Royal St Georges was founded in 1887 by Scottish-born surgeon and keen golfer, William Laidlaw Purves, who had a vision for the club to be the southern rival of his beloved St Andrews. Like St Andrews is named after the patron saint of Scotland, Purves named this club after the patron saint of England. His vision quickly became and is still the crown jewel of golf in Kent.
To date, Royal St Georges has hosted 15 Open Championships, more than any other club outside Scotland.
Bernard Darwin stated of the early St Georges, “…without undergoing any period of probation, burst full-fledged into fame”. Tom Doak, this generation’s acknowledged expert on links golf states that St Georges encapsulates the four most important characteristics of links golf: challenging holes, beautifully crafted greens and bunkers, a character of its own, and stunning scenery.
Royal St Georges has each of these in spades and is a must-play course on your England golf vacation.
A worthy addition to any England golf tour, it would become the first course outside of Scotland in 1894 to host an Open Championship, won that year by JH Taylor.
Like another favorite layout of his, St George’s is not a typical out-and-back routing, but rather returns to the clubhouse after nine holes, like Muirfield.
It has perhaps erroneously received the reputation, by many professionals during Opens, of being unfair. The truth is that the course is completely natural and that good shots are sometimes rewarded with bad bounces, which is integral in the links game.
Tom Watson, a five-time winner of the Claret Jug, perhaps has won multiple times because of his philosophy of playing the links. Watson acknowledges that unpredictable bounces are just part of the game “…that’s what makes links golf links golf,” it’s what you do with those bounces that defines a champion. However, the 1st and 18th have been improved to better reward carefully stuck shots.
St George’s also had a reputation for not welcoming women to its links. The truth is women were extended courtesy of the course on Sundays and Purves, St George’s founder was also instrumental in establishing the Ladies Golf Union. Today, women are welcome as members of the club.
The British are always clever on naming holes and St George’s 14th, a 547-yard, par 5 is aptly named “Suez Canal” because so many have found a watery grave in the burn that bisects the narrow fairway about 200 yards from the tee.
A tiny dot on the map, Sandwich golf is home to three adjoining brilliant layouts that are all in the Top 100 of Great Britain & Ireland courses and past host venues of the Open Championship – Royal Cinque Ports, Prince’s, and St. George’s. Together or separately, they make a perfect addition to any England golf tour.
Royal St Georges golf has earned its legendary status not just through hosting 15 Open Championships, but through a collection of holes that will test every aspect of your game. When you play Royal St George’s golf club, you’re walking the same fairways where champions like Greg Norman, Darren Clarke, and Collin Morikawa etched their names into golf history.
Often considered one of the finest short holes in championship golf, the 4th at Royal St George’s demands precision and courage. This downhill par 3 plays to a green protected by deep bunkers, with out-of-bounds lurking just beyond.
The 6th at Royal St Georges golf is one of the quirkiest and most challenging short par 4s you’ll ever play. The blind tee shot must carry a ridge of dunes, with a narrow entrance to the green flanked by cavernous bunkers. Many players have found themselves in “The Himalayas,” a massive sand dune short-right of the green.
Named for the burn that has ended countless championship dreams, the 14th is the most famous hole at Royal St George’s golf club. This reachable par 5 presents a critical decision: lay up safely or attempt to carry the water that cuts across the fairway about 200 yards from the tee.
Combine the fantastic heathland courses near London and the challenging links of southeast England on a week-long South East England golf tour. Include the famous sights of London during your stay.
7 nights accommodation and 6 rounds of golf
Prices starting from $7,855 per golfer
When you plan your visit to Royal St Georges golf, you’re actually stepping into one of the most remarkable golfing destinations on the planet. The tiny medieval town of Sandwich in Kent is home to not just one, but three world-class championship links courses – all within a few minutes of each other. Royal St George’s golf club, Prince’s Golf Club, and Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club sit side by side on this stunning stretch of Kent coastline, creating what golfers affectionately call “Golf Sandwich.”
This unique concentration of championship-caliber links golf is virtually unmatched anywhere in the world outside of Scotland. Playing all three courses gives you a complete links education and represents exceptional value for your England golf vacation
Our travel specialists recommend dedicating an entire day to Royal St George’s Golf Club. To fully appreciate its rich history and experience one of the region’s finest courses at a relaxed pace, it deserves time set aside exclusively for the occasion.
Just a short distance from London, Pennyhill Park stands out as the ideal base for a South England golf tour. The property is pure luxury—highlighted by its world-class spa, widely regarded as one of the finest in the UK, and a Michelin-starred restaurant that elevates the entire experience.
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Royal St George’s Golf Club; Sandwich
The Royal St George’s Golf Club, Sandown Road, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9PB, United Kingdom
1887
Open most of the year for visitor play on allocated days; tee sheet and clubhouse hours vary – check club / Premier Golf.
Championship Course – 18-hole links set in wild dunes; par 70; around 7,204–7,206 yards from championship tees, with multiple tee sets from c. 5,800 to 7,200+ yards. Designed by Laidlaw Purves and opened in the late 1880s, the course features undulating fairways, deep pot bunkers and elevated green sites. Ratings/slope vary by tee but reflect a demanding championship test.
Traditional clubhouse with dining rooms, bar, snooker and historic locker rooms; practice ground, short-game area and putting green; caddies and trolleys; pro shop; limited on-site accommodation and strong local hotel network in Sandwich and Deal.
Only Open Championship venue in south-east England and a regular host, with more than 15 Opens staged; consistently ranked among the very best courses in Great Britain & Ireland.
Prince’s; Royal Cinque Ports; North Foreland; Canterbury Golf Club.
Yes, all players are required to have a handicap index of 18.4 or less. Handicap verification must be provided upon arrival, either as a physical certificate or a photograph on your phone.
Golfing attire is acceptable throughout the club until 11:00 am; after this time, a jacket and tie are mandatory for gentlemen. Denim, golf shoes, trainers, and golf hoodies are not permitted in the clubhouse at any time.
Royal St. George’s has hosted The Open Championship 15 times, more than any course outside of Scotland. The first was in 1894, and the most recent in 2021.
The course was designed by Dr. William Laidlaw Purves, a Scottish surgeon, and opened in 1887.
Yes, visitors are welcome on specific days. Three or four-ball play is permitted on Tuesdays from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm, while singles or two-ball play is allowed on Mondays and Thursdays between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm. Unaccompanied play is not permitted from Wednesday to Sunday, nor on Bank Holidays.
While the club does not offer on-site accommodation, there are several nearby options, including The Bell Hotel in Sandwich and The Lodge at Prince’s Golf Club, both offering comfortable stays within close proximity to the course.
Founded in 1887 by Dr. William Laidlaw Purves, Royal St. George’s was established to emulate the traditions of St. Andrews in southern England. It became the first club outside Scotland to host The Open Championshipm and has since hosted many more.
The handicap limit at Royal St. George’s is 18.4 or lower for both men and women. Players must provide handicap verification upon arrival.
