Blue Heron at Fords Colony Country Club

Blue Heron is one of two championship courses at Fords Colony Country Club in Williamsburg, Virginia, designed by Dan Maples and opened in 1985. The course takes its name from the waterfowl common to the Virginia Tidewater region and reflects Maples' approach to working with the natural wetlands and pine forests characteristic of the area. The routing incorporates significant water features, with several holes playing along or across marshland and ponds that attract native bird populations throughout the year.

The layout moves through rolling terrain that is relatively gentle by regional standards, with elevation changes that provide strategic interest without severe climbs. Maples designed the course to reward accuracy over distance, with fairways framed by mature pines and strategic bunkering that penalizes wayward shots. The greens are moderately sized and contoured, requiring careful approach play and thoughtful club selection on longer holes.

Fords Colony serves a residential community in the historic Williamsburg area, and Blue Heron functions as the club's primary championship course alongside its companion Marsh Hawk layout, also designed by Maples. The course provides a traditional country club experience for members and their guests, with conditioning and pace of play reflecting the private club setting. The design has matured over nearly four decades, with tree growth and landscape evolution shaping the playing corridors and strategic options available to golfers of varying skill levels.