Golf in Kent: The perfect couples golf tour

Kent is a destination that has plenty of golf to brag about, building itself a credible reputation as one of the country’s premier locations for a golf trip. Specifically, the coastal towns of Deal and Sandwich which are home to three Open Championship venues: Royal St George’s, Royal Cinque Ports and Prince’s Golf Club, all steeped in stunning golfing history and natural beauty.

A short history lesson follows the legendary Walter Hagen, who set out to play each of these three courses in one day as a warmup ahead of the Open Championships in the 1920s. It’s safe to say that he’s rather fond of the English links having won in 1922 and 1928, both at Royal St George’s.

This was not however, something my partner, Dolores and I were looking to accomplish, concerned of any tired arguments that may follow over 54 holes! A 3 night and 3 round golf trip sounded much more appealing at these historic links - keep reading to see how we got on.

After a short 2-hour drive from West London, we reached the idyllic Sandwich Bay and checked-in to The Lodges at Prince’s - a superb spot nestled in between Prince’s Golf Club and Royal St George’s offering different types of accommodation. We opted for the cozy en-suite bedroom which offered peaceful views across the bay.

With some time to spare, we both decided on a short walk along the bay before a short drive to our first destination, Royal Cinque Ports, ready to begin an unforgettable golf weekend.

Rated No. 10 golf course in England via Top 100 Courses

Open Championships held: 2

More commonly known as ‘Deal’, Royal Cinque Ports is steeped in history and to some golfers is considered possibly the best out of the big three on the Kent coast. After a warm welcome, we wandered to the first tee praying we’d both play down the fairway due to OB on the left and the road/clubhouse on your right, all the while onlookers were observing from the bar.

Whilst the first tee shot is rather daunting, the par 4 eases you in for what is not an easy out and back course, yet thoroughly enjoyable. The par 4 2nd takes you towards the historic sea wall with pot bunkers littered either side. The sea wall was erected to protect the course from flooding as well as uses for the Army in the First and Second World Wars, so you will rarely get a view of the sea.

The par 5, 3rd hole is my personal favorite, with a superb approach shot that defines the hole, playing to a blind, sunken green with two tiers – it perfectly encapsulates the undulating nature of links golf. Truly memorable. The next few holes are slightly more raised, giving you more views of the ocean whilst large sand dunes start to come into play as well as the ever-blowing wind. It is links golf after all.

We’ve both reached the turn, and Dolores is 2-up with the dramatic and testing back 9 approaching that we’ve heard so much about. A quick stop in ‘The Hut’ (the renowned halfway hut at Deal and a must-visit with its own RCP lager), we ventured out back into the wind.

The newly altered par 5, 16th hole is fantastic highlight of the round, with it’s now split fairway, the undulating and bunker-ridden hole will test the likes of any level golfer, teasing you to go for the green while laying up will offer some respite when heading home. Needless to say, I found the central bunkers and Dolores won the hole.

A couple of drinks and some lunch is a must back in the clubhouse. We grabbed a seat on the newly extended balcony where you’re treated with stunning views of the course and the North Sea.

History is evident throughout the clubhouse, and you can still see the damage done to the flagpole from aircraft attacks during the Second World War. A humbling reminder of what the club has been through over the years. With the delicious food and the kind and attentive staff, we both left the club with an unforgettable admiration for Deal. The course is in fantastic condition - immaculate greens, rugged and harsh rough and a wonderful layout leaving you coming away with a feeling that you’ve played somewhere very, very special.

A couple of drinks and some lunch is a must back in the clubhouse. We grabbed a seat on the newly extended balcony where you’re treated with stunning views of the course and the North Sea.

History is evident throughout the clubhouse, and you can still see the damage done to the flagpole from aircraft attacks during the Second World War. A humbling reminder of what the club has been through over the years. With the delicious food and the kind and attentive staff, we both left the club with an unforgettable admiration for Deal. The course is in fantastic condition - immaculate greens, rugged and harsh rough and a wonderful layout leaving you coming away with a feeling that you’ve played somewhere very, very special.

Rated No. 36 golf course in England via Top 100 Courses

Open Championships held: 1

After an evening exploring Deal’s fantastic selection of bars and restaurants, our next round was fortunately located right on our doorstep. A short drive to check in at the pro shop (and a quick purchase of branded merchandise) and we were teeing off on the Shores course.

Prince’s has 3 loops of 9, the Shores, Dunes and the slightly newer Himalayas, all of which were born after the original course was ravaged by bombs during the Second World War where now, 17 of the original greens were recovered and still in use today.

There isn’t a clear stand out two 9’s to play, with all three loops offering something different and golfer’s opinions tend to fluctuate. However today, we were playing the fantastic Shore and Dunes, the future Walker Cup host in 2030 and original 18-hole set-up.

The Shore plays along the coast with the wind and the bunkers apparent throughout the nine. The bunkering offers a beauty to Prince’s that isn’t seen on many links courses nowadays. The natural sand scrapes include the sleeper pathways in a natural and practical way. You know the bunkers are good when Gene Sarazen who won his only Open Championship using the ‘sand wedge’ for the first time in a tournament.

This is evident on the beautiful par 3, 5th hole where you carry these sand scrapes towards the sea, and where you’ll also need to factor in the wind if you want any chance of staying out of the sand. A sigh of relief after two sketchy pars for myself and Dolores but a reminder of what a fantastic hole this is when you look at the contours from behind the green. Somewhat mesmerising.

The Dunes includes more undulating and slightly tighter fairways, formed in an anticlockwise loop heading towards the boundary of Royal St George’s and back. A glimpse of what was to come tomorrow.

