Kingsmill Resort & Spa, River Course, Williamsburg, Virginia - a World-Renowned Golf Course, Completely Renovated by Pete Dye

The River Course at Kingsmill Resort has been a world-renowned golf course for more than 25 years, and in 2004 Pete Dye returned to oversee a design renaissance and renovation of his original layout. Changes to the River Course include the addition of tees, redesigned fairway bunkering on several holes, and re-contouring of several green complexes and resurfacing of the greens to allow for faster and smoother putting.

The 18-hole, par-71 course is set in the lush heart of historic Williamsburg, bordered by the James River. The course plays to 6,831 yards from the longest tees, with a USGA rating of 74.7 and a slope rating of 139 on Bermuda grass.

Even though the course has hosted a number of PGA functions over the years, the Dye redesigned "softened'' the course to bring it more in line with a "resort'' course, as well as its change to an LPGA venue. The course features plenty of bunkers close to the greens, which tend to be large, with some measuring more than 40 yards deep.

Some of the most noteworthy holes on the course include No. 17, which is the signature hole for the course. This par-3 plays to 177 yards from the back tees and is set alongside the James River, which runs the length of the hole on the right, making for a scenic and challenging hole. The green is very large, a full 50 yards deep, but features a severely sloping apron that will carry errant shots into a bunker on the right or, even worse, into the water hazard. The only bailout area is short and left, but shots that carry long or too far left to that side of the green may find the trees or a gnarly lie in thick grass on a downhill slope with a chip back toward the river.

The finishing hole is a par-4 that plays to 450 yards from the tips and requires similar accuracy off the tee, as the river now plays along the entire left side of the hole. From the tee, players must decide how much of the hazard to cut off as they take aim at the landing zone. There are also some fairway bunkers to contend with and two more that guard the green on approach shots.

The River Course has received a number of honors and awards over the years, including a #6 ranking by Golfweek magazine among the Top Ten Golf Courses in Virginia. The course has also been host to a PGA event for more than 20 years.

The Kingsmill Resort features practice facilities and a number of instructional options, including the Golf Academy at Kingsmill Resort. The resort also features a variety of accommodations and Stay & Play vacation packages, as well as activities and amenities. In addition to the River Course, there are two additional 18-hole championship golf courses and a nine-hole par-3 course.

Other activities and amenities include 15 clay and hard tennis courts, a fully equipped Sports Club with fitness center, racquetball, a game room, and indoor pool. The resort also features a spa, an outdoor pool, fishing, and bicycle rentals, as well as six restaurants for a variety of dining choices.