Public

Royal St. Georges Course

The Royal St. George's Golf Club

Sandwich, Kent, England
jackmurray8
scott
BigDelta
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Tjb4
+43
18 holesPar 707,206 yds78.8/146

About this course

Royal St. George's is the altar of English links golf, a rugged testament to the game's ancient spirit, perched on the unforgiving coastline near Sandwich, Kent. Carved from towering dunes and rippling fairways, the course presents a stern test where capricious bounces and blustery winds dictate fate. Here, one confronts the elements head-on, navigating blind tee shots, cavernous bunkers, and undulating greens that require imagination and courage. It subtly favors the strategic player, demanding thoughtful club selection and an acceptance of inevitable misadventures along the way. Originally crafted by Dr. Laidlaw Purves in 1887 and refined over the years by legends like James Braid, the course retains its old-world charm, resisting overly manicured presentation in favor of a raw, natural experience. Royal St. George's is inextricably linked with The Open Championship, having hosted the major on fifteen occasions, witnessing both legendary triumphs and heartbreaking defeats across its storied turf. These defining moments of golfing history resonate through the salty air. Beyond the championship pedigree, Royal St. George's fosters a membership steeped in tradition and camaraderie. A round here feels like stepping back in time, where the spirit of the game takes precedence over the pursuit of perfection. Many members can often be found at the historic clubhouse reliving the experience of play from the day, and often taking to the stories of the greats who walked the very same fairways - including anecdotes of 1981 winner, Bill Rogers, and the famous photo of him sharing a pint with local members during his time at Royal St. George's.

Rankings

Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.

34

Best in World

8

Best in UK

1

Best in England

Quick facts

Location
Sandwich, Kent, England
Access
Public
Year built
1880
Holes
18
Par
70
Length
7,206 yards
Difficulty
78.8/146
Course Vaults score
9.3

Getting there

The journey to The Royal St. George's Golf Club begins at London Gatwick or London City Airport, each roughly ninety minutes by road from the Kent coast, though many visitors route through Heathrow before continuing east. The drive traces the Thames Estuary before peeling away toward the Channel, where the landscape flattens into salt marsh and the air takes on a bracing maritime edge. As the motorway yields to narrow lanes threading through Sandwich - a medieval Cinque Port town of half-timbered houses and ancient gates - the final approach reveals little until you crest a low rise and the links suddenly sprawl before you, raw and windswept, pressed against the dunes with the sea just beyond.

FAQ

Common questions about Royal St. Georges at The Royal St. George's Golf Club

Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.

Royal St. Georges at The Royal St. George's Golf Club has a Course Vaults score of 9.3 out of 10 based on 48 logged golfers.

Royal St. Georges was designed by William Laidlaw Purves.

Yes. Royal St. Georges at The Royal St. George's Golf Club is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.

Par at Royal St. Georges is 70.

Royal St. Georges plays 7,206 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.

The slope rating at Royal St. Georges is 146.

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