IN A NUTSHELL
Nowhere else in the UK will you find, so close together, three courses that have hosted the Open. Royal St Georges, Cinque Ports and Princes on the Kent coast are head and shoulders above the other courses in the area for quality, but you will find other fun places to play and good food and drink options in the area too.
Royal St George’s is a fitting centrepiece of a trip to the Kent Coast. Pic - Royal St George’s
COURSES TO PLAY
Royal St George’s
Some say Royal St George's is one of the weaker courses on the Open rota. They say the bounces are too random, the bunkers too punishing and that it’s just not very fair. For me, that’s a load of rubbish. This is links golf at its very, very best and it’s close to unbeatable. It's perfectly playable, with pretty wide fairways, but there are many quirks which will keep you entertained all the way round. As for the greens, I’m not sure there’s a better collection of putting surfaces in the land.
While it’s open to members it will be mat play until June to protect the course before The Open in July. Another issue is that four ball visitor play is only allowed on Tuesdays. For two balls, there are times every week day.
UK Golf Guy Review, Planet Golf Review
Royal Cinque Ports
Royal St Georges is one of the finest courses in England without doubt. However, just along the road is a course which is arguably even more fun and can more than hold its own in such great company. Royal Cinque Ports (pronounced 'Sink' port, and also known as Deal) is a classic links course which will have you grinning from ear to ear. It's been host to the Open on two occasions and countless top quality amateur tournaments.
From the yellow tees it’s a pleasant 6,500 yard, par 71 with 3 par 3s, 2 par 5s and an abundance of par 4s. It’s a classic out-and-back course with the 1st in front of the clubhouse playing to the south before turning along the shore for holes 2-10 (normally with the wind) then turning back into the prevailing breeze for 11-18. Expect plenty of fun challenges for your short game as the swales and hollows set a great test. It’s a lovely place to play golf. Make sure you have time for a drink on the balcony overlooking the course and the channel. Idyllic!
UK Golf Guy Review, Today’s Golfer Review
Prince’s
Golf has been played on this land since 1906 when 18 holes were laid out. Such was the quality of the course that The Open was held here in 1932. Gene Sarazen emerged as the winner, popularising the sand wedge on his way to victory. The course was damaged terribly in the Second World War but three 9 hole loops rose from the ashes, incorporating 17 of the original greens.
The boundary of Prince’s is directly next to Royal St George’s so you know you are going to be on some pretty good links land. While it doesn’t quite have the spectacular dunes of its illustrious neighbour, this is a lovely place to play classic seaside golf.
Prince’s strikes me as a really progressive club. The club is welcoming of guests and all three 9s have been worked on recently, to much aclaim, as part of a major redevelopment by Mackenzie and Ebert. A must stop on your itinerary.
UK Golf Guy Review, Golf Course Architecture
Littlestone
Littlestone is an hour along the coast, to the west of Deal, so might be pushing the boundaries of a short stay in the area but it is worth the trip for lovers of understated, classic links golf. The course is very playable off the tee so you should be able to open your shoulders without feeling intimidated. You won’t find towering dunes, the land is pretty flat, but the challenge gets stiffer as the round goes on. The par 3s are particularly strong, reaching their crescendo on the 17th where you will find an elevated tee, a long shot into the prevailing wind and a very small green.
This is a very dry part of the country and little water is put on the course, so while you get the advantage of the ball running fast, conditioning is sometimes a bit of an issue. You may want to avoid after prolonged periods of drought!
Sean Arble GCA review, Littlestone Golf Club Website
Walmer & Kingsdown
This must be one of the few courses in England where you can play within sight of France! Walmer & Kingsdown is only ten minutes south of Deal so is worth thinking of as a ‘secondary’ venue to add to the classic Open courses. It’s a James Braid design, a downland course on a chalky base. Several of the holes are carved into the sides of hills, so expect to find yourself in some unusual positions with some shots you wouldn’t find on many other courses!
