Royal St George's
England's grandest links and a fixture on the Open rota. Laid out at Sandwich in 1887 by Dr William Laidlaw Purves, who is said to have chosen the ground from a church tower, Royal St George's became the first club outside Scotland to host the Open and has staged it 15 times since. Big, wild and famously demanding, with the deepest bunkers and the most rumpled fairways in English golf, it is a bucket list round on the Kent coast.
Photo: The Royal St George's Golf Club via Google, contributor glen28wright.
The verdict
Royal St George's is the great English Open links, a course that divides opinion and rewards study. Where the famous Scottish links can feel orderly, Sandwich is gloriously untamed: fairways heave and tilt, stances are rarely level, several drives are semi blind over dunes, and the bunkering is as deep and severe as anything in championship golf. Dr Purves built a links that asks you to accept a measure of luck and then to control everything else, and the best players in the world have wrestled with it for well over a century.
For the travelling golfer it is the headline act of a Kent golf coast trip, sitting alongside Royal Cinque Ports and Prince's within a few miles of each other. It suits the player who wants genuine Open history and a stern, characterful test, and who can take the rough with the smooth when the bounces do not go their way. Stand on the first tee where Open champions have stood, and you understand why Sandwich holds its place on the rota.
Royal St George's at a glance
- Designer
- W L Purves
- Opened
- 1887
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- 7,204 yds
- Green fee
- From £165 to £330
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and course databases; Royal St George's plays around 7,204 yards, par 70, and has hosted 15 Opens, most recently in 2021. Green fees are indicative, from around 165 pounds in winter to around 330 pounds in the summer peak in 2026, with the round inclusive of clubhouse dining. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The hole everyone remembers is the 4th, guarded by one of the largest and most intimidating bunkers in golf, a sheer faced cavern set into the side of a dune that has swallowed countless tee shots. The carry is genuine and the sight of it from the tee sets the tone for the whole round: at Sandwich, the trouble is real and it is in play.
The par 5 14th, long known as the Suez Canal hole, is the other classic, a long two shotter for the brave with out of bounds tight down the right and a stream, the Suez Canal itself, crossing the fairway to catch anything underhit. It is a hole that has decided Opens, and it asks the same question of every visitor: how much do you dare take on.
Through the rest of the round the defining feature is the ground itself, the constant uneven lies, the half hidden hollows and the firm, fast running turf that turns every approach into a question of judgment. Add the Kent coast wind, which can switch a benign morning into a brutal afternoon, and Royal St George's gives you a links examination of the highest order.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A private members club that welcomes visitors on selected days; a handicap index of 18.4 or lower is required, with proof on arrival |
| Green fee | From around 165 pounds in winter to around 330 pounds in the summer peak in 2026, inclusive of clubhouse dining (indicative) |
| Booking | Book well ahead and check the visitor schedule, as singles, pairs and larger groups are allowed on different days |
| On the day | A walking links with caddies available on request and a fine traditional clubhouse; smart dress on and off the course |
| Getting there | At Sandwich in east Kent, about 90 minutes from central London and close to Royal Cinque Ports and Prince's |
| Best months | May to September for the firmest links turf and the longest days, though the coast wind is always a factor |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the club; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with Royal St George's or your trip planner. See our full guide on how to play Royal St George's, or check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The medieval town of Sandwich is the natural base, a charming, walkable spot with inns and hotels minutes from the links, while the nearby seaside towns of Deal and Ramsgate add coastal character and a wider choice of places to stay. From any of them the three great Kent links sit within a short drive of each other.
For a London combination, Sandwich is close enough for a long weekend from the capital, so a group can pair a city stay with a day or two on the Kent coast, or settle in for a full links itinerary across Royal St George's, Royal Cinque Ports and Prince's.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Sandwich.
Stay and play on the Kent coast
We arrange Royal St George's alongside Royal Cinque Ports and Prince's, secure the visitor tee times and sort a Sandwich or London base with the transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Royal St George's questions
Who designed Royal St George's and when did it open?
Royal St George's was laid out by Dr William Laidlaw Purves, a Scottish surgeon who spotted the links land from the tower of a Sandwich church, and it opened in 1887. In 1894 it became the first club outside Scotland to host the Open Championship.
What is the par and length of Royal St George's?
Royal St George's is a par 70 of around 7,204 yards from the championship tees. Its defence is the wild, rumpled links ground, deep bunkering, blind shots and the Kent coast wind rather than length alone.
How many Opens has Royal St George's hosted?
Royal St George's has hosted the Open Championship 15 times, most recently in 2021 when Collin Morikawa won on his debut in the event. It remains one of the regular venues on the Open rota.
How much does it cost to play Royal St George's?
Indicative 2026 visitor green fees run from around 165 pounds in winter to around 330 pounds in the summer peak, with the round inclusive of clubhouse dining. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Can visitors play Royal St George's?
Yes, on selected days and times. Visitors must hold a handicap index of 18.4 or lower and provide proof on arrival. Singles and pairs play on certain days, three and four balls on others, so check the visitor schedule and book well ahead.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par, yardage and Open history verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.