Just minutes away from historic Williamsburg, you’ll find Ford’s Colony Country Club – an idyllic oasis with 54 holes of golf on three championship courses, handcrafted cuisine and more.
Ford's Colony Country Club
Ford’s Colony features three distinct championship golf courses designed by Dan Maples, each with its own challenges and highlights. Each course brings its own challenges and highlights, whether you play Blackheath, Blue Heron or Marsh Hawk. The unique courses are sure to keep you coming back.
02 Golf Performance Center
The Golf Performance Center at Ford’s Colony Country Club is the ideal complement to the diversity and challenge of our 54 holes of championship golf courses. Join us and begin to strengthen fundamentals, lower scores and have a greater understanding of what it takes to reach your golfing potential.
Dining at Ford’s Colony Country Club can be relaxed or resplendent, depending on your mood and tastes. Our two main dining areas — the casual Murdoch’s and the elegant Colony Room — feature a menu with a variety of culinary choices based on local cuisine designed to give Members the meal they want every time.
We host a variety of Member events throughout the year. From the Winter Fireside Chats to Summer BBQs and Wine Dinners, you will find the social calendar packed. Ford’s Colony has been known for holding elegant affairs. Our lovely clubhouse and experienced team of professionals will deliver a world-class event.
The History of Ford's Colony
The area of and around Ford’s Colony is immersed in early American history. The establishment of the Jamestown Colony in 1607 (about five miles from Ford’s Colony) was a story of hardship and a struggle for survival, but the colonists endured. Over time, they began to prosper, gain measures of wealth and expand. A display of this wealth was the striking Green Spring Plantation about four miles down the road. It appears Ford’s Colony is situated on part of the plantation and was undoubtedly used for farming.
The land was encircled by waterways and paths which carried travelers through what is today our community. Providing for travelers were taverns called “ordinaries.” Bordering our community were two of these establishments: the Six Mile Ordinary (located at Centerville and Richmond Roads) and Spencer’s Ordinary (at Centerville and Longhill Roads).
In 1778 at the Six Mile Ordinary, colonial patriots broadcast their support for American independence, which is today commemorated with a historical marker. In 1781, running battles occurred around Spencer’s Ordinary between Lafayette’s colonials and the overwhelming forces of General Cornwallis. These were the initial skirmishes leading up to the Battle of Yorktown and ultimately our country’s hard-won independence.
As we move into the 20th century, the Ford’s Colony story emerges. The areas bordering Longhill Road were attractive for development, but various ventures floundered. The approval of construction of Lafayette High School, along with supporting infrastructure, attracted other investors. The Williamsburg West subdivision was started, promising a golf course, homes and a country club overlooking a pond. Unfortunately, there was a series of bankruptcies and foreclosures involving these ventures.
Around 1974, the CertainTeed Corporation assigned Richard J. Ford to remove these faltering enterprises from their development activities. He accomplished this by creating the totally independent Realtec Corporation. In 1983, Realtec formed a new entity called Ford’s Colony. In 1985, Realtec added the property of the struggling Williamsburg West development to the Ford’s Colony plan.
By 1987, development was underway and individual sections were opened up for sale. Eighty townhomes at The Links were added to the community in 1988. In addition, the Berkeley Manor House was planned as the first of five elegant condominiums. However, the property ultimately became the site of Marriott’s Manor Club resort, which now consists of 201 units.
By 2000, Ford’s Colony continued to grow as additional land parcels were added and plans for additional recreation facilities were put in place. Operational control of the community was passed from Realtec to the FCHOA Board of Directors, while development activities remained with Realtec. At this point, more than 2,000 lots were in place and about 1,000 homes were constructed. With some 3,000 homes today, it is expected that the neighborhood population will grow to more than 6,000 residents!
Today, the Country Club, with its magnificent three golf courses designed by Dan Maples, is owned and operated independently of the neighborhood and HOA, and is open to the public, as well. The Marsh Hawk Course at Ford’s Colony Country Club opened in 1984. The rolling fairways of Marsh Hawk are flanked by mature trees and water on several occasions with tight tree-lined fairways. The Blackheath Course opened in June 1999 and is designed as a links style course, with rolling fairways lined by Colonial style homes and mature oaks, sycamores and maples. The Blue Heron Course opened in June 2000. Blue Heron provides some room for error off of the tee; however, makes up for the easy with its well protected greens. Set among Virginia’s dense wetlands, this unique setting is home to many different birds, fish and other aquatic life.
Now approaching its 40th year, Ford’s Colony Country Club is thriving and welcoming thousands of golf enthusiasts of all ages and levels to play and enjoy these spectacular courses.