Photo: Nick Smith · CC BY-SA 2.0
England's Open Championship Coast, England
Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club
A raw links at Deal, twice an Open Championship venue, a short drive from Royal St George's.
Course overview
Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club was founded in 1892 at Deal, on the Kent coast. The course was laid out by Henry Hunter, remodelled by James Braid in 1919, and restored by Sir Guy Campbell and Henry Cotton in 1946. It hosted The Open Championship in 1909 and 1920 and remains one of England's most authentic natural links. Visitors are welcome Monday to Thursday, with Monday and Thursday set aside for three- and four-ball play and Tuesday and Wednesday for singles and two-balls.
The essentials
- Architect
- Henry Hunter; James Braid (redesign 1919); Sir Guy Campbell and Henry Cotton (restoration 1946)
- Established
- 1892
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,626 m
- Location
- Kent, England
Character & atmosphere
A raw, largely flat links exposed to Channel wind, with few trees and little to shield the course from the elements. Firm, fast-running fairways and pot bunkers demand a controlled ball flight; a genuine test even for accomplished golfers, and a natural pairing with Royal St George's a few miles up the coast.
Highlights
Why play here
- Designed by Henry Hunter; James Braid (redesign 1919); Sir Guy Campbell and Henry Cotton (restoration 1946), opened in 1892.
Practical guidance
Plan your visit
How to get there
London Gatwick (LGW) is the most convenient airport for Deal, with the drive taking around 90 minutes depending on traffic; London Heathrow is a further alternative. The Port of Dover, a short drive south, is a practical option for golfers arriving by ferry from continental Europe. Visitors are welcome Monday to Thursday, with specific days set aside for different group sizes.
Where to stay
Sandwich is the home town of Royal St George's and gives immediate access to the highest concentration of Open Championship links outside Scotland. The medieval town has a character of its own, and Deal — the next village along the coast — adds more dining and a fine links course of its own.
Nearby courses
Location
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England
Explore England's Open Championship Coast
The stretch of English coastline that hosts The Open Championship, anchored by Royal St George's in Kent.