Happy St George’s Day YGT golfers! To celebrate the day we thought we’d take a look at the course named after England’s patron saint, Royal St George’s.
Royal St Georges is set on a spectacular piece of undulating land that is dominated by huge sand dunes and wild, rugged rough; land that first had its golfing potential recognised by Dr William Laidlaw Purves in 1885. Purves, a Scot who was a member of Royal Wimbledon Golf Club and a keen scratch golfer to boot, set on turning this glorious patch of links land into a golf course and in 1887 the course, named simply St George’s at the time, was opened for play.
Many of the greens at Royal St George’s are supremely well protected which places an emphasis on precise iron play.
St George’s didn’t take long to make waves in the world of golf and after just seven years it was selected to host its first Open Championship which was also the first Open to be held anywhere outside of Scotland. The recognition gained after the Open lead to Royal status being granted in 1902 and since then it has been known by its more familiar name of Royal St George’s.
Unlike many of the classic links courses built around the same time, Royal St George’s doesn’t follow a traditional nine out and nine back routing, but is the only classic links ingredient missing from the wonderful course. Dunes and wild rough frame the fairways and, of course, there are devilish bunkers, many of the pot variety, all over the course. Many of you will be aware of the giant bunker on the 4th. At well over 40 feet tall this is the deepest bunker in championship golf and one of the most iconic sights in the game; an absolute killer for any golfer whose tee shot finds its sandy depths!
If you think the bunker here on the 4th doesn’t look like much from above, just wait until you stand beside it!
Offering one of the most difficult tests in golf, Royal St George’s demands solid ball striking, sensible course management and a tidy short game, particularly in the summer when the course is running fast and firm. A classic links which in testing weather conditions can be a real brute at times, Royal St George’s has a feel and atmosphere all of its own, helped along by unique details such as the thatched roofs on the shelters around the course (these can come in handy from time to time by the way) and the red cross of St George on the flags; a reminder of the course’s association with the Patron Saint of England.
The Clubhouse at Royal St Georges is quaint and charming, as are the thatched roofs on the course’s shelter huts.
Set on a the same patch of land as other English links heavyweights including Princes Golf Club and Royal Cinque Ports – both former Open Championship hosts – Royal St Georges is in good company and can be enjoyed (by those who dare) on a golf tour of the Kent coastline. Commanding views over Pegwell Bay and the white cliffs of Dover ensure an engaging experience on your way around this masterful links even if your game is out of sync and for those who are based in the city of London, a couple of days in and around charming villages such as Sandwich and Deal, both a stone’s throw from the sea, is a blissfully relaxing experience.
If you are looking to enjoy some championship links golf then Kent’s great triumvirate, lead of course by the mighty Royal St George’s, is not to be missed.