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HORSESHOE HISTORY
Gold Course # 13
Episcopal Diocese of Virginia . Goodwin ’ s cousin explained that he had a hunting buddy who also gave him golf lessons . Scotsman Fred Findlay ’ s course designs have “ saved literally thousands of dollars … in the course of construction .”
Goodwin advised Goodwin that when the time came , Findlay was their man .
Findlay , who never put his design thoughts on paper , began work in 1946 . His nine-hole course opened a year later .
By 1960 , CW officials desired a championship layout . Robert L . Hoke , a CW public information assistant , asked the USGA for a list of architects . He received 34 names , including George Cobb , best known for his work on Augusta National ’ s par-3 course , Dick Wilson and Robert Trent Jones .
Hoke was advised that Jones and Wilson were the best . No less an authority than Herbert Warren Wind , the dean of American golf writers who named Augusta National holes 11-13 “ Amen Corner ,” endorsed Wilson .
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In an indirect way , so did Jones .
“ I am acquainted with Dick Wilson and understand that he has designed and constructed several very good golf courses ,” he wrote to Hoke .
Wilson , not Jones , would emerge as CW ’ s primary target .
But a Rockefeller — John D .’ s son , Laurence — had other ideas .
In the ‘ 50s , Rockefeller had also contacted the USGA looking for an architect for one of his “ RockResorts ,” Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico . Jones got the nod , the start of a partnership in which he turned difficult landscape conditions into luxurious masterpieces .
Maybe Wilson was uninterested in the job or had other projects . Maybe it was Laurence Rockefeller ’ s influence . Regardless , Jones was brought on board , and golfers in the Commonwealth were ablaze with curiosity .
At the 1963 Virginia State Amateur in Hot Springs , the editor and publisher of The Virginia Gazette was told by VSGA president George Fulton that virtually every player in the field sought information on the Williamsburg project . “ I ’ ve never heard so many wonderful things about any golf course before it was even completed ,” Fulton was quoted as saying .
Jones “ always seemed to be in the right place at the right time and landed great clients ,” Jones ’ son , Rees , wrote for Golden
Robert Trent Jones ( seated ) and his son Rees Jones ( left ), designers of the Golden Horseshoe Golf Courses , with Colonial Williamsburg Vice President Richard Schreiber in 1992 .
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Horseshoe ’ s 50th anniversary . “ He knew he was fortunate to have the Rockefellers and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation as clients . All the conditions were perfect for a great golf course .”
Then , as now , Jones ’ par-3 designs stand out , especially the 165-yard 16th that features one of the first island greens . Golf Digest was so impressed , editors featured the hole on its cover .
Golf historian and author Mike Hurdzan told the New York Times that Jones ’ s 16th hole “ deserves the credit for introducing the island green concept to designers of the next era .”
Colonial Williamsburg has always favored “ soft ” openings for its courses . They ’ ve left the glitz and glamor to others , such as the Kiwanis Club of Williamsburg . In 1967 , the organization brought Jack Nicklaus and Mason Rudolph to the Gold Course for an exhibition against national amateur champion Vinny Giles and VSGA Amateur champion Sam Wallace . Nicklaus birdied three of the last four holes to shoot 4-under-par 67 and outlast Giles by a stroke .
“ It ’ s as fine a Trent Jones course as I ’ ve ever seen ,” Nicklaus said . “ It ’ s not so long that it ’ s uninteresting to play ... It ’ s plenty challenging and , of course , in a beautiful setting .”
Later , Jones took remnants of the original nine-hole course and morphed them into the Spotswood Executive layout .
In 1989 , Rees Jones took on CW ’ s Green Course , set on land behind Bassett Hall that was Rockefeller ’ s private vacation home . When it opened it was rated one of America ’ s top-five new resort courses .
Eight years later , Rees Jones renovated the Gold Course , adding some length ( to 6,817 yards ) and restoring some of his father ’ s bunkers to their original design .
Combined , the courses have hosted events such as the 1998 USGA Women ’ s Senior Amateur and 1999 Men ’ s and Women ’ s team championship , the 2004 Women ’ s Publinx championship , the 1992 VSGA Amateur , and the 2007 NCAA Men ’ s Division I championship .
That ’ s some legacy — and no reason to think it won ’ t continue .
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THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE ( COURSE ); THE COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG FOUNDATION ( SCHREIBER AND THE JONES ’) |