Starting off with a tough 1st hole, the slight dog-leg par 4 hosts a narrow green and incredibly well-placed bunkers meaning that a Par is a very good score here. A personal favourite of ours would be with the par 5, 3rd hole which presents a great scoring opportunity. That said, with tight out of bounds on the right and two fairway bunkers, you’ll need to be accurate off the tee. The undulations certainly make this hole very fun and probably the most memorable of the whole round, but that may be due to my form being surprisingly good, much to Dolores’ delight…

The wind had certainly picked up throughout the round but that only made the Dunes more fun and strategic to play. It’s certainly harder than the Shore, however, don’t let that put you off, both courses offer some brilliant links golf and are kept in excellent condition throughout. This was another round enjoyed with lots of history evident and where we both came off wishing we had more time to play the Himalayas. Next time!

Rated No. 1 golf course in England via Top 100 Courses

Open Championships held: 15

Our final day of golf leads us to arguably the best and most famous course in the country, Royal St George’s. From the moment we arrived, the sense of tradition was profound. This is a true Open classic golf course and the first to host the Championship outside of Scotland back in 1894.

Stepping onto the first tee is an experience in itself. With the clubhouse looking on and the iconic thatched starters hut welcoming you to the course, you’re faced with a nerving, yet thrilling, opening tee shot. The hole demands accuracy, setting the tone for an extraordinary round on a figure-eight like layout, similar to that of Muirfield.

The first few holes introduce undulating fairways and tricky pot bunkers (which are evident throughout the 18), but for us, the par-4 4th hole really showed why this course is where it is in the rankings.

With one of the tallest and deepest bunkers in the UK attracting danger from the tee shot, and the 2nd shot demanding a long approach into an angled green. This is where I found the beckoning bunker and Dolores took the early lead. The shorter 5th hole then takes you down towards Sandwich Bay for the first time with the first glimpse of the English Channel in sight. More unique features throughout the course include the red cross of St George on the flags, giving a subtle nod to its prestige.

It's safe to say that the course is challenging yet thoroughly entertaining track, with the constant undulations, plateaus and blind shots ever present and by the turn, the wind picked up and the dunes somehow grew more dramatic.

With Dolores and I all square, we reached the par-5 14th hole with wooden fencing running along the right hand rough, signaling out of bounds whilst bordering where we played the day before, Princes. On a relatively flat piece of ground, this is a hole which can definitely be seen to claw back some shots however, with a stream running through the middle of the fairway and out of bounds very prevalent, it’s one to catch you out with anything wayward (including my tee shot).

We arrive at the 16th, a fantastic 160 yard par-3 with the beautifully placed bunkering surrounding a wide green, a simple enough tee shot but not without its dangers. Think back to 2003 when Thomas Bjorn took three shots getting out of the bunkers, slowly watching his Open hopes vanish. I felt somewhat smug getting out in one shot rather than three, nevertheless losing the hole and my own winning hopes evaporating.

Coming up the last and Dolores and I reflect on what a brilliant and historical golf course Royal St George’s is and worthy of its ranking in England and the UK. A well-earned win for Dolores and we head to the Clubhouse for a celebratory drink to round off an unforgettable weekend.

Make sure to try out some of the local pubs and restaurants during your stay, these were the ones we would recommend:

• The Zetland Pub: A twenty minute walk out of Deal, but a gorgeous location right on the beach!
• Port Arms & Kings Head pubs: Situated right next to each other in central Deal with great views of the beachfront.
• Deal Pier Kitchen: Excellent seafood and a brilliant local vibe!
• Pop Up: Brilliant options for vegans or vegetarians, however meat eaters don't be put off there is still plenty of options for you as well.

A Kent golf trip is one of the UK’s most rewarding golfing experiences. Playing three Open Championship venues in a single weekend, staying on-site at Prince’s, and enjoying the charm of Deal make it a top choice for couples seeking both competitive golf and coastal relaxation.

There are so many reaosns to choose a golf to Kent, but these are what we think are the key ones:

• Three Open Championship venues in close proximity: Royal St. Georges, Royal Cinque Ports and Prince's Golf Club

• Historic significance: Walter Hagen famously played all three in one day in the 1920s and won two Opens at Royal St George’s.

• Accessibility: Just a 2-hour drive from London.

• Coastal setting: Sandwich Bay and Deal offer both golf and seaside relaxation.

Q: When is the best time of year to take a golf trip to Kent? A: The prime golf season is April through October, when conditions are drier and temperatures are mild. Spring and early autumn are especially popular for avoiding summer crowds. Winter golf is possible, but coastal winds and wetter fairways should be expected.

Q: Where should I stay during a Kent golf break? A: Golfers often base themselves in Sandwich, Deal, or Canterbury, as these towns are close to the top courses and have great pubs, restaurants, and accommodation options. For luxury, many golfers stay at The Lodge at Princes.

Q: How do I get to Kent for a golf trip? A: Kent is very accessible from London, by car (about 2 hours from central London), or by train (around 1 hour from London St Pancras to Canterbury or Sandwich). International travelers can also arrive via the Eurotunnel or ferries from France into Dover, making Kent a top choice for overseas visitors.

Q: What are the best golf courses to play in Kent? A: Kent is often called the “Garden of England” and has some of the UK’s best links and parkland courses. Top choices include Royal St George’s (an Open Championship venue), Princes Golf Club, Royal Cinque Ports, and Chart Hills. Many golfers also enjoy scenic inland courses like Littlestone and North Foreland.