Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club
Deal is the connoisseur's links, the quiet neighbour of Royal St George's that good judges often prefer. Royal Cinque Ports runs flat and hard along the Kent shingle, with the sea wall on one hand and the wind for company on every hole. It has hosted two Opens and would have held more but for the tide, and it remains one of the most honest tests in English golf.
Photo: Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club via Google, contributor Kevin Coble.
The verdict
Royal Cinque Ports is the insiders' choice on the Kent coast, a links that rewards golfers who value subtlety over spectacle. Founded in 1892, it was shaped into championship form by James Braid's 1919 redesign, with later refinements by Guy Campbell in 1946 and recent sympathetic work by Martin Ebert. It staged The Open in 1909, won by JH Taylor, and in 1920, won by George Duncan, and was set to host again in 1938 and 1949 before high tides forced both championships along the coast to Royal St George's.
The course is flat by links standards but never dull. The front nine runs out with the prevailing wind at your back, lulling you, before the homeward stretch turns to face it and the round bares its teeth. Firm greens, deep bunkers and that ever present breeze make Deal a stern, fair examination, the kind of links that professionals respect and purists adore. For a Kent links double with Royal St George's, it is essential.
Royal Cinque Ports at a glance
- Founded
- 1892
- Redesign
- James Braid, 1919
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- Up to 7,300 yds
- Green fee
- From £150 to £285
Par and design history verified June 2026 from the club and course databases. The championship links plays to a par 72 of up to around 7,300 yards from the back tees, with forward tees in regular visitor use. Green fees are indicative, roughly 285 pounds in summer, 185 in early spring and 150 in late autumn for a single round in the 2026 season. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Deal saves its drama for the finish. The closing stretch into the prevailing wind is among the toughest in English golf, a run of long, exposed holes where par is a fine score and the deep bunkers and firm greens punish anything loose. The par 4 sixteenth and the long eighteenth in particular have a reputation for ending good rounds, asking for two precise blows into a breeze that has been building all afternoon.
The outward nine is gentler in feel, often downwind, but it sets the strategic tone, with subtle fairway movement and greens that demand the running approach rather than the high pitch. There is little blindness and no gimmickry. What defends Royal Cinque Ports is the quality of the bunkering, the firmness of the turf and the simple fact that the wind rarely sits still on this stretch of exposed coast.
Play it on a calm day and you may wonder what the fuss is about. Play it in a stiff southwester, which is the normal state of affairs, and you will discover one of the most demanding finishes in the game. Deal does not need towering dunes to test you. It tests you with wind, firmness and the relentless quality of its golf.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A members club that welcomes visitors on weekdays by prior arrangement, typically Monday to Thursday with some ball format restrictions on certain days |
| Green fee | Around 285 pounds for a single summer round, with roughly 185 in early spring and 150 in late autumn (indicative) |
| Booking | Reserve ahead through the club; visitor access is limited to certain weekdays, so plan around the available days |
| On the day | A walking links; caddies and trolleys can be arranged. A handicap certificate may be requested |
| Getting there | At Deal on the east Kent coast, around 90 minutes from central London and a short drive from Royal St George's at Sandwich |
| Best months | May to September for the firmest turf, though the closing holes are at their most demanding in an autumn wind |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the club; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with Royal Cinque Ports or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The seaside town of Deal sits right beside the links, with characterful inns and boutique hotels within a short walk, while nearby Sandwich offers the historic Bell Hotel for those pairing Deal with Royal St George's.
Many golfers base around Sandwich or Canterbury for a Kent links tour, playing Royal Cinque Ports, Royal St George's and Prince's over a few days with short transfers and easy access back to London.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Deal.
Build a Kent links tour
We pair Royal Cinque Ports with Royal St George's and Prince's for the classic Sandwich Bay links double or triple, book the tee times in the right order and handle the hotel and transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Royal Cinque Ports questions
What is the par and length of Royal Cinque Ports?
Royal Cinque Ports is a par 72 links of up to around 7,300 yards from the championship tees, with forward tees in regular visitor use. It is flat for a links but defended by firm greens, deep bunkering and a demanding finish into the prevailing wind.
Who designed Royal Cinque Ports?
The club was founded in 1892, with early work by greenkeeper Harry Hunter. James Braid's 1919 redesign lengthened and reshaped the links to championship standard, and there were later refinements by Guy Campbell in 1946 and recent sympathetic updates by Martin Ebert.
Has Royal Cinque Ports hosted The Open?
Yes. Deal hosted The Open Championship in 1909, won by JH Taylor, and in 1920, won by George Duncan. It was scheduled to host again in 1938 and 1949, but exceptionally high tides flooded the course on both occasions and the championships were moved to nearby Royal St George's.
How much does it cost to play Royal Cinque Ports?
Indicative 2026 green fees run around 285 pounds for a single summer round, roughly 185 pounds in early spring and 150 pounds in late autumn. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Design history, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.