At a glance
- Best base
- Sandwich or Deal
- Key courses
- Royal St George's · Royal Cinque Ports · Prince's
- Best months
- May, June, September
- Nearest airports
- London Gatwick (LGW) · Heathrow (LHR)
- Book ahead
- St George's Tue/Wed; Deal two-ball — book weeks ahead
Why the Kent coast
On a single stretch of shoreline around Sandwich Bay sit three championship links within a couple of miles of one another — the famous "Sandwich triangle," and the only Open Championship venues in the south of England. You can play all three from one base in a few days, with a beautifully preserved medieval town, a classic seaside pier and the White Cliffs all on hand. It is the easiest world-class links trip to reach from London.
The Sandwich triangle
Royal St George's is the jewel: big, elemental links golf over huge dunes, home to the deepest bunkers in the game and 15 Open Championships, most recently Collin Morikawa in 2021. Next door, Royal Cinque Ports — known as Deal — is a stern, traditional links with one of the hardest homeward nines in golf, and twice an Open host itself. Completing the trio, Prince's — where Gene Sarazen won the 1932 Open with his newly invented sand wedge — offers big, open, 27-hole links golf and an on-site lodge, making it the natural base for playing all three.
Where to base yourself
Stay in the beautifully preserved medieval town of Sandwich, or at Prince's own lodge, to have all three links on the doorstep; Deal is a characterful seaside alternative. It is a couple of hours from the London airports, under two by high-speed train from St Pancras, and easy to combine with a few days in the capital.
Where to stay
The Bell Hotel, on the quay in Sandwich beside the river, is the traditional golfers' base, while The Salutation — a Lutyens house in glorious gardens — is the characterful choice a few minutes away. Prince's Lodge puts you on the links itself, and the seafront hotels of Deal offer a breezier seaside stay.
Where to eat and drink
In Sandwich, the George & Dragon and the little No Name Shop bistro are reliable, and Deal has become a genuine foodie town — Frog and Scot and 81 Beach Street lead the way. A short drive up the coast, Whitstable is famous for its oysters — Wheelers Oyster Bar has been shucking them since 1856.
Beyond the golf
Canterbury and its great cathedral — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the mother church of the Anglican communion — is 20 minutes inland. Dover Castle and the White Cliffs guard the coast to the south, and the Tudor Deal and Walmer castles — the latter the residence of the Duke of Wellington — make excellent non-golf half-days.
From here, the Surrey heathland is an easy hop, or see the best courses in England.
Common questions
What are the three links courses at Sandwich?
Royal St George’s — an Open Championship venue and the only one in the south of England — sits alongside Royal Cinque Ports at Deal and Prince’s, itself a former Open host. Three classic links within a few minutes of each other.
Where should I stay for golf on the Kent coast?
Sandwich, a beautifully preserved medieval town, and neighbouring Deal make the natural base. Both put all three links within a short drive, with a good choice of inns, pubs and small hotels.
Can visitors play Royal St George’s?
Yes, on set visitor days — typically midweek — and you should book well ahead. It’s a demanding, humpy links that has hosted The Open many times and featured as the setting for Ian Fleming’s golf match in Goldfinger.
How do I reach the Kent coast from London?
It’s about 90 minutes by car via the M2/A2, or a high-speed train from London St Pancras to Sandwich in a little under two hours. Gatwick and Heathrow are the nearest airports for overseas visitors.
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