NEW KENT (WTVR) – One of the country’s most accomplished golf course designers stopped by his latest creation in Central Virginia on Tuesday.
Rees Jones, son of famed architect Robert Trent Jones appeared at Viniterra Golf Club in New Kent to help publicize the club’s opening. The 18-hole layout has five sets of tees ranging from 5200 to just over 7700 yards and plays to a par 72.
“We’ve designed this golf course for everybody” Jones said. “We’ve got length for the bombers and shorter holes for those like myself who don’t hit it very far anymore.”
Jones has either built or helped re-build some of the most famous courses in Virginia, including the Green Course at Golden Horseshoe in Williamsburg, the Greenbrier Resort in Virginia Beach, Stoney Creek in Wintergreen and he has remodeled the James River Course at the Country Club of Virginia and his father's famous design of the Gold Course at Golden Horseshoe.
He is also known as the "Open Doctor" for his redesign of courses that have hosted 14 major events, four Ryder Cup and two Walker Cup competitions. His newest creation draws on some of the storied courses in the sport's history.
"I think we've gone back to the future with this golf course" Jones said. "In the old days, they didn't have much water because they were always on high ground and we're on high ground here [in New Kent]. There's not that much water to contend with so it's very much like old style courses."
Jones is known for his liberal use of bunkers, and there are over 90 on the Viniterra course just on the front nine alone.
"Virginia is a great golf state" Jones added. "Great land, great temperature, great variety."
