If you’re staying at Kingsmill and playing both courses, the Plantation is the one that sneaks up on you. It doesn’t hit you over the head the way the River does, but play it honestly and it will take shots from you.
Designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay and opened in 1985, the Plantation Course plays 6,432 yards as a par 72 with a rating of 71.6 and a slope of 124. It’s routed across what was once the original Kingsmill Plantation — the same land granted to Richard Kingsmill in the late 1600s — and the history shows up throughout the round. The ruins of the resort’s namesake 17th-century manor house sit just off the par-5 2nd hole. Plaques and landmarks tied to Colonial America, the Revolution, and the Civil War appear as you make your way around. It’s genuinely one of the more historically interesting pieces of ground you’ll walk on a golf course.
What the Course Plays Like
Palmer and Seay built something accessible but not easy. Fairways are generous and there are five sets of tees starting around 3,600 yards, which makes it a good fit for mixed groups or anyone who wants a more relaxed round after tackling the River. But don’t mistake playable for soft. Water comes into play on eight holes, there are gaping ravines that frame several par 3s, and the greens — though not as large as the River’s — have enough tiers, ridges, and slope to make two-putting a real accomplishment. Iron play matters here. The course rewards precision over power.
The Plantation presents an unusual number of left-to-right tee shots, which tends to favor a fade. Players who work the ball the other way will need to adjust.
The Toughest Stretch: Holes 10 Through 12
The back nine is where the Plantation shows its teeth. The 10th is a dogleg-right par 4 at 421 yards. The 11th plays uphill at 434 yards. The 12th is a par 5 crossed near the green by a water-filled trough. All three play over fairways that roll down, back up, and down again — it’s a grind, and getting through that stretch in even par feels like a win.
Who It’s Right For
Golf Digest has cited the Plantation as one of its top-10 courses for women, and the tee range makes it genuinely playable for seniors and higher handicappers. At the same time, it challenges low-handicap players who expect to score. It’s the course you play when you want something more relaxed than the River but still want to be tested.
It’s also the better walking course of the two — well-paced, good flow, and the historic landmarks give it a character that grows on you.
What to Know Before You Go
The Plantation is open to resort guests and the public. Tee times are generally easier to get than the River, particularly during tournament weeks when the River goes into prep mode. If you’re building a two-day Kingsmill itinerary, the Plantation makes a natural Day 1 or a strong companion round.
Both courses are worth your time. Play them back to back and you’ll leave Williamsburg with a full picture of what Kingsmill is.
Building a Williamsburg golf trip around Kingsmill? Coastal Golfaway has been putting golfers on great courses since 1986. Reach out and we’ll handle the details.
