When we arrived at Williamsburg Inn, an English 19^th -century Regency style design, we received a welcome that Queen Elizabeth may have enjoyed. Well, maybe not exactly the pomp and circumstance that royalty, heads of state and celebrities receive. But, with friendly staff and carefully planning for our visit. When we registered, we were presented a hand-written itinerary for "The Johnson Party," a note-size handy reminder of our dining reservations and tee times.

To ensure that we could take advantage of all the amenities of Williamsburg Inn, an easy to read "Daily Activities" was provided: from complimentary morning coffee or tea to begin the day, afternoon teas and scones, or cookies and iced tea to evening beverages on the veranda.

Our Day -

When we woke up in the morning we had a great view looking out on the shaded veranda, croquet and lawn bowling fields, and the Gold Course driving range. Dave was the first one to be "out and about"- usually on the veranda chatting with the early morning risers. Then we enjoyed the breakfast buffet in the Regency Room before our day of golf.

Whether we were playing the adjacent Gold Course or the Green Course just a mile away, the staff was ready to deliver our clubs to the course for us. After hitting the driving range each day, we drove to the first tee in a golf cart designated with our names and tee times. I was "ready to play" the courses that have received tons of awards from the golf and travel industries.

The Golden Horseshoe Gold Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., covers 125 acres of rolling Virginia terrain. From tee to green, challenging holes play across ravines, woodland glens and water hazards on seven holes. The 16^th hole "island green" introduced that first concept by Jones.

At one concession stand, we met a delightful man who exemplified Colonial Williamsburg's employees. He had retired as Director of Operations from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation before working at the Gold Course. The stand operators and beverage cart drivers went out of their way to be sure we had plenty of water and ice. One fellow especially suggested watering down towels to cool off as well on these hot days.

Just down the road was The Green Course, a completely different type of course with abundant woodlands. "With careful routing, avoiding the really rugged land, we were able to develop a course with different holes that fit the site. We tried to make this a shotmaker's course," said the designer Rees Jones.

After playing some of my best golf, we returned to the Inn to cool off with iced tea, finger sandwiches, cookies and other tempting selections. Then we had time to "just relax," take a nap, a shower or a bubble bath.

Before going to dinner, we enjoyed cool beverages at The Restoration Bar or on the Veranda. Both are perfect stops for pre-dining experiences with live guitar or piano music as a backdrop. A lighter menu is also available if you prefer a casual dining atmosphere.

Next, the elegance of the Regency Room drew us into it ambience with its silk window treatments, crystal chandeliers, palm-leafed columns and live background music.

After dining on a fabulous menu and not being ready to leave the elegant atmosphere early, we enjoyed coffee and dessert with a little "tippy toe" on the dance floor that is offered on Friday and Saturday nights.

We were then ready to return to our suite, "our home away from home." We jotted a few notes to family and friends on the desk in the living room before retiring for the day.

Colonial Williamsburg, the 18^th century capital of Virginia, offers 173-acres of history, recreation, shopping and entertainment for people of all ages.

For more information on Colonial Williamsburg, click this link to the Williamsburg Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

from Ladies Golf Journey - Aug/Sep 2002