Rye Golf Club

New Lydd Rd, Camber,

Rye, East Sussex TN31 7QS

  • Office

    +44 (0)1797 225 241
  • Pro shop

    +44 (0)1797 228 414
  • Fax

    +44 (0)1797 225 460
  • Golf pro

    Matthew Holland (PGA Club Professional).

About the course

  • The Course:

    18 holes. Seaside links. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk.

  • Surroundings:

    Coastal duneland.

  • Designer:

    Original design by English course architect Harry Colt and Scottish professional Douglas Rolland. Later revisions by Tom Simpson (1932), Sir Guy Campbell (1938), Major H.C. "Charles" Tippet (1947).

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Yards
6454
6311
5459
Par
68
68
72
SSS or slope
71
70
73

At the same location:

9-hole par-35 Jubilee course (3,109 yards from back tees).

Location

Latitude:

50.940471

Longitude:

0.770633

How to get there:

25 miles SW of Folkestone

Leave the M20 motorway at exit 10. Follow A2070 direction Brenzett. After 11.5 mi turn right onto the A259 direction Hastings. After 8.8 mi turn left, direction Camber/Lydd. After 1.8 mi golf is on your right.

Rye Golf Club

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.

Est. 1894

Rye Golf Club: Often regarded as a private bastion of English golfing tradition, Rye is in fact pleased to welcome a limited number of visitors by arrangement with the Secretary. If you do play here, you will find a classic links golf course, laid out on wonderfully open and rugged duneland terrain.

The absence of ball-swallowing heather and gorse bushes, and generally good-width fairways should inspire confidence from the tee. However, you'll need to avoid an abundance of deep pot bunkers strategically placed along the rolling fairways and around the smallish greens. Like all seaside links layouts, Rye transforms into a much tougher test when anything more than a gentle breeze is blowing across the course.

There are some great holes to savour at Rye, not least the par-3 7th and the magnificent par-4 18th. The only par-5 comes right at the beginning - your opening hole on this English coastal gem.

The historic town of Rye is scenically perched on an adjacent hill, and don't be surprised to glimpse the occasional boat or ship gliding down the adjacent River Rother into nearby Rye Harbour. Although just a short distance from the English Channel, sea views from the course are not too frequent.

List of courses: England - South East

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitor tee-times are very limited and only available on application to the Secretary. Rye is a two-ball and foursomes (alternate shot) club; three and fourballs not permitted.

Must book in advance. Maximum handicap: men 18; women 24. Proof of handicap required.

Green fees

Visitor fee, 18-holes in high season: £225.

Contact club for full details, day tickets, etc. [Last updated: 2023].

Other information

Players generally walk this course. Golf carts not permitted. Caddies available if pre-booked.

Practice facilities

Good

Did you know?

A high standard of dress is expected at Rye, both on and off the course. In the bars and dining room, jackets must be worn with either a tie, cravat or polo neck shirt after 10am. Prior to play, golfing attire may be worn in the clubhouse to register or take coffee. On the course, if shorts are worn, they must be correctly tailored and worn with full length socks with a turn-over top. >> Rye is the permanent home of the Oxford and Cambridge Golfing Society.

Published ranking

England's 15th best course (Golf World, 2023).
Britain & Ireland's 41st best course (Golf World, 2024).
World's 72nd best course (GOLF Magazine, 2023/24) and 63rd best public access course (Golf World, 2023).

Where2Stay

  • Mermaid Inn3-star

    Mermaid Street, Rye, TN31 7EY

    +44 (0)1797 223 065

    Visit website

    From a picturesque cobbled street in the centre of Rye, step back in time and experience the unique atmosphere of one England’s oldest and loveliest inns rebuilt in 1420, with Norman cellars dating back to 1156. The Mermaid Inn caters for those who appreciate tradition and charm, coupled with the requirements of a discerning modern guest.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 5 miles:

      Rye

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      Littlestone; Chart Hills.

  • Rye Lodge Hotel3-star

    Hilder's Cliff, Rye, East Sussex TN31 7LD

    +44 (0)1797 223 838

    Visit website

    Rye Lodge is a luxury hotel located in the heart of the medieval town of Rye. Within the town walls of ancient Rye, you can discover an oasis of calm. Recognised for outstanding personal service Rye Lodge Hotel is the only hotel for miles around with the coveted VisitBritain Gold Award for excellence.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 5 miles:

      Rye

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      Littlestone; Chart Hills.

Find a course

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Tournaments

124th US Open: the No.2 Course at Pinehurst once again plays host to this most illustrious championship (June 13-16). Wyndham Clark defends his title, having won at Los Angeles CC in 2023.

79th Women’s US Open: the second women’s major championship of the season gets underway at Lancaster CC in Pennsylvania. It’s the second time the championship has been held here.
(May 30-June 2).

Who's Who

Nelly Korda: won the Mizuho Americas Open (May 16-19) at Liberty National GC, continuing her extraordinary form in LPGA events. This was her sixth win in seven starts in 2024.

Xander Schauffele: recorded his first major championship win, and second record-equalling low score of 62 in a major. Only he, Branden Grace, Rickie Fowler and Shane Lowry have achieved this feat in a men’s major championship.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

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

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