Royal New Kent Golf Club

This golf course is ranked #9 in the nation in course difficulty and it doesn’t take more than the first hole or two to understand why. From drastic elevation changes to uneven lies, blind tee/approach shots, a plethora of bunkers, and thigh-high fescue just feet from the fairway, this course will challenge you from start to finish.
That said, those features which make Royal New Kent such a hard course are also what make it so beautiful and awe-inspiring. I’ve played many courses claiming to be “links style”, but this one truly is. The design not only is incredibly attractive but also wills you to be good enough with your game to truly enjoy the landscape. The fairways appear to be scooped out of the hills of tall grasses, with many of the greens nestled away in corners making it tough to hit both in regulation. There are exquisitely shaped pot bunkers framing many of the raised greens, giant mounds on nearly every hole, and even gorse-like bushes sprinkled throughout. From 1st tee to 18th green, this is the most picturesque course I’ve ever played.
Such a fantastic layout demands equally fantastic course conditions, but the course fell a bit short during my round. Hard, dry tee boxes, weeds mixing in with fairway grass, different sand in different bunkers, and bouncy greens from heavy use and a lingering signs of aerification were all minor annoyances, but given the rack rate I would have expected near-immaculate conditions. Perhaps it was just the fact that I arrived late on a hot Sunday.
The staff was very friendly and accommodating for my visit and the course has both putting and chipping greens (plus driving range) for practice players. The gas carts come in handy on some steep inclines and there are signs in the carts giving first-timers tips for having an enjoyable (if not quick) round.
Ah yes, the always thorny issue of pace of play! Look, we all complain about it at any heavily booked course and in full disclosure: I didn’t see another soul on the course during my round, never mind being held up by anyone. But I’ve never seen a course less conducive to a reasonable pace of play. Limited access fairways, cart-path-only par 4s, long distances between holes, cart paths that double-back several hundred feet, even a par-3 12th that is tucked away off in the corner of a housing development. Add to this the aforementioned blind shots and fescue that swallows every ball you hit into it and you have the perfect recipe for a 5.5-hour round. I played on my own and was chasing daylight and still needed 3 hours to finish. Ye be warned!
In all, I do recommend everyone give this course a try, especially if you can luck out like I did and have the place to yourself (and have a dozen balls you don’t mind losing), you will truly enjoying this golfing experience. It really is like no other in Virginia.

Beautiful course but very challenging!! Greens are difficult but need to be cleaned up just a bit. Overall wonderfully difficult course. Would go back tomm!!

A lot of the greens are unputtable. Growth on greens needs to be solved before you fork over $70+ for a round.

First time played in April. Course has amazing layout. First 2 holes and last 2 holes were very challenging. Everyhone has amazing views and challenges. Fairways and rough were a little dried out but may just be time of year. Most greens in good conditions with true rolls. It was pretty windy when I played. Would love to go back. I recommend getting the course layout book in the proshop. If it’s your first time there.

Very challenging. Nice layout and greens were in good condition.

Greens had Poa Annua ( I do believe ) growing up in them …..some way worse than others. A few greens closer to the clubhouse appeared to be cut so really didn’t make a difference, others appeared not to be cut and my ball looked like it was going through a plinko game

I hope you can kill that grass growing throughout the back nine greens. Really affects putting. Coming back at the end of April and hope greens are better.

The course itself was very good excepts for the greens. The back nine was almost unplayable. Tufts of crabgrass everywhere 1/8 inch to 1/4 higher than the green surface. Fix the greens and I would gladly return, but not until then.

Played as part of a 4some. A very good, challenging course, but truthfully, not one to play in wet, soggy conditions. Cart use was limited to cartpath only advancement, which made for long walks, which made for a long round. The course layout is awesome and I really enjoyed putting these greens. Will definitely play again in dy conditions.

22 years ago we discovered Royal New Kent on a golf trip to Williamsburg. After 1 round we cancelled all prearranged rounds at other courses and played all our rounds at Royal New Kent exclusively.
It is a true test of golf. Now at 67 years old and moving up to the white tees I enjoyed every minute of the round. the greens were in wonderful shape and the fairways were very good considering heavy rain the previous day. If you want to experience golf the way it is meant to be played...book a round and I am sure you will return. To say the least it is a challenging golf course....but one you will want to play over and over again.