Ford Colony - My Best Golf Deal Yet in Williamsburg

It was on Monday October 22, 2012 and day 2 of our fall trip that I enjoyed my best Williamsburg golf deal yet. We were at the Ford Colony Country Club home to three beautiful 18-hole courses: Marsh Hawk, Black Heath, and the one we played that day - Blue Heron.

We were staying at the Colonies of Williamsburg Timeshare complex and the golf club was a very short 3 miles (5 km) away; a drive time of about 8 minutes!

On my first trip to Williamsburg in October 2008 I played each of the courses as part of a timeshare deal at the Williamsburg Plantation. We paid $60 for the first round and $40 for the other two. On my second trip in April 2009 we played the Blue Heron course paying the $60 charge but opted not to play any of the other courses due to generally poor conditions.

I played two of the courses again in the spring of 2010 on the timeshare deal. In April of 2011 we played the Black Heath course on a Big Hit Ticket deal through VirginiaGolf.com. The cost was $32.50 per person (booked as a foursome) which included a cart, range balls and one sleeve of balls for the foursome. This was a pretty sweet deal considering the course made a mistake and gave each of us a sleeve of balls but we were still not impressed with the shape of the courses. So yes, it was a pretty inexpensive round, but the course was pretty brown which made for a less than enjoyable game.

First Tee on the Black Heath Course at Ford Colony - April 2011

So on my last trip in October 2012 I was a little nervous about playing there but pleasantly surprised to find that Ford Colony was on GolfNow and offering some decent prices. With a favorable 7 day weather forecast I took a look at availabilities and decided to give them another chance. I came across a tee time for the following Monday at 11:44 am; at $25 + tax it was just too good a deal to pass up!

We drove to Williamsburg on Saturday and played our first round at the Williamsburg National on Sunday October 21st. On the way back to the timeshare we dropped in to have a look at the Ford Colony courses to get an idea what kind of shape they were in. Boy was I pleasantly surprised at what we saw.

Black Heath Course at Ford Colony - October 2012

The courses looked to be in just fantastic shape - the photos looking down the first tee of the Black Heath are the best way to illustrate the difference between visits. I was able to sleep better Sunday night knowing we were in for a good time on Monday.

Ford Colony Club House

The Ford Colony complex is an award winning master planned community consisting of the three championship golf courses, a country club & dining room, surrounded by neighborhoods and parkland. As you play the courses you can't help but experience the beauty of homes, wetlands and forest areas integrated into the local community. I have always enjoyed the course layouts and you never know what you will see when playing.
  

Birds and Other Wildlife Abound

We did not know which course we were going to play when we pulled up to the bag drop-off area. The staff were great in helping us get the clubs out of the van and onto a cart; my buddy headed into the pro shop to take care of the paperwork while I parked. On this day it was the Blue Heron course and after 20 minutes on the putting greens we headed off to the first tee. The course was not overly busy at the time and we were able to tee off as a twosome. This was a bit of a bonus as my buddy is a novice golfer and a little self-conscious playing with people he doesn't know. I like playing without waiting on every shot and the group in front was a hole ahead when we started so we were both pretty happy.

Blue Heron Scorecard

[Note there is an error on the scorecard - the pars are reversed for the 8th and 9th holes].

On previous visits I used the gold tees and generally my scores were in the low to mid-90s. I can also say that in 2011 and 2012 my handicap has declined as a direct consequence of playing more regularly. We chose to use the silver tees at 5,695 yards and a slope of 120 making it a tough challenge for my buddy and something a lot easier for me; or so I thought.

First Hole Layout

The overhead for the first hole illustrates how the community is integrated with the courses. The Marriott timeshare units are on the right side of the fairway (facing out from the tees) with trees on the left leading to a sharp dogleg to a green that is surrounded by more trees. Of course playing off the silver tees did me absolutely no good on this hole as my drive went through the dogleg and left me a partially obstructed second shot. You only need a drive of between 185 to 210 yards from the silver tees to find the ideal position or hit a longer drive with a fade around the corner; unfortunately my attempted fade came out dead straight. Lesson learned that this course requires course management to score.

Overhead of the 4th Hole

There are quite a variety of holes on the course. The par 5 fourth hole while relatively straight away does have a small bend to the right near the green. Teeing off over water puts the pressure on not to mis-hit the drive. The large water hazard down the right side provides a significant obstacle as do the trees down the left side underscoring just how narrow the fairway gets the further down you go.

Looking Down the 4th Hole Fairway

The view looking down the 4th hole fairway is visually deceiving - the bunker can be seen on the right but the only indication of water is the fountain spray behind.

