The Greater Williamsburg Distance Running Club is for Youth 4th-8th grade who want to get involved in distance running in Upper York County and Williamsburg, VA. We have weekly practices, run in local road races and participate in USATF Youth Cross Country Meets
Golfers, if you’re looking for a challenging, well-maintained course that plays true, features five different tees at every hole, and provides excellent food and service in the clubhouse, make Colonial Heritage Golf Club your next outing. Some golfers compare the fairways to carpet, praising them because they’re consistent to play and offer championships conditions, general manager Rich Stanfield says. Yet, the course also poses difficulties with ravines and other forced carries that will help you improve your game. You’ll get the opportunity to see deer, turtles, and other wildlife and appreciate the scenery with streams and hills.
“Coming here is like visiting a private club that is open to the public without the private club pricing,” Stanfield says. You can play a round of golf, buy a player’s pass card with discounted rates, plan a tournament, or join as a golf member. All course fees include cart, golfing range and range balls.
“It’s a really good value for your money,” local golfer Nick Crowe says about the course, which is the only area course designed by Arthur Hills. “I’ve played every course in the Williamsburg area and I’ve been a member at half of them. The upkeep of the course is far superior.”
Playing a difficult course with consistency on the greens is important for Crowe, who barely missed qualifying for the U.S. Open and is trying again in May. “Because I play golf at a fairly high level, I’m looking for a course that’s going to present a challenge and will prepare me to play in tournaments elsewhere,” he says. “I know what a good golf course is.”
When Crowe putts the ball, he wants a green that’s fast and true and that’s what he gets at Colonial Heritage in Lightfoot. “It’s no fun if you’re playing well but
you’re not scoring well,” Crowe says. “There’s nothing worse than hitting a perfect putt that should go directly to the middle of the hole but because it hits a rotten patch of grass or a place where the green hasn’t been mowed correctly, it goes crooked. At Colonial Heritage, if I roll the ball on the line where it’s supposed to, the ball is going to go exactly where it’s supposed to go.”
If you’re not as confident or as skilled, no worries. Colonial Heritage offers five different tees at every hole so that novices and near pros such as Crowe all can all enjoy a good game. “Some people can not hit a ball that far so they’ll want to hit from a shorter tee box so they can enjoy the game but they don’t have to be a long hitter,” Stanfield says. “We have holes that can play as long as 544 yards up to as short as 115 yards. The hole that plays 544 yards can be shortened to 374 yards. Multiple tee boxes allow for any level of play to achieve success.”
If you’d rather, you can play nine holes for half the price. “We’re encouraging late afternoon play after work,” Stanfield says.
Still not confident? Then you might be a candidate for Colonial Heritage’s Player Development Program, offering monthly sessions with golf pro Josh Alsip. These group lessons give would be golfers who are too intimidated to play lessons in technique and golf etiquette, says Bonny Young, director of sales and marketing.
Whether you’re on the golf course, in the pro shop or eating in the clubhouse, you’ll appreciate the service.
If you haven’t been to Colonial Heritage in the last year, now is the time to go back. KemperSports took over management of the course and clubhouse and has upgraded quality, maintenance and service to rave reviews. “The staff is very good, very personable,” Crowe says. “If you make a request, they will do everything they can to fulfill it. The folks who man the phones, the wait staff, the events coordinator, they make sure they take care of you.
If you’re looking to dine out, The Magnolia Dining Room and Gallery Grill serve delicious food in a casual atmosphere, Stanfield says. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. On Friday nights in the restaurant and on the outside veranda overlooking the golf course, Colonial Heritage hosts jazz bands and other musical guests, sure, to entertain all ages. Monthly wine dinners on the third Thursday (reservations required) are becoming a favorite for many people, Young says. T he wine dinners are limited to just 30 to 35 guests, creating an intimate atmosphere and exquisite dining as the executive chef prepares each plate. In fact, the wine dinners are becoming so popular, Colonial Heritage may expand the wine dinners to twice a month in June.
So, plan to visit Colonial Heritage. The great golf, excellent service and fine food will ensure that your first visit will be the first of many.
As a unique event on vacation or here at home, you can enjoy an ideal getaway with your own private party of up to six people on a leisurely cruise along the historic York River. Modern 32-foot Hunter sloop offers a comfortable cockpit, catbird seats, cooler of ice, and “head” restroom. Cruises embark twice a day from Yorktown and Gloucester Point. Here’s an extraordinary gift for an anniversary, honeymoon, graduation or family reunion.
Call 757-876-8654 for reservations. Rates are $130 couples, $250 families, $300 groups.
For details, go to williamsburgchartersails.com.
Meet the Captain:
Bill O’Donovan holds a 50-ton captain’s license with the US Coast Guard. Need sailing lessons? He is a certified sailing instructor with the American Sailing Association. He has undergone sailing instruction by J School in Key West and by the American Sailing Association in South Carolina. He has sailed the York River nearly 20 years, where he teaches an adult class for the community-based Williamsburg Area Learning Tree.
When you join us for your sailboat charter, you’ll sail on a 32-foot modern Hunter complete with in-mast furling and oversized sails for maximum speed. Sophisticated controls reduce the size of the sails to minimize leaning and ensure everyone’s comfort. A giant colorful spinnaker is raised for light downwind running. Yanmar 18 horsepower diesel powers the boat in creeks.
With sailing instruction through our sailing school you’ll learn what will enable you to sail most any boat. The boat meets all US Coast Guard standards and has shipshape equipment, including color-coordinated lines and well-marked blocks.
