GolfPlus June 2018 Digital Edition (June 2018) | Page 52

7UDYHO
ROYAL CINQUE PORTS GOLF COURSE
Dover Castle in Kent built on the iconic White
Aerial image of Dover Castle
he east coast of Kent in south
east England, sometimes referred
to as Kent’s Regal Coast, is
considered one of the country’s
premier championship links trails in the
United Kingdom. The course at Royal Cinque
Ports is considered one of the jewels in the
crown amongst this collection of links gems.
Deal, as it is known fondly known thanks
to it location at the edge of the eponymous
seaside town, is a classic seaside links course,
the type of which can only be found in the
British Isles. Royal Cinque Ports, founded
back in 1892, is one of the few golf courses
in the south of England that has been given
the honour of hosting one of golf’s most
prestigious events, The Open Championship.
The fi rst time was in 1909 when it was
won by J H Taylor of the Great Triumvirate
Dover Castle
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2018
and then in 1920. It would have hosted the
major for a third time but the sea fl ooded the
course which meant it transferred to Royal St
George’s in nearby Sandwich.
Testament to the enduring quality of
the course, this championship links has also
hosted many other premier tournaments
over the years such as The Amateur
Championship, as well as The Brabazon
Trophy. But perhaps most notably Deal has
been home to the Halford Hewitt Public
Schools Championship, the largest amateur
tournament of its kind anywhere in the world,
since 1924.
Whilst at fi rst glance Royal Cinque Ports
may look fl at and unassuming with just a few
sand hills and grasses dune grasses to add
interest and defi nition, the very opposite is
true. This is by no means an easy course, and
should the wind blow, it’s the real deal.
Once out on the course you are faced with
wildly undulating, super fast fairways that
can mean tight, hanging lies and awkward
stances, several blind tee shots, lightning
greens and pot bunkers with steep, revetted
bunkers which together make this course
an extremely tough challenge. Thanks to its
coastal location, wind – often strong - is a
regular feature and if it’s blowing in from the
south west, the back nine, and in particular
the fi nal seven holes, become one of the
longest and most testing stretches in golf. The
club itself is over 100 years old and is steeped
in history, tradition and royal connections
that make it a unique and mesmerizing
destination.
Sandwich Guildhal
Hever Castle (Visit Kent)
The original Royal Cinque Ports course
was fi rst constructed by Harry Hunter as
a nine-hole layout and then an additional
nine holes was added to the northern end of
the course in 1896. In 1919, the renowned
Scottish professional and later course
designer, James Braid, put his stamp on
the course when he reorganised the layout
following the ravages infl icted by World War
1. Sir Guy Campbell, aided by Henry Cotton,
The Open Championship.
The fi rst time was in 1909 when it
was won by J H Taylor of the Great
Triumvirate and then in 1920. It would
have hosted the major for a third time
but the sea fl ooded the course which
meant it transferred to Royal
St George’s in nearby Sandwich.