Flowing effortlessly through the imposing dunes of Sandwich Bay, the golf course at Royal St George's is nothing short of a masterpiece. Looking out over the sand dunes, bathed in golden sunlight, with the cresting waves of Pegwell Bay breaking upon the shore, is one of the most majestic sights in all of golf.
This beautiful links layout is widely regarded as one of the very best courses in England, something that is sure to continue for years to come. The immense prestige and illustrious history of the club, granted royal status by King Edward VII, has made it a bucket list golf course for golfers the world over.
On Kent's stunning east coast, Royal St George's has hosted The Open Championship no less than 14 times, witnessing the game's greatest players do battle upon its fairways for over a century. Past winners at Royal St George's Golf Club include Darren Clarke, Greg Norman, Sandy Lyle and Walter Hagen, so you'll be following in the footsteps of many great champions while walking upon this fast running Kent links course. Morikawa's win in the 2021 Open Championship with a -15 total included a stunning bogey-free 66 in the final round to secure victory in his first-ever Open Championship.
Right, scenery and history aside, this is proper links golf. Expect firm turf, plenty of bounce and those trademark pot bunkers that can turn a good score into a long day if you get greedy. When the wind gets up off the Channel the course feels a club longer, and you'll need to keep it down and use the slopes rather than fighting them. It's a brilliant walk too, with the dunes framing shots in a way you just don't get inland. If you're building a Kent links trip, it's a course worth planning around.
Who is this for?
Golfers who've always wanted to tick off an Open rota great. If you love proper links, firm fairways and a course that asks you to shape shots and think your way round, Royal St George's is exactly that sort of day.
Who is it best for?
Confident players who don't mind a stern test when the wind blows and who'll enjoy the challenge of deep bunkering and uneven lies through the dunes. It's also ideal for history lovers, because you really do feel the championship heritage on every hole.