With our many charter sailing options, we have the right tour whether you’re visiting our area from out of town and in search of a unique vacation adventure, an employer wanting the perfect corporate retreat or a local looking for a fun family chartered sailboat trip.
For details, go to williamsburgchartersails.com.
Great article in Saturdays Gazette about the Williamsburg Community Pool. It is one of several that families can join for that old fashioned pool experience.
I get a number of inquiries from prospective Williamsburg home buyers who ask what neighborhoods have pools. Surprisingly there was no list so I had to create one. Another surprise is that there are over 62 neighborhoods to choose from in the area with swimming pools.
if you must have a neighborhood with a pool. The list at the bottom of this post is in alphabetical order. Its shows the type of housing available i.e., detached homes or condo/ townhomes along with the city or county. ( New Kent, James City Co, City of Williamsburg and York County)
In addition to the Williamsburg Community Pool , a number of the neighborhood pools allow families to join even if they don’t live there. Windsor Forest,Kingwood, Kings point, First Colony, Queens Lake, Indigo Park all welcome out of neighborhood families and renters to join both their pool and swim teams. Other options include the James City County Pools at Chickahominy Riverfront Park and Upper County Park.
From the Gazette article:
Kim Wheatley paused from her afternoon swim at Williamsburg Community Pool Wednesday to comment about why she enjoys spending time there.
“I have been coming here for years,” she said, adjusting her goggles. “There is a great atmosphere here.”
It is that spirit of family and camaraderie that seems to be at the crux of the pool community. Next year, the pool, which is nestled in a wooded glen in the rear of the Williamsburg Shopping Center near Ace Peninsula Hardware and the Virginia Regional Ballet, celebrates 60 years. Some people have been a long history at the pool, watching generations learn to swim and take part in activities.
Tom Mainor has been a member for more than four decades. “It has been a great place for the children, and now it is great for the grandchildren,” he said with a smile.
Competitive swimming is HUGE in the Williamsburg, VA and peninsula areas. The summer swim teams are part of the VPSU -Virginia Peninsula Swimming Union. There are divisions consisting of 19 teams from Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Upper Newport News with over 1000 swimmers competing.
If you want year round swim team options for youths WAC ( Williamsburg Aquatic Club) and Coast Guard Blue Dolphins are the teams to consider.
BOTH WAC AND THE COAST GUARD BLUE DOLPHINS SWIM TEAM OFFER A COMPETITIVE USA SWIMMING PROGRAMS FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. THESE TEAMS EXCEL AT LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS.
Here is the neighborhood list.
Abbreviations: JCC-James City County, WMBG=City of Williamsburg,
NK=New Kent County, YC=York County
Det= Detached single family home, Att= Condo or townhome
| psst … I’m a Realtor! Thanks for stopping by my website. I would love to help you find your dream home and community in the Hampton Roads, Yorktown or the Williamsburg area or to sell your existing home.This post was authored by local resident and REALTOR, John Womeldorf. John is known around town as Mr. Williamsburg, for both his extensive knowledge of Hampton Roads and the historic triangle, and his expertise in the local real estate market. His websites,WilliamsburgsRealEstate.com and Mr Williamsburg.com were created as a resource for folks who are exploring a move toWilliamsburg, VA , Hampton Roads VA and the surrounding areas of the Virginia Peninsula.Explore neighborhoods in the Williamsburg VA area here
You can reach John by phone at 757-254-8136 or email him atJohn@MrWilliamsburg.com I look forward to serving your real estate needs ! Best, John |
Colonial Williamsburg’s Golden Horseshoe Golf Club, Spa of Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg Inn lawn bowling club and tennis courts will host an open house from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 18.
Guests can register at all four locations to win a $50 Colonial Williamsburg gift card and can renew or purchase their Good Neighbor passes at the Golden Horseshoe clubhouse. Guests who visit the retail shops at the Spa, tennis courts or golf course will receive 25 percent off their purchase on the day of the open house. Members of the Williamsburg Inn lawn bowling club will be at the bowling green to demonstrate the game that dates to 13th-century England. The Spa will offer tours of the fitness facilities as well as information on services offered. The tennis pro will offer information on lessons and membership in the tennis club. Golf cart tours of portions of the Gold Course will be offered throughout the day.
The Spa, Golden Horseshoe and Williamsburg Inn tennis club will also offer specials that will be renewable through Sept. 5.
Guests may begin their open house experience at any of the four recreation locations and may choose to enjoy lunch at the Gold Course Grille, open daily from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. The Golden Horseshoe Golf Club is located at 401 S. England St. The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg is next door to the golf course at 307 S. England St. The Williamsburg Inn tennis club is located adjacent to the Inn and the lawn bowling green is located behind the Inn, at 136 E. Francis St.
As almost 1,000 athletes head into town this weekend for the Rev3 triathlon, officials are trying to head off the widespread outrage race-related traffic snarls sparked last year.
“Our main concern is letting our residents know which area is going to be congested,” said county spokeswoman Renee Dallman. “The majority of the race is going to be in James City County, and we’re hoping any disruptions are going to be minimal compared to last year.”
And while more than 900 people have signed up for the race on Sunday, that’s down to about half of last year’s attendance.
“Last year it was written up by Triathlon Magazine as the most-anticipated race of the year,” said Bob Harris, vice president of tourism with the Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance. “Part of it last year was first-year excitement. A lot of people doing this were doing it for the first time, and without a lot of experience with triathlons.”
Williamsburg Outside.com 