RUTSEN EAGLE
RUTSEN EAGLE
Royal New Kent Golf Club
Providence Forge, VA•Public
Awards
Panelists Score
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
Golf Digest 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
“Another unforgettable Mike Strantz design with views form the tee box that make you laugh. Choices are endless! Pick the right line - let the fun begin. Bite off a little too much and your next shot is an adventure. Course has had a rough few years and new ownership is bringing improvements to conditioning, just a slow pace. The winter of 2025/2026 was brutal in the Richmond/Williamsburg area and many courses suffered serious winter injury and New Kent was not spared."
Read More2026
Review
“This links/heathland style course developed by Mike Strantz in 1997 is a demanding and challenging layout. From the Invicta tees, the course plays 7,440 yards with a very tough 154 slope rating. This is a target golf course with uniquely shaped fairways and multi-tiered greens that challenges the golfer on every shot. The diversity and variety of each hole makes the golfer properly prepare on every shot. Immediately off the tee box, the golfer must strategically place the drive in order to have a reasonable second shot. Even so on the second shot or third shots on par 5s the golfer is still required to accurately place the shot. There are a number of blind shots and an unexpected terrain changes that make it important to understand the layout of the hole. Approaches to the multi tiered greens necessitate precise shot making because of pot bunkers and often significant drop offs. Because of the significant elevation changes, putting speed and reading of the breaks are at a premium to score well. Overall, this is a very challenging track that will give the experienced golfer a real test of his or her golf game, while high handicappers may find the length of carryies and varied terrain very difficult to navigate."
Read More2026
Review
“This links/heathland style course developed by Mike Strantz in 1997 is a demanding and challenging layout. From the Invicta tees, the course plays 7,440 yards with a very tough 154 slope rating. This is a target golf course with uniquely shaped fairways and multi-tiered greens that challenges the golfer on every shot. The diversity and variety of each hole makes the golfer properly prepare on every shot. Immediately off the tee box, the golfer must strategically place the drive in order to have a reasonable second shot. Even so on the second shot or third shots on par 5s the golfer is still required to accurately place the shot. There are a number of blind shots and an unexpected terrain changes that make it important to understand the layout of the hole. Approaches to the multi tiered greens necessitate precise shot making because of pot bunkers and often significant drop offs. Because of the significant elevation changes, putting speed and reading of the breaks are at a premium to score well. Overall, this is a very challenging track that will give the experienced golfer a real test of his or her golf game, while high handicappers may find the length of carryies and varied terrain very difficult to navigate."
Read More2026
Review
“Located just outside suburban Richmond, Royal New Kent is a fascinating course and one I feel is a bit underrated and should be talked about more. As one of Mike Strantz's 8 designs, RNK reminds me a whole lot of Tobacco Road aesthetically, with large mounds of fescue, sandy terrain, and plenty of blind shots adding to visual intimidation. While the course is more forgiving than it first appears, it is a very strong challenge, with large, wild greens, plenty of length, and lots of places to make a big number. Higher handicappers will struggle here, lowering the fun value, potentially limiting replay appeal for some golfers. While not quite as good as Tobacco Road, there are some stellar holes here that are truly one-of-kind and quite memorable. Conditioning was just okay and the course could probably use a bit of TLC, but for under $100, this course is only a slight step down from Tobacco Road and is well worth a play if in the area."
Read More2026
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