4th Hole Green

 The green is no easy target as anything to the right will bring a very large trap into play. The green is not overly large and any errant shots, left, right, or long could find the trees that surround the green.

Fifth Hole

 The natural beauty of the course can once again be seen from this shot of the par 4 fifth hole with water on the right side and lots of surrounding trees. To add a little more complexity the green is uphill from the fairway.

Sixth Hole

More water again; this time on the par 3 sixth hole. Similar to other holes on the course the water really shouldn't come into play but it still proves intimidating for those less experienced golfers or for those having a bad round.

Eighth Hole

The next par 3 is the eighth hole utilizing a more straight forward layout - larger green with traps on the right and left sides of the green. The green does slope right and a bump and run approach can be used for a pin placement tucked in behind the front right trap. 

Tenth Tee

Tenth Green

Local Residence

The tenth hole is a nice break as it looks and feels less intimidating with some color in the trees and scrubs along the fairway. Yes there are trees and three bunkers to maneuverer around but the tee shot opens up as you come through the chute area. I find the view appears more open as a result.

Eleventh Green

The eleventh hole is a par 4 and requires a drive that is reasonable straight and ideally center to left side of the fairway (looking out from the tees). The green is rectangular in shape with water bordering the right hand side.

Twelfth Tee

The par 5 twelfth hole is a dogleg left with a little of everything including heavy vegetation off the tees, water (out of view on the right) and a couple of fairway bunkers straight out on the right side. The hole is played uphill with another fairway bunker to get past on the left side and a couple of traps around the smallish green.

Thirteenth Hole

There is nothing lucky about the par 4 thirteenth hole; the 2nd hardest ranked hole on the course. This is another dogleg left hole with multiple hazards: a fairway bunker straight out, water on the left and water on the right. It plays downhill with the green tucked in the bottom left corner behind the water.

Thirteenth Green

 The angle for the approach shot from the fairway favors the right side but remember the water and trap are strategically located on that side.

Fourteenth Hole

The par 3 fourteenth hole looks innocent enough. The water on the left side is hidden from view and will come into play on any mis-hits off the tee. The green-side bunkers are large and will find balls that are hit short or too long.

Fifteenth Hole

The fifteenth hole is a par 4 that starts from a narrow chute with water on the right. The fairway opens quickly and as long as you are not too far right the green is readably accessible.

Sixteenth Hole Fairway Views

The sixteenth hole is a par 5 with a sharp dogleg right near the green. There is, like many of the holes, water in front of the tees that really shouldn't come into play. There is a fairway bunker on the right side before the sharp turn right; the green is relatively open with one small trap guarding the front. Course management is again the key to scoring well on this hole.

Overhead View of the Seventeenth Hole

Seventeenth Hole - Views from the Tee

The seventeenth hole is a nice little par 3 that tests your fear of water - there is a lot of it on the left side and it finishes in front of the green. A sloping green and a couple of traps make this a decent challenge worthy of the view.

Eighteenth Hole

The par 4 eighteenth hole is a dogleg left that is uncharacteristically free of water hazards. It has a  tight tree-lined fairway of medium width before the sharp turn to a green protected by a couple of traps. Once again ball placement is critical to leave a shot to the green.

I shot 84 which was the lowest I have shot on any of the courses at Ford Colony (up until then) while my buddy was well over 100 and then some. We both agreed the course was in the best condition of any course we had played in 2012 and the cost was extremely reasonable. For me it is all about value. Clearly this was one of the most inexpensive rounds I have ever played in Williamsburg while the other factors I judge to be important, location, course conditions, easy of play, and layout, were all outstanding. On that basis I have judged this to be my best golf deal yet in Williamsburg.

Now for the bad news. It appears that Ford Colony is not part of GolfNow in 2013 so the cost to play in the fall could potentially be much higher. Would I pay the non-resident rack rate of $89 - probably not; there are other area courses that offer better value on a full cost basis. Ford Colony offers Virginian residents a rate of $55 and military/first responders a rate of $39. I have no problem with the support for the latter but I am dead-set against any course charging visitors a higher cost than residents and typically will not play these courses on principal if I can't get a similar price.

Would I consider doing the timeshare deal again at $60/40/40? Yes if the courses are in the same condition this fall. That said, I am looking forward to trying some of the courses that have joined GolfNow in 2013 - you never know when another great deal will come along like the Blue Heron course at Ford Colony did in 2012.

