North Foreland Golf Club Review: Clifftop Golf on the Kent Coast

Both North Foreland Golf Club and the Kent seaside town of Margate had somehow eluded me over the decades, so I’m delighted to say that this glaring omission from my golfing CV and geographical knowledge has finally been addressed.

The challengeThe Cooke Cup comes to Kent

What North Foreland didn’t know was that it had been chosen to host this year’s Cooke Cup. This little-known championship is played over one weekend every year between me and my three sons, and is fought out over two disciplines: golf and drinking. In the early days I was the reigning champion in both. Those days are long gone. These days I compete mainly for the experience and to pay for the drinks. First stop on the weekend was lunch at the golf club.

The club had the hustle and bustle of a popular and busy private members’ club, but I have to say we received a very warm welcome in the pro shop and in the bar, where we had a very decent meal.

The courseThe front nine

We were looking forward to taking on this well-known clifftop challenge, where the sea is in view from all parts of the course. My sons were also looking forward to beating me. Following lunch, we made our way to the first tee, which is the start of the front nine, separated from the back nine by a road that leads to several attractions, including Neptune’s Tower and Kingsgate Castle, both interesting landmarks. The front nine has some strong holes. The 2nd is a very appealing short Par 4, there are some challenging Par 4s, especially the 8th and 9th, and a couple of Par 3s require you to play directly out to sea. The wind is a major factor at North Foreland, and a very useful excuse!

The wind is a major factor at North Foreland, and a very useful excuse!

Andrew Cooke

The courseThe back nine

Crossing back over for the back nine, plenty more good quality holes await. The final two could both be card wreckers: a long Par 4 with a steep incline to the green, and a tough uphill Par 3 with out of bounds on the left. Overall, the course is a lot of fun, certainly tough enough for good golfers while still accommodating a higher handicapper.

Off the courseMargate: the second discipline

Margate has become a fashionable escape from London, with a surprisingly impressive beach. For anyone familiar with the southeast coast, the surprise is that it has real sand and not pebbles. There is also a great choice of bars and restaurants, and the town has a busy atmosphere, which makes it a fun night out. This is where the second discipline of the Cooke Cup was contested, and where the result was, as usual, never in doubt.

The morning afterThe Par 3 course

Slightly worse for wear the following morning, the club’s 18-hole Par 3 course provided the fresh air and the short game test that we don’t subject ourselves to enough. Holes ranging from 50 to 130 yards sound straightforward, but with small greens and firm conditions, concentration levels rise sharply after a string of bogey 4s.

The verdictWorth adding to your Kent itinerary

Anyone coming to Kent to play the famous links courses just down the coast should consider adding North Foreland to the itinerary. It might be a great place to start the trip because, whilst not a links course, the wind and firm running fairways are great preparation for some of England’s toughest courses. And if you are looking for a short weekend break with a great Saturday night out, I can thoroughly recommend a visit to Margate and North Foreland.