Tradition Golf Club At Royal New Kent, CLOSED 2017

Do Not Recall (cart included), played on Saturday, September 2016 at 1:00 PM

This course used to be good. It is very difficult, and it is crucial to choose the right set of tees. A yardage book AND a GPS AND a range finder are essential. There are washouts in the fairways that have been there for several years. The bunkers are NOT kept up. It's a shame; this used to be a tough, but fun, course. One of our group said he would not play this course unless I agreed to play Colonial Heritage (down in Williamsburg), which is a course that I despise.

$36 (cart included), played on Thursday, March 2014 at noon

Played here 3-13-14, as part of our retreat from the wintry north. Temps were in the 40's, but there was a serious wind blowing, so it was not the most pleasant of rounds, even considering the beauty of this wonderful golf course.

We paid $40 with the Tee Time book, which is a good deal on a course of this quality.

Can't say enough good things about the design, despite some unusual routing on the back nine, winding thru houses. Very good use of the rolling terrain, and this is one of those courses where familiarity will bring better scores. For us first-timers, lots of questions about where to try to land the ball, and there are lots of hidden "surprises," most of them unpleasant. Sadly, the scorecard does not help very much, since the only hole diagram is so tiny as to be of little value, and we did not get a yardage book, thinking our GPS would be good enough. It wasn't! We recommend that if time permits, you drive up to the landing area and scope it out before hitting your tee shot: it's worth the trouble to do so. Lots and lots of bunkers, and all of them are tough: deep, big overhangs, and fluffy sand. It's a very good round if you can avoid them, as they are everywhere!

Greens are quite large, and most have some serious contour, with a few having "steps" between front and rear of more than ten feet: place your approach shot carefully! Fairways are pretty generous, with some mounding and slope, but if you're in the short grass, you generally have a clean shot. Lots of doglegs in the design, too.

#18 is one of the most difficult closing holes I've seen short of Doral and Pebble. It's longish drive up the left side to avoid a large water hazard on the right, then an approach over that water to a shallow peninsular green, which has that same water behind it. With the wind we faced today, none of us were able to reach: very tough hole for us humans.

Staff was minimal today, but the ones we met were very cordial, and the facilities are above average.

Course is not walkable due to VERY long distances from green to tee: I was a little concerned that the carts would run out of gas, we drove so far!!

Great layout: we highly recommend!

(cart included), played on Sunday, March 2014 at noon

excellent layout with challenging shot selection/landing zones, and contoured greens with bunkers protecting greens and fairways good risk/reward consideration on most holes.

$46 (cart included), played on Monday, April 2012 at 10am

Great golf course though way too long to walk. Scenery and layout is fantastic.

$66 (cart included), played on Wednesday, November 2011 at 6am

I live in the UK and play this course every time I come to stay with relatives in Lanexa. I love this course. Brought my 16 year old nephew last year and he plays of 15 and he couldn,t stop smiling.He will be Back.

Guest (cart included), played on Thursday, September 2010 at 10am

This course was outstanding, even though they had punched about 8 days before I played the greens were running about 10-10.5 and putted extremely true. The layout is outstanding with wide enough landing areas and tight, accurate shots needed when focusing on the green. The staff was great and a wonderful atmosphere. Had my best round of the year playing from the black, 71 with 4 birdies.

(cart included), played on Saturday, November 2007 at 10am

I read the other reviews that have been made for this course and everyone was saying how hard the course was and the number of blind shots that you encounter on the way. Maybe I was having a good day because I did not find it overly difficult and I can only remember one (10th hole) semi blind tee shot.

The course was in great shape and I enjoy any course designed by the late Mike Strantz. The staff was as good as any you would find at a private club. I did not love the course but I really liked it and would play it regularly if I lived in the area.

$76 (cart included), played on Sunday, May 2008 at 6am

Much too quirky layout. Need to play it a number of times just to know where to hit your tee shot. Target golf to the max.

$76 (cart included), played on Saturday, April 2007 at 6am

I play here every time I visit. true irish links course. most holes you can't see another hole or person except those ahead of you. pace of play is totally the result of it's difficulty & huge mounding. so plan on enjoying every min. of this beautiful layout. take a lot of clubs with you if you're on the other side of the fairway from the cart path. hand held gps or good guessing capability is a must... the cart won't go where you hit some shots, need an atv & crampons.

$76 (cart included), played on Sunday, September 2007 at 6am

Well-conditioned, quirky layout. Very good fairways and excellent greens. Very interesting topography with good elevation changes and hole routings through ravines. Target golf requiring accurate shots.