See other reviews from James Dilworth. The first major one of these is the 4th, in which players have to play over the massive Sahara bunker. The Open Championship returns to St George’s for the 15th time in 2020, when the Club will host the 149th Open Championship, The Royal St. George's Golf Club, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9PB | Tel: 01304 613090, © Copyright 2018 Design and Photography by Jason Livy. Respond to above review The 10th has a great ‘infinity green’ and going long here is simply not an option. I witnessed Mr. Norman missing the 12” putt on seventeen but I don’t think he cared about not scoring a 63. It has the out-of-bounds to the right and the very tall grass to the left and another undulating green that seems to go in every direction with fall-offs on all sides. Only wide wheeled trolleys may be used on the course - these can be hired from the Professional. Hole 14 has cost a number of players The Open and is all about the tee shot. Having visited Deal the day before I’d thankfully learned that it didn’t matter how long the hole was, take an iron and find the fairway. Some would call out #14 but I think technology has lessened its challenge unless the wind is high. At St. Andrews you feel the town and hotel and there are eyes on you on the first, seventeenth and eighteenth. The tee shot challenges the player to drive down the left skirting the bunker hidden from the tee. The best holes are 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 16. 3 people found this review helpful The one question I have always had is why more of the golf course is not closer to the sea as there is a sizeable acreage between the boundary of holes fourteen, sixteen and eighteen including the location of the driving range. "Whatever petty criticisms have been leveled over the lack of visibility on some holes, or the need for good fortune to master its difficulties, Sandwich has the four prerequisites of great architecture, and it has them in spades," continues Tom Doak. At first I was a little underwhelmed, however, after taking the trip down to the Kent coast multiple times this year, I am starting to appreciate what a great course this is. Website +44 1304 613090. They are all unique. The tee shot on hole 13 is blind so I tend to aim at the middle of the Prince’s lodges in the distance. 8 is another fantastic par 4, hitting your drive to the top of a hill, and then your approach down to a sunken green. 9 is one of my favourite approach shots in golf. I hope it is still open and there hasn’t been too much development as it is a fabulous view on a good weather day. This is a very undulating fairway and a difficult hole. The Adizero golf shoe, manufactured by Adidas, features an aggressive cleat/stud which can do very noticeable damage to greens, particularly in damp conditions. Club selection and accuracy are key here as getting up and down from short, left or right is very difficult. I had a great day here last year- 36 holes of foursomes with a hell of a lunch in-between, just try not to spill gravy down yourself like I did! Reg Whitcombe followed in Cotton’s footsteps four years later when The Open returned again to Royal St. George’s, prevailing by two shots over Jimmy Adams for his only major title. [2], The Club's Challenge Cup dates from 1888 and is one of the oldest amateur events in golf. WOW. There is a sense of vastness here, other than in the corner of holes four and five. The 6th, Maiden, is a great par 3. Many, except for devout traditionalists, believe that these changes further improved the layout. Brabazon Trophy, The 8th is probably my favourite hole with a drive which requires a slight fade to hold the fairway which is perched up onto another plateau that runs slightly from left to right. Visitors may play having been introduced by a member, or on production of a letter of introduction from their Club Secretary to office@royalstgeorges.com. 8 people found this review helpful Saturday and Sunday's are reserved for members. This hole was previously a par 4 but changed by Mr. Pennink to provide a fourth par 3. The Royal St. George’s Golf Club, … St. George’s is a private facility. Greens were undulating but unfortunate … Robin’s intel was regrettably correct. The format of the day was two-ball strokeplay in the morning, lunch and then foursomes in the afternoon. Golf World rates RSG No.3 in the Top 100 Golf Courses in England and No.10 in the Top 100 Golf Courses in UK & Ireland. Founded in 1887 and intended by its founder, Dr William Laidlaw Purves, to be a rival to St Andrew’s in the South of England, St George’s is consistently ranked amongst the leading courses in the World. The burning treatment, which can be viewed between October and February, was undertaken to reduce the sward thatch and encourage native grey dune plant species and has been very successful. The good news is that it can be lengthened possibly another two hundred yards. Following the latest guidance from the Government, the Club will reopen to visiting golfers on. I should, actually, add some meteorological perspective here. All scenery is bleak yet wonderful, lonely but exhilarating and being out there on my own for my second round was a real treat and privilege. Management trials indicated that burning as a management regime promoted an increase in native swards. I recall a lot of bunkers on this par 5 at the right corner for the tee shot and the right side of the green. New holes were built to replace blind shots and holes too influenced by the dunes resulting in long forced carries. That’s what we pay for though, right? The views and the environment of The Irish is outstanding. There were a lot of bunkers on this hole when I played it but I believe more have been added. Was this review helpful? The Royal St George's Golf Club located in Sandwich, Kent, England, is a golf club in the United Kingdom and one of the courses on The Open Championship rotation and is the only Open rota golf course to be located in Southern England. The local knowledge he garnered from the club professional proved invaluable on the sun-baked links in 2003 as he became the first debutant winner of the Open since Tom Watson in 1975.