Given its roots, Williamsburg has long been a pilgrimage site for American history buffs, not to mention those looking to connect with origins of the United States. But in-tune golfers are discovering that the independent city also serves as an ideal base for a golf trip to Virginia’s Historic Triangle.

Memorable rounds await not far from the cobblestone streets of Colonial Williamsburg, the world’s largest living history museum. In fact, the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club (main image), one of Williamsburg’s golfing crown jewels, is just steps away from both the Williamsburg Lodge and the Williamsburg Inn—the latter of which was designed by John D. Rockefeller Jr. to feel like a gracious Southern estate and has twice welcomed Queen Elizabeth II and several U.S. presidents. Golden Horseshoe is home to two championship-caliber courses and a new short course that masterfully blends modest, puttable holes with longer ones requiring precise attacks through the air. However, the club remains best known for its original Gold Course, a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design, circa 1963, that boasts a captivating layout with well-maintained grounds and Augusta National–like vibes.

Twenty minutes to the west, the semiprivate Williamsburg National Golf Club offers two exemplary courses of its own. The property’s flagship routing, the Jamestown Course, was conceived by Nicklaus Design 30 years ago. Its younger sibling, the 7,018-yard Yorktown Course, is the handiwork of architect Tom Clark and features a memorable back nine, composed of an equal number of par 3s, par 4s, and par 5s.

To the north, golf enthusiasts will find two more travel-worthy venues. Spanning 175 acres, the Arthur Hills-designed layout at Colonial Heritage Golf Club can play as short as 3,128 yards or as long as almost 6,900 thanks to 11 different tees (including 5 combo-sets). The course’s deft routing across rolling terrain—with doglegs, occasional forced carries, and quick-rolling greens—ensures an engaging round for players of all ability levels. Similarly, the nearby semi-private Kiskiack Golf Club relies on a number of tree-lined corridors and undulating greens to defend against low scores.

While the aforementioned courses all offer multiple windows of accessibility, the River and Plantation courses at Kingsmill Resort are only open to members or guests staying at the 338-key luxury property. Golfers who play the Plantation course will find that across its 6,432 yards, the Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay design puts a premium on accurate approach shots and dialed-in putting strokes, as the greens are large and defined by numerous swales and undulations. Playing the River course, by contrast, is to walk in the footsteps of the world’s best pro golfers, since the Pete Dye championship layout has hosted almost 40 PGA and LPGA events since 1968.

These days, a proper golf getaway balances world-class golf with equally delectable dining experiences, and Williamsburg is teeming with great culinary options. Williamsburg Inn, by way of example, is home to two standout restaurants. At the Terrace & Goodwin Rooms, dishes might include a honeydew gazpacho accented with crispy prosciutto, cantaloupe salsa, lime gel, and chili oil. Rockefellers, by contrast, is known for its steaks and other cuts of meat, as well as a brioche-crusted Alaskan halibut that’s a consistent crowd-pleaser.

Located in Colonial Williamsburg, Christiana Campbell’s Tavern serves up a smattering of dishes inspired by original recipes from the historic restaurant or 18th-century cookbooks and all celebrate la mer with locally sourced seafood. Dining here is a trip back in time; you’ll soon understand why George Washington made Campbell’s a frequent haunt. Just make sure you order the crab cakes.

And for the occasional excursion off the course and away from the table, discerning travelers can stop by a trio of top-notch breweries (the Virginia Beer Company, Alewerks Brewing Company, and Billsburg Brewery); they can pair vineyard tours with tasting flights at Williamsburg Winery; and they can pop into the many boutiques and shops in Merchants Square.

It all amounts to one, indisputable fact: Williamsburg, once a capital in colonial times, has emerged as an American golfing capital in the 21st century.