National Golf Course Owners Association

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Nov. 4, 2013) - Golf course architect Rees Jones returned to Colonial Williamsburg's Golden Horseshoe Gold Course last weekend to celebrate its 50th anniversary and took a step back in time to compare notes with a fellow architect, Thomas Jefferson.

Following a shotgun start fired by colonial muskets and a round of golf, Rees Jones and Bill Barker, who eloquently portrays America's third president, had a conversation about golf, architecture and the importance of outdoor pursuits in natural settings.

The Gold Course, originally opened in September 1963, was built by master golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr., and subsequently redesigned by his son, Rees, in 1998.

"My father built the Golden Horseshoe Gold Course on historic land surrounded by virgin forest that remains so today," said Rees. "Precision - not length - was most important to dad. Golden Horseshoe Gold is precise with some of the best greens and par threes in the game."

As Robert Trent Jones Sr. himself put it 50 years ago, "the Gold Course is a natural arboretum upon which a great golf course has been built." The celebrated layout continues to be one of the country's most beautiful courses, embraced by mature woodlands and awarded status as an Audubon Sanctuary.

The Gold Course is the oldest of the three courses at Golden Horseshoe Golf Club, all of which are open to the public. Golf revenues support The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, helping to keep this vital piece of American history alive and thriving.

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, a center for history and citizenship, is a not-for-profit educational institution and cultural destination. The Foundation is dedicated to promoting the importance of an informed, active citizenry. Its mission, "that the future may learn from the past," is realized through offering innovative, imaginative and interactive experiences - both on- and off-site - designed to educate guests about the importance of the American Revolution. From the RevQuest: Save the Revolution! series of technology-assisted alternate reality games, to the theatrical programming of Revolutionary City®, guests can become immersed in the drama of the American Revolution and discover the ongoing relevance of the past. Guests can also visit the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg, enjoy the many gardens and green spaces, and visit up to 35 historic sites. To experience all that the Foundation offers, guests may stay in one of the five award-winning official Colonial Williamsburg hotels and enjoy the award-winning golf courses of the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club, indulge in The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg and shop in 40 stores. Fine dining is offered in more than 20 locations from historic dining taverns to restaurants with contemporary fare. Colonial Williamsburg is open 365 days a year. A full schedule of programs and special events can be found by visiting colonialwilliamsburg.com

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