     

The Elite Golf Courses in Williamsburg

With 40 rounds played in the Williamsburg area since the fall of 2008, I have found some great golfing deals. My perspective is that what I am really measuring is great value to me - this takes into account not only price, but course layout, course conditions, and ease of play. It is subjective but I believe helpful to others when put into context.

On vacations I tend to play between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. I like to sleep in, enjoy a leisurely  breakfast, catch-up on the news, and take a stress free drive over to the course. In the fall I want to be out no later than 1 pm to ensure enough daylight to finish the round and if it is really hot in the spring I might play earlier or later in the day to avoid the heat. I am reasonably flexible and therefore can take advantage of time of day discounts that others might not.

There are some very tough courses in the Williamsburg area as measured by slope and yardage. In some cases the courses can be played by less proficient golfers by going off the forward tees; reducing the yardage and slope to more reasonable levels. Some of the the courses I think are just too tough for a novice or erratic golfer due to layouts that demand precision ball-striking; i.e. par 3s over deep ravines, narrow treed fairways and lots of long shots over water hazards etc. Playing a tough course if you are not up to the challenge is a disaster waiting to happen; high scores, slow rounds and lots of lost balls!

The two premier courses in Williamsburg I believe are the Kingsmill River Course and the Golden Horseshoe Gold Course. I have found the rack rates in April and October significantly more expensive than other area courses and so far I have not found any great deals that would otherwise compel me to play there. That said I did play the River Course in April 23rd 2009 a couple of weeks before the LPGA tour came to town.

Typical Lush Green Fairways

Was this the best course we played on this trip to Williamsburg? Absolutely! The fairways were uncharacteristically green for the time of year compared to many other area courses. The course was in fabulous shape, no doubt gearing up for the Michelop Ultra Open (now called the Kingsmill Open) which was played May 7th-10th.
 

View from the 17th Tee

The 17th hole is a beautiful par 3 with the large expanse of water down the right side (The James River I believe), trees along the left to an undulating plateau green. An errant shot to the right could bounce down the steep slope into the water or end up in the partially hidden bunkers on the side of the hill; note the partially built stands in the background.

View from the 18th Tee

For a brief moment walking up the fairway on the 18th hole, one can only imagine the feeling that the pros must get with thousands cheering their finish. On this day there were only two people in the stands as I walked the final hole; workers having their lunch I suspect.

The View from the Stands

Once we got to the 18th green we could clearly see the scoreboard being assembled behind the immaculately manicured Kingsmill logo and flower garden.

The View from the 18th Green

One of my favorite shots is the view from the 18th green back to the tee area.

Overall I enjoyed the round even though I shot in the mid-90s (as I recall); the course was not busy so we were able to take our time. I liked the course layout; it has a lot of natural beauty and is very picturesque as well. I was not playing great golf on this trip but I did par the first two holes on my round before falling apart. I think that Kingsmill is a fair test and could be played from the forward tees by less experienced golfers and not be too frustrating. The issue is more price than anything. 

At $190 a round these days it is a little rich for me. That said, they do have a twilight golf rate and I believe we teed off at 2:10 pm when we played there for $75 each. Visitors now pay $125 for twilight. although if you were staying at the Kingsmill facilities the resort rates are $149 and $110 for twilight. I am glad I played the course once at least but I am not sure I would go back even for twilight at the current rates.

I do plan on playing the Golden Horseshoe Gold course sometime in the future but rates there are also pretty steep as well. I am saving it for a future trip in March or late-November when they run winter specials (check out their website); play all-day Monday through Thursday for $65/day is the current deal. From everything I have seen and read (photos) it is an elite course as well.

 My final thoughts are these two courses are likely the finest in the Williamsburg area. If you have unlimited funds for golfing, want the best and you are a good solid golfer that appreciates a challenge you should be playing these courses.For the rest of us there are alternatives that can test your abilities or provide an enjoyable round at a fraction of the cost. Nevertheless I would highly recommend playing Kingsmill and Golden Horseshoe at least once if you have the opportunity - they are that good.

Golfing When Staying at the Williamsburg Plantation

On my first golfing trip to Williamsburg, October 24th to 31st 2008,  I exchanged a week at our timeshare for a week at the Williamsburg Plantation. One of the reasons for choosing this particular resort was it belongs to the Interval International Golf Resort Program.; this means there is a course on or near the facilities and they offer special services to golfers.

The resort has a dedicated Activities Desk and staff that provide information on local area attractions including golf courses. On check-in we picked up a sheet with a listing of nearby courses, phone numbers, the rack rates and discounted rates for guests. On our first trip we relied heavily on the resort staff for our golfing needs; directions to the courses, checking on tee time availabilities and  making reservations. They were quite helpful and the convenience  made the trip more enjoyable.

