Holly PriceThe Garden of England is perhaps an obvious choice for a golf trip – think rolling greenery beside rugged coastal terrain and one of the warmest, driest climates in the entire country. It therefore goes without saying that Kent is home to a number of championship golf courses, all waiting to be enjoyed. We’re exploring some of the county’s best below.
Location: Sandwich, CT13 9PB
Established: 1887
Green Fees: From £215 (includes dining room lunch)
Playing host to The Open Championship an impressive 15 times, Royal St George’s is on many a golfer’s links bucket list. As well as its notorious ‘Himalayas’ bunker (one of the deepest in championship golf) near the 6th green, the club has a reputation for the three-course lunch in the clubhouse. Note that a jacket and tie is required for clubhouse dining.
Location: Deal, CT14 6RF
Established: 1892
Green Fees: From £150
An infamous out-and-back course, Royal Cinque Ports (also referred to just as Deal) is known for providing ‘pure links golf’ and is a must for those seeking a challenging round at the mercy of the English elements. A series of cancelled and relocated Opens due to extreme coastal weather events has cemented its status as a venue for bringing your A-game. Gary Player quoted “The last four holes at Deal are amongst the hardest stretch in world golf.”
Location: Sandwich, CT13 9QB
Established: 1906
Green Fees: From £100
Adjacent to Royal St George’s, Prince’s is a modern links experience of 27 holes, played over three 9-hole loops which are called Shore, Dunes and Himalayas. Set to welcome the Walker Cup in 2031, the club is home to a very friendly and welcoming clubhouse.
What could be better than playing one golf course in a day? Playing three, of course. The Hagen 54 is an incredible links golf experience encompassing three of England’s finest Open Championship venues. Taking its name from the American professional Walter Hagen, this iconic adventure spans across Royal Cinque Ports, Royal St George’s and Prince’s.
Situated on the edge of the breathtaking 600-year-old Knole Estate and deer park, Knole Park Golf Club is an esteemed inland alternative in Sevenoaks. Opened in 1924 and designed by J.F. Abercromby, the course is notable for its six distinctive par-3 holes, roaming deer, ancient trees, undulating fairways, and rapid-draining Greensand Ridge subsoil that ensures year-round playability.
While ever-so-slightly over the border into East Sussex, Rye Golf Club was established in 1895 and offers a total of 27 holes. Some of the standout features here include classic links terrain on a unique dunes system, offering challenging play over 6,300 yards with firm fairways and strategic bunkering. It’s also excellently situated for vineyard-hopping, putting wine tasting on any long-weekend agenda.
Further up the coast to Broadstairs in Thanet, North Foreland Golf Club offers stunning cliff-top views over the English Channel from every hole. The main course, an 18-hole layout with four par-3s, three par-5s, and eleven par-4s, was developed on rolling chalk-based terrain with year-round play in mind. Key highlights include strategically placed bunkers, prevailing winds affecting shots, deceptively tricky greens, and a complementary 9-hole Northcliffe Par 3 course ideal for honing short games.
Made possible by a private businessman, London Golf Club is located in Ash, Kent, near Brands Hatch and just outside the M25, approximately 20 miles southeast of London. Established in the 1990s, it features two 18-hole championship courses (the Heritage and International) designed by Jack Nicklaus and Ron Kirby, totalling 36 holes across 500 acres of parkland.
Finally, Walmer & Kingsdown Golf Club is another prevalent mention in the Top 100, sitting atop the white cliffs between Deal and Dover in Kent and designed by James Braid as an 18-hole downland links course. Founded in 1909, it emphasises accuracy amid woodland, wildlife, and pristine greens. Notable for sparkling sea views and some iconic moments in golf history, including Roger Game’s 1964 feat of acing two successive holes (#7 and #8), the first in Britain.
Accessible, idyllic and teeming with glorious golf courses, Kent is the perfect choice for a few days spent honing your handicap. Keepers Cottages have a wealth of self-catering holiday cottages in Kent, equipped with everything from the basics through to scenic garden saunas. Explore the complete collection here.
