When I played GH I parred 7 and double bogied 16. The Gold course has some of the best par 3s in the game - every single one, I think, presents an interesting challenge (and a lot of water). The main issue with them, is the challenges seem a little similar from hole to hole - a drop shot, tough to gauge distance, accuracy is important, and water as a major hazard.
The first hole, like at many courses, I did not find particularly memorable. But the second hole, I remember, provides an immediate challenge. One of the more interesting things about the course, is that for any double digit handicapper it is a 3 shot hole, but for such a handicapper the layup is no picnic. It is a downhill shot, with (at least when we played), fairway going straigh to the water. My father nearly rolled into the water laying up. I had a more difficult problem - I hit a spectacular, drive which left me with a very uncomfortable hybrid shot to the green, or nothing more than a chip to lay up. I made the mistake of going for it, the ball got wet, and I bogied the hole.
The back 9, which I assume is coming up later, is really what makes the course spectacular, in my view.
The Golden Horseshoe Gold course is the best in Williamsburg that I've played, far more interesting than the River course, although I think I enjoyed it slightly less than the Tradition at Royal New Kent. The staff there is just tremendously nice, you have two very good courses to choose, plus a nice 9 hole course and a good driving range.
Tell me, what is it like being a member at a resort golf course? There are obviously quite a few of those in the mid-atlantic, including Kingsmill and (by me) Lansdowne. Is pace of play an issue? Conditioning? This may be off topic, if so, maybe it should be saved for another thread.