Photos and Text by Jeffrey A. Rendall
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WILLIAMSBURG, VA – Last year (1991), the Golden Horseshoe Green Course celebrated its 10th anniversary. It’s hard to believe the course is a decade old, yet it’s even harder to consider it hasn’t been there longer – because it sits so naturally on the land.   Much of the credit goes to course designer Rees Jones, who was hired to design a course adjacent to his father’s (Robert Trent Jones) timeless classic, the Gold Course. The Green Course is a fine complement to the Gold, offering many of the same qualities without duplicating the older layout. The Green is somewhat longer than the Gold, but much wider. And like the Gold, it’s got a great blend of serenity, playability and challenge.

Jones says he designed the course to play on top of the ridges of the very undulating ground: "My Dad’s course was situated on a flatter piece of land, so I needed to use more acreage when designing the Green Course. Because there were so many ravines, I routed the holes along ridge lines, and occasionally worked the drop-offs into the design."

You can tell Jones was pleased with the outcome: "The Green Course is like a nature walk. It’s just natural woodlands with holes cut through it, and there isn’t a house in sight. It’s truly an escape from everyday routine, which is what golf is really all about."  Here's what you'll see:

Early morning light and shadow reveals Jones' eye for contour. Here, the Green Course's 380 yard, par four 4th hole.

The 558 yard 5th is the Green Course's first par five, but it certainly isn't the last hole you'll remember for natural beauty.

The green of the par five 8th hole looks plenty tame; but the hole's a dogleg right all the way to reach it. Bring your fade swing with you on this one.

At 352 yards, the par four 10th is rated the Green's #18 handicap hole. The drive's a breeze, but the second shot must be well placed.

The Green Course doesn't have a lot of water, but you'll find it on the left side of 14th hole if you're not careful. At 466 yards (par four), it's probably the layout's most difficult hole.

The dogleg right, 397 yard par four 16th looks passive on the scorecard only.

One of the finest views from the tee of a closing hole you'll find anywhere. And the carry over the lake will mandate dead-on accuracy, too.