If you’re building a golf trip to Williamsburg and wondering whether the River Course is worth it — it is. It’s the reason Kingsmill is on the map.
Designed by Pete Dye and opened in 1975, the River Course sits on 2,900 acres along the historic James River inside Kingsmill Resort. It plays 6,831 yards from the tips as a par 71 with a rating of 74.7 and a slope of 139. Dye worked with a wooded, rolling piece of Virginia land and built a course that leans more Harbour Town than Sawgrass — natural movement, generous fairways, and greens that will absolutely test you.
What the Course Plays Like
This is a second-shot golf course. The fairways are generous enough that most players can find them off the tee, but your irons need to be sharp. Elevation changes show up throughout the round — uphill approaches, downhill drives, and a routing that never gets flat or boring. The rough is kept long, championship-style, so staying in the short grass matters.
The course meanders through wooded terrain and some resort housing before making its move toward the water at the end. Don’t let the front nine fool you — the finish is what people come to play.
Holes 16, 17, and 18: The Best Closing Stretch in Virginia
The final three holes run along the James River and are as good a finishing stretch as you’ll find in the Mid-Atlantic.
16 is a downhill par 4 that bends left toward the river with an approach into a green you have to be precise with. 17 is the signature hole — a par 3 directly on the banks of the James with a green 50 yards deep and wind that can make it play as hard as any hole on the course. 18 is a sweeping dogleg left with water down the entire left side off the tee, reminiscent of the closing hole at TPC Sawgrass. It’s a par 4 you will not forget.
Tournament History
The River Course hosted PGA Tour events for 22 straight years — the Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic and the Michelob Championship at Kingsmill from 1981 through 2002. The LPGA Tour followed, running the Kingsmill Championship and Pure Silk Championship from 2003 through 2021. That’s nearly four decades of professional tournament golf on the same layout you’ll be playing.
What to Know Before You Go
Tee times fill up, especially in spring when the course is in tournament shape. Walking is not permitted. The course is open to resort guests and outside play. Yardages start around 4,800 yards for those who want a more relaxed experience, but the layout rewards the player who steps back and thinks.
The River Course is the centerpiece of any Williamsburg golf trip. Plan your stay around it.
Interested in a Williamsburg golf package built around Kingsmill? Coastal Golfaway has been putting golfers on great courses since 1986. Reach out and we’ll handle the details.
