Royal Cinque Ports

It was the war against water, however, which played an equally disruptive role in Deal’s history. The club had previously hosted two Opens - 1909 and 1920 - and was set to host another in 1938 when an abnormally high tide and unfavorable winds flooded the course and prompted The Open to relocate to Royal St. George’s. After the post-war reconstruction, Deal was set to host the Claret Jug in 1949, yet the same unfortunate events played out once again. Today, a massive seawall protects the course from flooding, but its arrival was a bit too late to save the club’s place in The Open rota.

So how is it that Deal manages to charm so many of its admirers? Put simply, this is links golf in its purest form. The ground bumps and rolls its way over the terrain, the wind is constant, the lies are tight, and the bunkers are best avoided. Needless to say, the round at Deal can prove rather long for those without a solid ground game and a sense of creativity. Yet when those features are paired with holes like the 3rd and its punchbowl putting surface, or the 16th and its plateau green similar to the Alps at Prestwick, it’s easy to see why so many become spellbound by this historic links.

Of course, not everyone comes away with the same affection for Deal. Much like the Old Course at St. Andrews, those expecting sweeping seaside panoramas will rarely find them thanks to the seawall. And again like the Old Course, this is a links that often takes numerous playings before its greatness is truly apparent to the golfer. But for lovers of the links game, the memories and smiles come rather easy at Deal.