Best Courses in Richmond Virginia

[Lem Clevenger]

Maybe not the most popular travel destination for golfers, but some really great courses here. Recently played Kinloch - amazing course and unbelievably well kept. Played with a caddie which was great.  Also like the Federal Club and Country Club of Virginia. Independence is pretty good too.

[iacas]

I’ve played the Federal Club and also Royal New Kent. I don’t think the latter is all that close to Richmond, though.

@GolfLug and @DaveP043 can help you more here. Plus @woodzie264. And others.

[billchao]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

I don’t think the latter is all that close to Richmond, though.

I thought it was close? Didn’t we stay in Richmond when we played there?

RNK is fine, but it’s definitely on the played it once, that’s enough list for me.

[Lem Clevenger]

New Kent is about a 45 minute drive. Cool course, can be very hard.

[GolfLug]

I would add Spring Creek in Gordonsville, Birdwood in Charlottesville and Golden Horseshoe and Kingsmill in Williamsburg as must plays. Not exactly Richmond but within an hour.

Royal New Kent in Providence Forge (about 45 mins from Richmond)  too of course, and I personally love it but calling it a bit quirky would be an understatement. @iacasand @billchaocan attest..😊

Viniterra, Mattaponi Springs and Potomac Shores are all within a earshot  of Richmond are all big boy courses.

@Lem Clevenger do you live around Richmond? I live in the Virginia Beach.

[Lem Clevenger]

Yes - I am based in Richmond.

[GolfLug]

1 hour ago, Lem Clevenger said:

Yes - I am based in Richmond.

Ah gotcha. So we are preaching to the choir. Welcome to TST.

[woodzie264]

11 hours ago, Lem Clevenger said:

Maybe not the most popular travel destination for golfers, but some really great courses here. Recently played Kinloch - amazing course and unbelievably well kept. Played with a caddie which was great.  Also like the Federal Club and Country Club of Virginia. Independence is pretty good too.

From reputation, Kinloch would be considered to be one of the best in Virginia, arguably the best. But as you as aware, Kinloch and CCV are both private and I’ve not played either.

If single, I’d apply for membership at Kinloch where I have a buddy who is a member there, but given the $60k+ initiation fee with no pool, gym, clubhouse for kids and wife to use, it’s not in the cards. Another private club I’d consider is Willow Oaks, less expensive and very nice.  
 

CCV is markedly more expensive, but nowhere near as nice as Kinloch from what I’ve been told. Again, not played there so I can’t speak to it. 

With regards to courses open to the public:

• the Federal Club is nice (only a few mins from my house) 
• I really like Devil’s Knob atop Wintergreen
• Although a shorter course, I love Old Trail in Crozet, hitting off their Zoysia is like playing off carpet.  Love it. 
• As @GolfLug mentioned, Golden Horseshoe is nice and has history.
• Spring Creek is nice, but too difficult for me. Not fun for someone of my ability. Fairways feel 20yds wide with rough 4” deep. of course the last time I played there was prob 10 years ago and I’d prob handle it better nowadays.