed half the state of Virginia, the green finally comes into view. There are small bunkers to the right and back of the green. There is also a fairly steep bunker to the front left that you definitely want to stay out of. Hitting from it will almost always make your ball roll off the backside of the green due to the quickness of the green.

A look into the #15 green from 60 yards out.

After a short ride down the cart path, you are greeted with a bench and a special sign advising you are about to play two of the top 500 holes in the world. It is a perfect build up to the anticipation that you have waited for the entire round. Luckily, the rain held off until just after we finished the round so I was able to play the full course in dry conditions.

A sign introducing you to holes 16 and 17.

The 16th plays 169 yards from the tip and if the wind is blowing, it is at your back. From the World's Greatest 500 Golf Holes:

The 17th at the TPC at Sawgrass may get more publicity, but this island green is just as intimidating. Built in 1963 - a full 15 years before Pete Dye designed the TPC - the 16th hole is 30 yards longer than its more famous cousin. Two sets of tees provide various playing angles - the green is longer but narrower from the blue tees, the shallower but wider from the white tees.

A look into the #16 green from the tee box.

The 17th is a par 4 that plays 435 yards from the tips. The drive is through a narrow opening from the trees. From the World's Greatest 500 Golf Holes:

Golden Horseshoe is a fine example of a recent course giving average amateurs a taste of major-championship-caliber holes, at a slightly lower degree of difficulty. The narrow 17th is reminiscent of a classic U.S. Open finishing hole, meaning the objective is clear and the artificial hazards are few. Lined by trees on both sides, the fairway appears narrow from the tee, though in reality it's fairly generous. An uphill second shot, to a green guarded by two front bunkers, demands a good swing.

A view down the fairway from the #17 tee box.

Once you clear the trees, you are faced with a fairly long uphill fairway to the green.

A look towards the #17 green after clearing the opening with the drive.

A look down onto the #17 green from the cart path.

Hole #18 is par 4 that plays 444 yards from the tips. The fairway dogleg lefts and downhill towards the green at approximately 250 yards from the tee box. A drive just to the right side of the left trees is ideal.

A look down the fairway from the #18 tee box.

After making the turn in the dogleg, the hill slopes down to a green that is surrounded on more than half by water. As fast as the greens play, the best shot is probably a low shot that will land and run onto the green instead of a high shot that lands on the green and has to come to a stop.

A look into the green from 100 yards out.

Overall, Golden Horseshoe's Gold Course was a fun course to play. However, with green fees as high as Harbour Town, Bandon Dunes, and Streamsong, I expected more. I also think there are much better and friendlier courses available in the Norfolk and Williamsburg area, such as Kingsmill Resort, Williamsburg National, and Newsport News Golf Club. My advice is if you have only one or two days, try out the other exceptional courses in the area. If you have a week, then fit this one into your schedule. But, plan it on days when it might rain so you won't be overly disappointed if you have to cancel.