Potomac Shores is just 30 minutes
south of Washington D.C.
Consistently rated among the top public
layouts in Virginia by various national
publications, the only publicly accessible
Jack Nicklaus design in northern Virgin-
ia hosts the first of two One-Day Events,
the other coming in late October. The
club is celebrating five years in opera-
tion in 2019 and features holes carved
through hardwood forests and dramatic
elevation changes.
Hole to note: The par-4 9th hole may only
be listed as the No. 7 handicap hole on the
scorecard, but the 410-yarder that starts
on an elevated tee offers a serious chal-
lenge. With bunkers bordering both sides
of the fairway—not to mention another in
the center of the fairway—accuracy off the
tee is paramount. The second shot is uphill
into a severely contoured green that is
heavily shaded by the surrounding woods.
Also: The Tidewater Grill, a full-service
restaurant, overlooks the 18th green. The
Bacon Dog—featuring bacon jam, caramel-
ized onion and yellow mustard—will hit
the spot after the round.
MONDAY, JUNE 10: THE CLUB AT
VINITERRA
Part of a rich golf scene in New Kent
County between Richmond and Wil-
liamsburg, Viniterra is an intriguing Rees
Jones layout with seemingly endless pos-
sibilities. The course measures anywhere
from 5,200-7,725 yards with a number
of different teeing grounds, allowing for
tons of flexibility depending on the skill
of the player.
Hole to note: From the tee, players can
see everything that unfolds
on the beast that is the
570-yard (from the tips),
par-5 1st hole. A downhill
tee shot to a fairway that
is guarded by bunkers on
both sides is followed by
an uphill approach and
eventually to a third shot
into a tight green featuring
bunkers on either side. The
difficult opening hole sets
the tone for the round.
Also: Make a day of it and
Viniterra measures anywhere
check out the New Kent
from 5,200-7,725 yards,
Winery, which is essential-
giving golfers of all skills the
ly across the street from
flexibility to succeed.
the club. The Dombroski
32
V I R G I N I A G O L F E R | M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 9
family purchased the facility in 2014, and
depending on the day, you might find live
music on the porch to enjoy while sipping
some of New Kent’s award-winning wines.
THURSDAY, JUNE 20: ROYAL NEW KENT
Once seemingly destined for extinction,
this Mike Strantz design got new life after
being purchased by Wingfield Golf Man-
agement. After $2 million in renovations,
the club reopened in the spring and is a
welcome addition to the One-Day Pro-
gram. Shuttered in 2017 when Traditional
Golf Properties put the club up for sale,
Royal New Kent returned with new Ber-
muda greens and bunkers with revamped
drainage systems.
Hole to note: No. 7 is a tricky downhill
par-3 that measures 199 yards from the
back. Trouble lurks everywhere, from a
creek that runs along the left side of the
green to bunkers that guard the right
side of the green. Accuracy and control
are a must.
Also: While it won’t be ready in time for
this particular One-Day Event, if you
play Royal New Kent later in the sum-
mer, another revamped facility—Colonial
Downs—is expected to re-open in time
for live horse racing to return in August.
Colonial Downs is located just six minutes
from Royal New Kent.
MONDAY, JULY 8: THE DOMINION CLUB
It’s been more than a decade since The
Dominion Club hosted the Nationwide
Tour’s Henrico County Open, which fea-
tured a winners list that included the
vsga.org
WEDNESDAY, MAY 29: POTOMAC
SHORES GOLF CLUB