RUTSEN EAGLE
RUTSEN EAGLE
Royal New Kent Golf Club
Royal New Kent Golf Club
10100 Kentland Trl
Providence Forge, VA 23140-3464
United States
Telephone
Overview
One year after winning his first Golf Digest Best New Course design for Stonehouse, Strantz hit gold again with Royal New Kent, the 1997 Best New Upscale Public Course. Royal New Kent is just a 20-minute drive west of Stonehouse, but it couldn’t be more different. The general theme is golf in the United Kingdom, with holes like the sporty par-4 first that lays out a visible section of tumbling fairway on one line and hides a different section tucked behind a grassy dune on another. The first nine holes are a treasure, especially four through eight that gallop over a peaceful, heathlands-like sector with gorgeous ground movement. The left-right/right-left par-5 10th is another winner, but from there, the real estate gets in the way and the routing becomes broken and boxed in. But it didn’t stop Strantz from pulling, twisting and hiding targets. When the land wasn’t giving him much to work with, he made his own fun. The course reopened under new ownership in 2020 and is currently ranked 12th in state.
About
Awards
ranking history:
Best in State: Ranked top five, 1999-'01, Ranked top 10, 2003-'05. Ranked top 15, 2007. Ranked 12th, 2021-'22. Ranked 16th, 2025-'26. Ranked 19th, 2023-'24.
Previous ranking: 19th.
2025-'26 ranking: 16th.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“Several different and interesting holes. However, for a Strantz course, fewer than you would expect."
Read More2025
Review
“RNK is certainly worth the stop if looking to play between Williamsburg & Richmond VA. This place gives you a very good taste of Stranz’s use of land structures to intimidate the player, while still giving them the safe play option."
Read More2025
Review
“Royal New Kent is a unique golf course. This course is located just west of Richmond, Virginia. The elevation changes on this course are simply incredible for this area. The large greens are relatively firm and have significant sloping, mounding and many have multiple tiers. The greens receive shots well and roll true. The fairways require accurate shots to hit the proper landing area. The fairways were a little long and soft due to recent rains and were a little rough. This course has Irish characteristics. The course has multiple DLL and DLR holes as well significant mounding in the fairways. This is a demanding course that requires accurate shots. While this course has many good holes, #2, #10, and #16 stand out. No. 2 is a boomerang shaped DLR Par 5 that requires an up hill T shot, a long 2nd shot across a ravine and an accurate 3rd shot. This is a unique demanding hole. The Par 5 10th is a double DL that bends right and then turns left. The first 2 shots are uphill, while the 3rd plays down to a very severe two tier green. The 16th hole is a brutal DLL Par 4 that requires a long straight uphill tee shot across a valley/ravine to a sloping R to L landing area. Your 2nd shot from a down hill lie to an elevated green, requires a long carry over a ravine and then must carry 3 bunkers that guard the green. The finishing hole is a slight DLR to a large landing area. The 2nd shot is down hill across water to a narrow green. This is a very challenging course - especially for higher handicap players."
Read More2025
Review
“Not walkable, not at all."
Read More2024
Review
“This course is too spread out with long distances between holes resulting in distraction and confusion. Great architect, Mike Stranz, but given the nature of the land he was given, not nearly even average for him. It does not deserve its top 20 Best in State rating in VA. The course claims to be a "one-of-a-kind Irish links style course," but having played 45 courses in Ireland this is not even close to that appelation."
Read More2024
Review
“A course with much challenge and one not everyone likes. If the player likes Mike Stranz's work this is a course for you. Condition was good with receptive greens and fast fairways."
Read More2023
Review
“One of Mike Strantz's few layouts, Royal New Kent was recently resurrected, and its second life has started with a bang. While it has some ways to go to get up to full speed, it plays wonderfully right now, and at full throttle might earn a spot at the back end of America's T100 public. RNK was ahead of its time, a precursor to many faux links and throwback courses, and it should get its due."
Read More2022
Review
“I have mixed feelings after playing this venue--primarily because I do not feel that Strantz succeeded in his goal to recreate an Irish links style in America. While there is plenty of challenge, blind shots, and enormous land features, decisions are often/frustratingly forced and the player is never able to use the ground during play, particularly on approach shots where this style is strongly discouraged. The course remains wildly impressive and intriguing, but it leaves the player confused. Every hole is unique and inspiring, but they lack anything to connect them. From a conditioning perspective, the greens remain a good speed and roll well, but tee-to-green there are numerous locations in severe need of repair. Washed out, unrepaired walking paths and bunkers are the primary infractions. The player can tell there are a number of areas in play which are not intended to be gorse bush but are not currently maintained and just overgrown."
Read More2022
Review
“In this brilliant design, Mike Strantz attempts to emulate features of Irish links courses in east-central Virginia. After clearing the forest (it’s likely no tree will come into play over 18 holes), he built holes that evoked ideas without trying to replicate any particular holes. This course is massive in scale, with wide fairways, huge heaving greens, and extensive bunkers in various styles and orientations. Hazards include blind drives or approach shots over hills, deep canyons, and streams that run perilously close to the line of play. This is a penal course, especially when the prevailing southwesterly wind is up."
Read More2021
Review
“Fantastic layout, huge greens, requiring solid shots and some creativity on your part. If you like Tobacco Road, you'll like Royal New Kent. You'll feel like you're in Ireland for a lot of it, except it's much hotter!"
Read More2021