We found that the best deal on the first trip was golfing at Ford Colony; a complex of three championship courses located just 2.2 miles away from the Plantation. The deal back in 2008 was pay $60 for the first round and get the next two for $40 each. The rack rate at the time was around $65 as I recall. Having arrived late Saturday night we didn't look for a tee time until Sunday morning. Ford Colony was booked until after 2 pm so we decided to play there later in the week. 

Instead we opted for another local course Colonial Heritage to play our first round. It is a short drive of 5.1 miles from the Plantation. As I recall we teed off at 11:30 and paid  $55 for the round; a $5 discount from the posted rate.

We did play each of the three Ford Colony courses, Monday through Wednesday, teeing off around 10:30 am each day. You never know what you'll see on these courses like our friend below. We got rained out on the 13th hole on the Wednesday and the weather was too inclement to play on Thursday.

From Ford Colony - Blackheath Course

When the rain finally stopped Friday morning we decided to play our final round at a course in Newport News called Deer Run. We were very happy with the course condition and while we paid the rack rate it was the least expensive round costing just $26 (including cart) for a 1 pm tee time. The drive was 22.9 miles and took 25 minutes. As a bonus we found out firsthand while the course was called Deer Run.

From Newport News - Deer Run Course

As I recall the average cost per round on that first trip was $44.20 US + tax with an exchange rate at the time of $1.27 CDN/US.  

I have stayed three more times at the Williamsburg Plantation and I have a brother who has stayed there a total of four times. On those trips I have called ahead to get a copy of the deals available and the staff have been kind enough to fax or e-mail me a copy. The other thing we have done differently  is book a tee time for our first golf game before leaving Ontario. The Plantation staff have been more than willing to do this for us which is a big help.

Not surprisingly prices have changed over the years, some courses have been added or removed and there are seasonal variations in discounts for mid-day tee times - which is why I like to see the deals before leaving. On my brother's most recent stay at the Plantation, October 20th to 27th 2012, the golf deals were as follows:

The Ford Colony discount rate was $69/round for tee times before 1 pm and $49 afterwards.

The 'discounted' Colonial Heritage rates seem to be the same or only $5 off the rack rates and vary depending on the time of day and time of week;

                             Mon - Thu      Fri-Sun

Before noon             $60                $65
Noon - 3 pm             $45                $50
After 3 pm                $30                $35

Kiskiack was part of the Traditions courses is now on its own with a graduated discount schedule; the first round is $58, the 2nd $48 and all subsequent rounds are $40 each.

The remaining Tradition courses, Stonehouse, Royal New Kent, and Brickshire also have a graduated discount schedule with the first round costing $59, the 2nd round was $49, and all subsequent rounds $29.

The Williamsburg National with its Jamestown and Yorktown courses had a $60 rate for the first round and $40 for each subsequent round. This deal is available to anyone staying at a timeshare in the Williamsburg area.

Everyone is different so these rates might be very attractive to some and less so to others. For instance my brother and his buddies typically prefer to play earlier in the day when the rates are higher (and the courses are busier) and enjoy the challenge of tough courses. Before leaving he had tee times booked for the first five days at the Tradition courses and was ecstatic at the Plantation deal (and convenience). Their last round was played at Newport News - Deer Run for the $24.50 senior rack rate which brought their average cost down to $36.58/round + tax; very reasonable for the quality of courses!

I on the other hand prefer to play mid-day; I am a nighthawk by nature and prefer to sleep in - after all its a holiday. On my last two trips I have been golfing with a relative newbie and we tend to play easier courses or off the front tees of the harder ones. I did not find any of the Plantation discounted rates to be particularly attractive for our needs. The Tradition courses would be just too tough and frustrating for my buddy. Since I have been to Williamsburg many times and have a pretty good idea of what is available I prefer a different approach to where and when I play.

Our average cost was only $27.60 US + tax. With a Canadian dollar at a slight premium to the US dollar my cost was significantly lower in 2012 than on the first trip in 2008; less than 1/2 the cost in Canadian dollars. By the way we played some very good courses as well: Blue Heron and Marsh Hawk at Ford Colony, The Yorktown course at Williamsburg National, Kiskiack twice, and The Cardinal course at Newport News. We teed off on our Sunday round at 12:30 and the remainder of the rounds we teed off between 11:15 and 11:45 which was perfect for our needs.