4 Day Kent Coast Links Itinerary
The Sandwich corner of east Kent holds the finest cluster of links in the south of England, three of them within a few miles, one of them a fifteen time Open venue. This four day trip plays Royal St George's, Royal Cinque Ports at Deal, the 27 hole Prince's and the old links at Littlestone, all from a single base in the historic town of Sandwich. Here is the plan, with indicative 2026 green fees and drive times.
Photograph: Royal St George's Golf Club, via Google
Who this trip suits
This is the great links break within easy reach of London, ideal for a golf group or a couple who want championship links golf without the journey to Scotland or Ireland. Sandwich, Deal and the surrounding marsh sit close together on the east Kent coast, so four rounds need only one base and short drives, and the town itself is one of the prettiest in England. It suits players who relish the true links examination, firm turf, deep bunkers and the wind off the Channel, set against a backdrop of medieval streets and good food.
The round that shapes the trip is Royal St George's, which admits visitors on limited days and asks for a handicap, so it must be booked first and built around. Lock that in, slot the other three around it, and you have one of the best value links trips in Britain, a short hop from the capital or the Channel ports.
The 4 day plan
Royal St George's, Sandwich
Open with the giant, the only Open course in the south of England and host of fifteen Championships, most recently Collin Morikawa's win in 2021. Royal St George's is the most natural and rumpled of links, a tumble of dunes and hidden hollows where no two stances are the same, with the famous fourth and its towering bunker among the sternest holes in the game. Visitors play on limited days with a handicap index of 18.4 or better, often with the celebrated dining room lunch; indicative 2026 fees start around 215 pounds. Book first.
Royal Cinque Ports, Deal
A few minutes up the coast at Deal lies one of the great underrated links, twice an Open host in its own right and, for many, a sterner and purer test than its famous neighbour. The course runs out along the shingle and back into the prevailing wind, with a closing stretch that ranks among the hardest finishes in England. Visitors are welcome Monday to Thursday; indicative 2026 green fees are around 285 pounds in peak season and 150 in the shoulder. A connoisseur's round.
Prince's Golf Club, Sandwich
Next door to Royal St George's, on the same stretch of dune, sits Prince's, where Gene Sarazen won the 1932 Open. Reborn as a 27 hole links of three nine hole loops, the Shore, the Dunes and the Himalayas, it is the most welcoming of the group, happy to take visitors and fourballs seven days a week, with a fine modern clubhouse and lodge for a relaxed day. Mix and match the loops, and enjoy a championship links with none of the access fuss. Confirm current green fees directly before booking.
Littlestone Golf Club
Close the trip a little to the south on Romney Marsh, where Littlestone offers honest, old fashioned links golf laid out in the 1880s and shaped by some of the game's great architects over the years. Quieter and far cheaper than its grand neighbours, it is a genuine championship links with a memorable run home, and the ideal relaxed, value finish to a links rich week. Confirm current green fees directly; this is the round that keeps the trip affordable.
Green fees, drive times and logistics
| Round | Indicative 2026 fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Royal St George's | From around 215 pounds, higher in summer | Limited visitor days; handicap 18.4 or better |
| Royal Cinque Ports, Deal | Around 285 pounds peak, 150 in shoulder | Visitors Monday to Thursday; 10 minutes away |
| Prince's | Confirm current rates directly | 27 holes; visitors seven days; next to Royal St George's |
| Littlestone | Confirm current rates directly; the value round | About 30 minutes south on Romney Marsh |
| Base | One hotel in Sandwich or Deal | All courses within about 30 minutes |
Green fees and drive times verified indicatively in June 2026 from course listings; they vary by season and day and change without notice, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking. Find a Kent links hotel.
When to go and where to stay
Play the Kent links from May to September for the firmest turf and the best weather, or take the spring and autumn shoulder for markedly lower fees and quieter fairways, accepting more wind off the Channel. Base yourself in or around Sandwich and Deal, where characterful inns and small hotels put every course within half an hour and the medieval town within walking distance of dinner. East Kent is an easy drive or train from London and a short hop from the Channel ports, so the trip works as a long weekend or a relaxed four day break. A hire car handles the short transfers with ease.
Plan your Kent links trip
We secure the Royal St George's visitor day, slot the other three rounds around it, match the base to the golf and the town, and arrange the short transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Kent links itinerary questions
What are the best links courses on the Kent coast?
The Sandwich corner of east Kent holds three of England's great links within a few miles of one another: Royal St George's, a 15 time Open venue, Royal Cinque Ports at Deal, and the 27 hole Prince's, which hosted the 1932 Open. Littlestone, a little to the south, completes a four round trip. All sit within about half an hour of the town of Sandwich, so one base covers the week. Always confirm current tee times and fees directly before booking.
Can visitors play Royal St George's?
Yes, on limited days and with a handicap requirement. Royal St George's welcomes visitors on certain days, typically with a handicap index of 18.4 or better required and verified at check in, and some rounds include the club's celebrated dining room lunch. Tee times are limited and go early, so book well ahead. Indicative 2026 green fees start around 215 pounds on a winter Tuesday with lunch and rise into the autumn and summer. Always confirm current access, handicap rules and fees directly before booking.
How much does a Kent links golf trip cost in green fees?
Four rounds across the Kent links run to roughly 700 to 900 pounds per golfer in green fees in the 2026 peak season, with Royal St George's the dearest of the group and Littlestone and shoulder season Prince's the value. Spring and autumn rates are markedly lower than high summer, and Royal Cinque Ports drops from around 285 pounds in peak to 150 in the shoulder. These are indicative figures, so always confirm current fees directly before booking.
Where should you stay for a Kent coast golf trip?
Base yourself in or around Sandwich and Deal, which puts Royal St George's, Prince's and Royal Cinque Ports within minutes and Littlestone about half an hour south. The historic town of Sandwich offers characterful inns and easy access to all the courses without relocating, and the wider east Kent coast adds Canterbury and the Channel ports for non golf days. A hire car makes the short hops simple. Always confirm current availability directly before booking.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Indicative green fees and drive times verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.