Royal New Kent Golf Club
Mike Strantz built an Irish links fantasy in the Virginia countryside between Richmond and Williamsburg. Opened in 1996, this par 72 of about 7,440 yards is all blind shots, dramatic greens and rolling fescue, one of the most theatrical designs in American golf, restored and reopened for a new generation.
Photo: Royal New Kent Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Royal New Kent is one of the boldest courses in the eastern United States, the work of the late Mike Strantz, an architect famous for designs that ignore convention. Opened in 1996 near Providence Forge, between Richmond and Williamsburg, it was conceived as an inland tribute to the great links of Ireland, with towering dunes of fescue, blind tee shots, deep pot style bunkering and greens that fall away in every direction. There is nothing tame about it.
For the traveling golfer it is a thrill ride, a course that demands imagination and rewards the brave. It is not for the faint of heart from the back tees, where it stretches to about 7,440 yards, but the variety of sets makes it manageable, and the sheer drama of the place leaves a lasting impression. After a period of closure it was restored and reopened, and it remains a must play for anyone who admires Strantz's singular vision.
Royal New Kent Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1996
- Designer
- Mike Strantz
- Type
- Inland links style
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- To about 7,440 yds
- Green fee
- From about 90 dollars
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Golf Digest, GolfPass and leading course databases. The course is a Mike Strantz design opened in 1996, a par 72 reaching about 7,440 yards, with the back Invicta tees close to 7,500 yards. After a closure it was restored and reopened as a public daily fee course. Indicative green fees run from roughly 90 dollars to about 130 in the 2026 season and change by season and day, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Strantz routed Royal New Kent across rolling, manufactured terrain that mimics true linksland, with fairways framed by mounds and waving fescue and greens perched, tilted or tucked behind blind crests. Several tee shots ask you to trust a marker post over the hill, and the angles into the greens reward the player who has thought about position rather than simply hit it long.
The greens are the heart of the challenge, large and wildly contoured, so three putts come easily to those who finish on the wrong tier. Add the deep, revetted bunkers and the fescue that swallows a wayward ball and you have a course that demands respect and rewards local knowledge on a second visit.
It is best enjoyed in the spirit it was built: as an adventure. Play from a sensible set of tees, accept that a few shots will be blind and a few greens unforgiving, and lean into the theater of it. Few American courses feel as different or as memorable.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public daily fee course, restored and reopened; open to visiting golfers by tee time |
| Green fee | From about 90 dollars to roughly 130 in 2026, with twilight and package rates; rates vary by season, day and time |
| Booking | Book online or through the golf shop; stay and play packages available with area lodging; reserve ahead at weekends |
| On the day | Carts standard given the spread out routing; collared shirts and soft spikes; a strong practice area on site |
| Getting there | Providence Forge, off I 64 between Richmond and Williamsburg in eastern Virginia |
| Best months | Spring and fall are ideal; summer plays warm and humid in tidewater Virginia |
Access and fees verified June 2026; pricing and packages change by season and demand, so always confirm the current green fee and availability directly before booking. To book a round through a partner, use our trip desk to check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Royal New Kent sits roughly halfway between Richmond and Williamsburg, so either city makes a comfortable base, with Williamsburg offering the fuller resort and historic appeal. Both put a wide choice of hotels within easy reach of the first tee, and the area pairs golf with colonial history and good dining.
For a wider Virginia golf trip, pair Royal New Kent with the historic mountain golf of The Homestead Old Course and the Rees Jones resort golf of Stoney Creek at Wintergreen, for a route that mixes drama, history and scenery.
Looking for a base near Williamsburg? See our recommended hotels and resorts.
Build a Virginia golf trip
We arrange the tee times at Royal New Kent, pair them with the best of Virginia golf and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Royal New Kent Golf Club questions
Who designed Royal New Kent and when did it open?
Royal New Kent was designed by the late Mike Strantz and opened in 1996 near Providence Forge, Virginia, between Richmond and Williamsburg.
What is the par and length of Royal New Kent?
Royal New Kent is a par 72 that stretches to about 7,440 yards, with the back Invicta tees reaching close to 7,500 yards and several forward sets that make it far more playable.
What is Royal New Kent like to play?
It is an Irish links fantasy inland, full of blind shots, unusual angles, dramatic greens, deep fescue and rolling, mounded terrain. It is one of Mike Strantz's most theatrical designs and rewards bold, imaginative play.
Can visitors play Royal New Kent?
Yes. After a period of closure the course was restored and reopened, and it operates as a public daily fee course. Rates change by season and day, so always confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.