KINGSMILL COUNTRY CLUB
🇺🇸 Williamsburg, VA, USA
Designed by Arnold Palmer
The Plantation Course at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg opened in 1975 as Arnold Palmer's first solo design project following his split from longtime partner Ed Seay. The course occupies a distinctive property along the James River, with three finishing holes that play directly beside the water and create one of the more recognizable closing stretches in American golf. The routing takes advantage of significant elevation changes and wooded corridors typical of Virginia's Tidewater region, moving through mature hardwoods and offering occasional views across the river.
The layout gained prominence as host of a PGA Tour event, which has operated under various sponsorship names since 1968 (moving to Kingsmill in 1981). The tournament has featured the course annually on the Tour schedule, making it one of the more televised resort courses in the country. The par-3 17th hole, playing from an elevated tee to a green set against the river, and the par-4 18th, which runs along the shoreline, provide dramatic tournament finishes and are among Palmer's most photographed holes.
Kingsmill operates as a resort with multiple courses, and the Plantation Course serves as the centerpiece facility. The property includes residential development and conference amenities alongside the golf offerings. Palmer's design emphasizes strategic options from the tee and approach play that rewards accuracy over pure distance, characteristics that have allowed the course to test professionals while remaining accessible to resort guests of varying abilities.
Reviews
65FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Plantation at Kingsmill Country Club has a Course Vaults score of 8.1 out of 10 based on 6 explicit golfer ratings.
Plantation was designed by Arnold Palmer.
Yes. Plantation at Kingsmill Country Club is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Plantation is 72.
Plantation plays 6,432 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Plantation is 128.