Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club
Deal, Kent. A links that hosted The Open in 1909 and 1920, three miles south of Royal St George's and home to the Halford Hewitt.
Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club is a championship links at Deal on the Kent coast, about three miles south of Royal St George’s. Founded in 1892 and named for the medieval confederation of Cinque Ports, it has a true links character and is described by The Open as one of the country’s most iconic links courses.
The club hosted The Open Championship in 1909, won by J.H. Taylor, and in 1920, won by George Duncan. Its layout was originally created by Harry Hunter, with later work by James Braid in 1919 and by Sir Guy Campbell and Henry Cotton after the Second World War. It is a par 71 of more than 7,000 yards from the back tees. Two further Opens planned for 1938 and 1949 were moved to Royal St George’s because of high tides, but the club has continued to host the Amateur Championship, most recently in 2013, and is a regular venue for Final Qualifying for The Open. It is also home to the annual Halford Hewitt, which the club describes as the world’s largest amateur foursomes team event.
Royal Cinque Ports is a members’ club that welcomes visitors from Monday to Thursday, with fourballs on Mondays and Thursdays and singles and two-balls on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Golf Tours London can build rounds here into a bespoke itinerary and organise transport from your hotel.
It pairs naturally with Royal St George’s and Prince’s, and a stay at The Bell Hotel in Sandwich or The Blue Pigeons at Worth puts all three within easy reach.
