For the better part of the last half century, American history buffs have flocked to Williamsburg, Virginia, home to the world’s largest living history museum, Colonial Williamsburg. In fact, it was during the 1970s that historical interpreters began donning full costumes there to better tell the story of the country’s early beginnings.

Around the same time, golf enthusiasts were discovering the region, too—a revelation that was reinforced by the PGA Tour’s Michelob Championship, which was first contested on the River Course at Kingsmill Resort in 1981 and called the Pete Dye-designed layout home for the next two decades.

In the years since, Williamsburg’s preserved history and its roster of championship-caliber golf courses both have bolstered the region’s tourism; however, rarely—if ever—have those two areas of interest overlapped. That changed earlier this summer when 40 golfers (and 55 guests overall) participated in the first annual Founders Invitational, a three-day event hosted by Visit Williamsburg and strengthened by the organization’s collaboration with Kingdom magazine.

The event began with an introduction to the region’s more modern history, as a welcome reception brought guests to The Estate at Kingsmill Resort, a sprawling 7,000-square-foot private residence that was originally built as a retreat for the Busch family (of Budweiser Beer and Busch Gardens fame). Perched on a bluff overlooking the James River, the mansion—and the grounds immediately surrounding it—provided an ideal preview of what the subsequent days would offer, as delectable fare was served alongside an assemblage of elegant wines from Caymus Vineyards. Nearby, cigar enthusiasts happily puffed La Aurora smokes, while participants eager for the competitive rounds to begin took their shots at hitting Splash City Golf’s biodegradable balls to an artificial GolfGreens putting surface floating on the river below. By the end of the night, however, all guests felt like winners, as they returned to their accommodations (either at the resort or nearby Williamsburg Inn) with pairs of Alma Mater golf shoes and a personalized golf bag organizer courtesy of Jolly Golf.

Gifting continued all weekend, as classy, high-end canvas Penfold backpacks were stuffed to the brim with goodies and keepsakes. Wardrobes were enhanced with Antigua Apparel windbreakers; Jack Archer polo shirts; G/FORE hats and golf gloves; and Bombas socks. Appetites were satiated thanks to bottles of rosé courtesy of Bricoleur Vineyards, various styles of Hubs Peanuts, and canned Lemon Wedge cocktails from Dewar’s. Participants’ golf bags were also bolstered via high-end rangefinders by Vortex Optics, golf performance sunglasses from Tite Eyewear, special America 250-branded umbrellas from Weatherman, and sleeves of Srixon Z-Star golf balls. (Tournament winners also received custom Dormie Workshop headcovers, event-branded golf towels and gift vouchers from Vessel, and a variety of golf accessories from Shot Scope.)

During the days, the quality of Williamsburg’s golf courses shone brightly. Golden Horseshoe’s Gold Course was just that, as players raved about the layout and its conditioning. The next day, Kingsmill’s River Course provided a complementary test, as Pete Dye’s notoriety for creating challenging shot values took center stage. All along the way, decadent bites and delicious sips were awaiting at numerous comfort stations positioned across the courses. In fact, golfers had their choice of refreshments on all but two holes during the first day of competition, where Virginia ham biscuits, Tidewater oysters, and mini seafood boils (cooked in Cowboy Cauldron set over an open fire) were just a few of the many standouts.

But if sunlit hours were dedicated to competition on the course, the evenings were defined by memorable historical immersions. On the second night, guests were led by a fife-and-drum trio to Shields Tavern, circa 1709, where a Groaning Board menu (in today’s vernacular, a “family style” meal) dolled out more food than anyone could eat—though the dessert, an apple pie served with vanilla ice cream crafted from a recipe that Thomas Jefferson procured during his visits to France, wasn’t to be missed. After dinner, some guests took in a portion of Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue’s concert at the Williamsburg Live Festival, while others lingered along the living history museum’s cobblestone streets to partake in a a candlelit ghost tour.

As historical experiences go, the best was saved for last. A five-course meal at Williamsburg Winery flaunted such indulgences as duck confit and beef tenderloin; yet, it was the meal’s host, a middle-aged Thomas Jefferson (played by actor Kurt Smith), who stole the show, welcoming guests, discussing the paired Italian wines (all exclusively offered at the winery as part of the Jefferson’s Journey collection), and—with a surprise visit by Lady Washington (played by Katharine McEnery Pittman)—dabbling in discussions of the American political system. The actors’ effective portrayals of their characters, which required years of research prior to their more-than-decade-long tenures in those roles, rivaled the quality of the golf courses that the event’s participants enjoyed over the weekend.

Overall, the three days confirmed an early prediction made by Visit Williamsburg’s CEO Edward Harris. “This destination of Williamsburg is special. This is where America’s journey began,” Harris said during his opening remarks at the welcome reception at Kingsmill Estate. “We’ve got some of the most respected golf courses on the East Course, but you’re going to discover in these couple of days that a place like Williamsburg just has so much to offer beyond the fairways.”

The first annual Founders Invitational was proof of that.