It’s predominantly a members club but visitors can be accommodated most days with very reasonable green fees - summer twilight golf for £25.
Walmer & Kingsdown Website
North Foreland
North Foreland lies on the northern Kent coast, near to the party town of Margate. Generous off the tee, it won’t beat you up, and you should enjoy your game. The course moves from parkland to clifftop and while never links golf, there are still some lovely views over the coastline. The course is currently in the midst of a bunker renovation process which has been well received.
North Foreland Website
Knole Park
There’s a good chance that you will be travelling by car from the M25 down to the Kent coast and if you are then make time to stop at Knole Park, close to Sevenoaks. The course was designed by JF Abercromby in the 1920s, although Tom Simpson appears to have had a strong involvement too (more from Evalu18 in the link below).
Knole Park begins as a parkland course in verdant rolling land, expect to come across the deer roaming around as an extra hazard! The early holes see a lot of elevation change, with raised greens and deep valleys. The great storm of 1987 lost Knole Park almost 70% of its trees, changing the character somewhat, and as the course continues it has a more moorland feel to it. However, the quality of the course continues throughout your round. Knole Park is lauded as the best inland course in Kent and stopping in here on your way down to Sandwich will be well worth the visit.
Evalu18.com review. Top100golfcourses.com
Chart Hills
Another stop ‘on the way’ is Chart Hills, about an hour inland from Sandwich. The course - an early Nick Faldo design - was much heralded on opening. It is pretty open from the tee and bunkers are the main challenge - the 200 yard anoconda is a highlight on the par 5 5th hole. There is plenty of strategically placed water and the course definitely has shades of a US-style layout.
The course is now owned by Princes golf club and is undergoing a major renovation project. All the fairways are being relaid with the aim of producing pristine, all-year-round conditions.It’s been a few years since I last played here and it will be interesting to see how it has changed when it reopens later this year.
UK Golf Guy Review, Chart Hills Website - renovation video
WHERE TO STAY
There are plenty of accommodation options in Kent depending on what you are looking for. If you want busy nightlife, Margate or Canterbury may be the best options. However, if you want to be close to the golf with some good pubs and restaurants around then look no further than Sandwich or Deal.
Prince’s Golf Club has a lodge and apartments which cater really well for golf parties of all sizes, and there are some good package deals available - details here. Close by in Sandwich you will find the Bell Hotel which is maybe a little old-school but is well positioned and dates back to Tudor times if you like a little history.
Deal has the advantage of being on the coast, and has a little more in the way of attractions. The Royal Hotel and Dunkerley’s are both well located on the front and The King’s Head is a nice pub with rooms.
WHERE TO EAT
Sandwich -
The Lodge at Prince’s has the two rosette Brasserie on the Bay, which is well worth trying whether you’re staying at the lodges or not.
Luigi’s has good, affordable Italian food.
Namaste is next door and serves good Indian Food with a twist.
The George and Dragon serves traditional pub food and now under new ownership.
Deal -
81 Beach Street is excellent. Ideally located on the seafront.
The Zetland Arms is in a great location, with traditional pub food.
Victuals and Co is very good but it’s hard to get a table.
Thanks to local, Rob, for the help with these!
CLIMATE
As if Kent doesn’t have enough going for it with great golf, hotels and food, the climate is one of the best in Britain. Summers are likely to bring long days of warm sun and low rain levels but spring or autumn days will often have good weather too.
Weather statistics for Folkestone. Source - Met Office
HOW TO GET THERE
The Kent coast will be handier for some than others given its position on the extreme south-east of the UK. It’s only about an hour and a half drive from Gatwick airport to Deal so it’s pretty accessible for those in the south.
There is also a fast train to Ashford from London which only takes 40 minutes, although the last leg to Deal will take you a bit longer. You could feasibly take taxis around the area depending on the courses you are playing, but a car is useful.
NEXT TIME - I’ll be heading to Southport.
PREVIOUS TRIPS -
East Lothian
North Norfolk
South Wales