Wending its way through the sand-dunes of the Kent coast, Royal St. Georges is perhaps one of the UKs premier links golf courses, and as one of the golf courses which feature on the Open Championship rotation golfers are assured an excellent test.

Sometimes referred to as ‘Sandwich’ – Royal St. Georges is situated in Sandwich, Kent – the course was founded in 1887 among an area of wild dunes and entered the Open rotation in 1894 when it became the first golf course outside of Scotland to host the world’s premier major tournament. In all, the course has staged the Open on thirteen occasions and will host the world’s best once again in 2011.

Ben Curtis lifted the Claret Jug the last time the Open was played amongst the course’s towering sand dunes, to join an impressive list of former winners. Past winners of the tournament at Royal St. Georges are J.H Taylor (1894); Sir Harry Vardon (1899, 1911); Jack White (1904); Walter Hagen (1922, 1928); Henry Cotton (1934); Reg Whitcombe (1938); Bobby Locke (1949); Bill Rodgers (1981); Sandy Lyle (1985) and Greg Norman (1993).

Royal St. George’s offers up a stern challenge as it winds its way through the sand dunes. Having been carved through the dunes and hills the course throws up a challenging mix of punishing rough and deep bunkers whose faces are steep and unforgiving. The course possesses the deepest bunker in championship golf, which is located on the course’s fourth hole.

And of course, the challenge only intensifies when the wind gets up.

Royal St George’s is situated on the same stretch of coastline as Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club and neighbouring Prince’s Golf Club, both of which are former Open Championship venues while there is also a range of lesser known courses in the nearby vicinity. The James Bond author, Ian Fleming, used Royal St Georges as the basis for his Royal St. Marks golf club in the 1959 novel, ‘Goldfinger’ although in the film the scenes were actually shot at Stoke Park Golf Club.

The town of Sandwich is a historic town and considered by many to be the most complete medieval town in the country. With a good array of shops, bars and restaurants the town has plenty to offer visitors when they are not on the course, while the towns of Canterbury, Dover and Ramsgate are all easily reachable by car.

With so much quality golf on offer in the area, its little wonder then that golf breaks in the area are popular, especially given the opportunity to tackle the Open Championship standard courses that are on offer here.

Yourgolftravel.com offers Open Championship tour packages which feature rounds at Royal St Georges, as well as rounds at the nearby Royal Cinque Ports and Prince’s courses. Prices for this Open Championship tour starts at £468 and includes accommodation, breakfast and a round of golf on each course.

For more information on Royal St Georges golf tours, simply visit www.yourgolftravel.com or call 0800 043 6644