We know all about the famous courses on the Open Championship rota and while ticking the likes of Turnberry, the St Andrews Old Course and Royal Liverpool (Hoylake to most) off your golfing bucketlist is a must for any serious golfers, you can get a taste of the Open and traditional links golf for a snip of the price at various venues around the country.
Perhaps the best value for money you can enjoy with this standard of golf in mind can be found next door to one of the big boys in Open Championship golf.
Sharing the same piece of land as Royal St George’s, Princes Golf Club offers amazing value for money and with the Lodge at Princes now providing visiting golfers with the ideal accommodation option just a stone’s throw from the 1st tee, this former Open Championship host also offers one of the most comprehensive stay & play options for links golf in the UK.
History…
The original layout at Princes was opened in 1906 and was intended to be a friendlier club than Royal St George’s where men, ladies and juniors would be welcome to play the links.
The course was commandeered by the military during both World Wars, becoming a coastal defence and training area with barbed wire entanglements and anti-aircraft batteries and was almost completely obliterated during World War II.
Seven years before the start of World War II though, the course enjoyed its proudest moment when hosting the 1932 Open Championship. Gene Sarazen, known as “The Squire”, eventually ran out as the winner and in doing so became the 1st player to win all four major championships.
Sir Guy Campbell and John Morrison were the men responsible for re-building Prince’s after the course was left devastated after World War II. Perhaps thanks to divine intervention, the pair were able to save 17 of the original greens and incorporated them into their newly restored layout.
The restoration at Princes saw the original 18 holes joined by an additional 9 and now golfers can enjoy taking on the Dunes, Shore and Himalayas courses during their time at Princes.
On the Tee…
As previously stated, Princes is home to three separate loops of nine, all of which offer excellent tests of old school links golf.
The Dunes and Shore courses made up the original championship course at Princes and probably make up the strongest 18 hole challenge at Princes. That is not to say the Himalayas isn’t up to scratch. This loop of nine is slightly shorter than its older siblings and slightly further in land but it still asks plenty of your game and is certainly worth playing during any Princes Golf Break.
Naturally sculpted by the sands of time, the Dunes, Shore and Himalaya courses follow the natural lie of the land and with devilish pot bunkers, shrewdly designed run off areas around the greens and long, penal rough providing the course with plenty of protection, all three courses offer bona fide tests of links golf. Choose your tees wisely – the course stretches to well over 7,000 yards from the championship tees – and keep the ball in play off the tee, laying up short of the pot bunkers or blasting it over them, and the foundations of a good round will be in place. As with any links course, a tidy short game will be required if you miss the greens but good iron shots will provide plenty of scoring opportunities, thanks in large part to the quality of the greens, which are fast and true throughout most of the year.
Views out over the English Channel and across Pegwell Bay make Princes a wonderful place to play golf, even if your A game deserts you!
Signature Hole…
It’s no easy task to pick just one signature hole at Princes, such is the quality of the overall golfing experience.
The 9th on the Himalayas is a cracking par 4 and boasts one of the standout features at the club in the form of the hugely treacherous Sarazen bunker which guards the front left of the green.
The opening hole on the Dunes Course is also a tough nut to crack. Doglegging sharply from right to left from the tee, getting the ball in play here is no easy task and ensure golfers are fully concentrated from the off.
The par 4 5th on the Shores Course is also memorable, with a narrow raised green that is well protected by cavernous revetted bunkers as well as views out over the sea and over towards The Lodge which suits pretty awaiting your arrival after your round.
Food & Drink…
While a trip from Princes into town, whether it be Deal or Sandwich which are about 20 and 10 minutes away by car respectively, to sample local fish and chips or indeed a lovely spot of pub grub is certainly recommended, The Lodge at Princes is more than capable of satisfying the culinary requirements of even the most discerning of diners.
The Brasserie on The Bay, located conveniently on the ground floor of the Lodge, is an intimate venue boasting not only top class food and drink, but stunning views across the English Channel and over to the White Cliffs of Ramsgate, not to mention to surrounding golf course.
Whether it’s lunch before you head for the 1st tee, dinner after a long day on the fairways or indeed a special occasion, The Brasserie on The Bay offers a top class dining experience, with menus created to coincide with seasonal produce and wherever possible, local Kentish providers are chosen to ensure ingredients are as fresh as possible.
Chefs are also on hand to create bespoke menus upon your request, ensuring that no matter what you’re hankering after, you’ll find it at The Brasserie on The Bay.
As you might expect, Deal and Sandwich are great places to find a traditional country pub to hole up in for the evening but should you not feel like venturing away from The Lodge, there is also a cosy Lounge Bar onsite with log fires and a great selection of drinks and cocktails. The award-winning mixologist at Princes is adept at mixing a little something to compliment the dishes on offer in The Brasserie so a cocktail or two is a must before moving into the beer.
What Else to Do…
Kent is white cliffs country so a quick drive down the coast and you’ll have the perfect photo opportunity during your days away from the golf course, there is plenty of other stuff to see and do as well.
History lovers will enjoy exploring local landmarks such as Canterbury Cathedral, Dover Castle and Deal Castle, while the Port Lumpne and Howletts Zoos ensure a great day out for all the family. Westwood cross is the place to head for a spot of retail therapy and for those who like to blow the froth off a couple at the pub, Shepherd Neame Brewery tours provide a fascinating insight into the production of Kentish Ales and speciality lagers.
Who to Take…
While there is plenty on offer away from the golf course in this charming corner of England, Prince’s is best suited to groups of golfers looking for the ultimate stay and play experience near the coast.
After golf, what better way to spend the evening than with a pub crawl through Sandwich, or alternatively sat outside the lodge on the terrace, enjoying a well deserved beer or two.
With a full sized snooker table also present at The Lodge, the competition can be carried from the golf course and long into the night. Those looking to sample no frills golf with a huge slice of convenience in the shape of The Lodge will be hard pressed to top a weekend at Prince’s.
When to Go…
Like with any classic links course, Prince’s boasts firm and fast-draining sandy turf that means the course is eminently playable all year round. Of course there is little that can beat walking the fairways on a links course with the sun at your back on a summer’s evening, but should you feel the need to wrap up warm and hit the golf course during the winter months, Prince’s will almost certainly be in better condition than the vast majority of courses throughout the country.
The added bonus of the quite unbelievable value for money on stay & play breaks throughout the winter months (known as the “low season” in the bizz) makes Prince’s a great golf break venue right throughout the year.
Getting There…
From London, a quick blast down the M2 will take you as far as you can go before your journey continues and concludes along more narrow country lanes, through peaceful towns and out towards the coastline. The driver from the English capital takes just over a couple of hours on a clear day and is much more pleasant than you might think.
Trains can also be caught from London down to Sandwich where a short taxi ride will complete the job of getting to Prince’s.
