Royal St George’s Golf Club

Founded in 1887, Royal St George’s in Sandwich is one of the great links courses of the world and the only course in the south of England on The Open rota.

The club was established by Dr William Laidlaw Purves, who is said to have spotted the land from the tower of St Clement’s Church, looking out over the dunes of Sandwich Bay. In 1894 it became the first course outside Scotland to host The Open, won by J.H. Taylor, and it has since staged the championship 15 times. Its roll of Open champions includes Harry Vardon, Walter Hagen, Henry Cotton, Sandy Lyle and Greg Norman, as well as Darren Clarke in 2011 and, most recently, Collin Morikawa in 2021.

Laid out among some of the tallest dunes in English golf, the links is famous for its rumpled fairways, blind shots and deep bunkers, including the towering bunker on the 4th, one of the most daunting in championship golf. The par-3 6th, known as the Maiden, is among its best-loved holes, and the wind off Sandwich Bay means no two rounds ever play the same.

The club also has a celebrated literary link. Ian Fleming was a member and captain-elect, and the famous golf match in Goldfinger takes place at “Royal St Mark’s”, a thinly disguised Royal St George’s.

Royal St George’s sits alongside Prince’s and Royal Cinque Ports on Kent’s championship links coast, around 90 minutes from London, and is a highlight of any golf trip to the south of England. Visitors are welcome on selected days, subject to handicap requirements, so early booking is advised.