Golf Rd,
Deal, Kent CT14 6RF
Office
+44 (0)1304 374 007Pro shop
+44 (0)1304 374 170Fax
+44 (0)1304 379 530Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Sam Smitherman (Head Professional)The Course:
18 holes. Seaside links. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk.
Surroundings:
Coastal duneland.
Designer:
Original 9-holes laid out by Henry Hunter (1892), and extended to 18 (1896). Layout redesigned by James Braid (1919). Sir Guy Campbell restored the course after WWII, substantially retaining the earlier Hunter/Braid routing.
51.239576
1.396706
11 miles N of Dover
From centre of Deal: follow the coast road south to the end, bearing left into Godwyn Rd. After 200 yds at T-junction turn right into Golf Rd. After 100 yds where main road bears right, bear left into small access road (still Golf Rd). Golf is 200 yds on your left. | From the A258 (Sandwich-Deal road): head south through Sholden and at first roundabout turn left direction Deal Town Centre/Seafront. After 150 yds turn left into Middle Deal Rd. After o.8 miles turn left into Albert Rd, which becomes Golf Rd. Follow Golf Rd as indicated above.
Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club: Facing out onto the North Sea, this stretch of the Kent coast is home to a triumvirate of superb seaside links golf courses. All three have at some time hosted the Open Championship. The southernmost of the three is Royal Cinque Ports, also known as "Deal."
As one of England's most authentic and natural links golf courses, Deal is a much revered gem. As you'll discover once you get into the course, the seemingly flattish terrain is in fact full of subtle mounds, bumps and hollows, creating plenty of interest on every hole, as well as a few blind and semi-blind tee and approach shots. Assuming wayward drives can be found, digging your way out of the fairway-lining rough is just one of the many challenges you'll face. Avoiding entrapment in the numerous steep-faced bunkers will also thoroughly test your course management and golfing skills.
Amongst many memorable holes, the par-5 3rd is played to a wonderful sunken green, while the short par-4 6th doglegs from left to right around the corner of a substantial sand hill. On this testing risk-reward hole you'll need an accurate, well-placed drive followed by a perfect pitch to hold the wickedly raised green.
After the heady excitement of holes 3 to 6, a flatter form of golfing sanity takes over for the next sequence of holes as you round the turn on this out-and-back layout. The long par-4 18th also deserves a special mention. It has turned many a match and substantially added to the scores of would-be champions. A closing hole to treat with great respect.
With sea-views on the front-nine, and plenty of undulation and greater length on the inward nine, "Deal" lays down a fabulous test for all links enthusiasts, although perhaps a tough one for higher-handicappers.
Visitors welcome on weekdays (except Fridays). One and two ball play permitted on Tues and Weds afternoons. Three and four ball play permitted on Mon and Thur.
Must book in advance. Handicap required.
Contact club for full details. [Last updated: 2023].
Players generally walk this course.
Good
Sitting cheek by jowl along this stretch of Kent coast are three golf courses that have hosted The Open Championship: Royal St Georges (several times since 1894), Royal Cinque Ports (1909, 1920) and Prince's (1932). Only Royal St Georges is on the current Open championship rosta.
George V conferred the Royal prefix on Cinque Ports GC in 1910. By royal prerogative, 19 English golf clubs use the "Royal" title, namely: Ascot, Ashdown Forest, Birkdale, Blackheath, Cinque Ports, Cromer, Eastbourne, Epping Forest, Household (Windsor Castle), Liverpool (Hoylake), Lytham & St Annes, Mid-Surrey, North Devon (Westward Ho!), Norwich, St George's, West Norfolk (Brancaster), Wimbledon, Winchester, Worlington & Newmarket.
England's 10th best course (Golf World, 2024).
Britain & Ireland's 28th best course (Golf World, 2025).
World's 100th best course (GOLF Magazine, 2023/24) and 49th best public access course (Golf World, 2025).
9 Beach St, Deal, Kent CT14 7AH
+44 (0)1304 368 194
Visit websiteOverlooking the sea and two minutes stroll from the town centre, the Kings Head Pub and next door Channel View Guest House offer an excellent opportunity for comfortable and affordable accommodation. At this historic and traditional English seaside Inn you can enjoy a high standard of bar food (including breakfast) and sample locally brewed beers on the sea-facing terrace. All fourteen guest rooms are en suite, several of them located in the quiet Guest House.
No
Royal Cinque Ports; Walmer & Kingsdown.
Royal St Georges; Prince's; North Foreland.
Hay Hill, Ham, Sandwich, Kent CT14 0ED
+44 (0)1304 617 362
Visit websiteBased on a farm dwelling built in 1763, this inland country hotel is popular with golfers visiting the excellent courses around Sandwich and Deal.
No
Royal Cinque Ports; Royal St George's; Princes
North Foreland
Women’s (British) Open: the last women’s major championship of the season is hosted by Royal Porthcawl GC. It’s the first time this fabulous seaside links course has hosted the event (July 31-Aug 3).
Walker Cup: the 50th playing of this prestigious men’s amateur event sees the GB&I go head-to-head against the defending USA team at Cypress Point Club, California (Sept 6-7). After that, all eyes turn to Bethpage State Park on Long Island, NY, where the American and defending European professional teams engage in the 45th Ryder Cup (Sept 27-29).
Lottie Woad: 21-year-old Woad burst onto the professional scene in July, with wins in the Women’s Irish Open (as an amateur) and three weeks later in the Women’s Scottish Open (as a professional). She nearly picked-up a major championship, placing third in The Evian in the same month.
Pádraig Harrington: the ever-likeable Irishman added the (British) Senior Open Championship title to his stellar array of tournament successes. His win came on Sunningdale’s spectacular Old Course. Harrington had already bagged the U.S. Senior Open title in June this year.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.
