Where to Play Golf on the Channel Coast of England Must-Play Courses on the Southeast Coast of England Along the shores of the southeastern corner of England, in the same neighborhood as the famous White Cliffs of Dover and the setting for Canterbury Tales, is a collection of links golf courses worthy of far more…
Royal Cinque Ports
Course Guide
- Club Founded: 1892
- Par 72
- 6623 Yards
- Designers: Henry Hunter, James Braid, Sir Guy Campbell
- GOLF World Top 100: #100
- Pro Tip: Enjoy the punchbowl green at the 3rd hole.
Nearby Courses
Royal Cinque Ports Podcast
Course Description
Among the numerous redeeming qualities of the game of golf is the manner in which courses can connect with the golfer in a deeply personal way. Whether it’s the local muni where the game was first learned as a child, or the member of The Open rota where a standout day was etched in memory, every golfer has that course which tugs at the heartstrings. For those enjoying golf trips to southeast England and the Channel Coast, there's a links which boasts a level of admiration from its patrons that few courses can match.
Royal Cinque Ports, more commonly known as Deal, was established in 1892 and derived its name from the series of coastal towns that, beginning in the 12th century, were charged with maintaining a navy and defending the shores on behalf of the Crown. The club’s first 9-hole links was laid out by its head greenkeeper, Henry Hunter, and was quickly extended to a full 18-holes. The ravages of two World Wars went on to cause extensive damage to the course, making today’s links a patchwork of sorts by various architects. James Braid was commissioned after World War I to reconstruct holes 8 through 12, while Sir Guy Campbell made further repairs to the links after World War II.
Royal Cinque Ports – Two-time Host of The Open
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.
Ready to Experience Royal Cinque Ports and England's Channel Coast?
Download Your Ultimate Guide to The English Links
The Complete Guide to
England Golf Travel
What's covered in this free 30+ page guide:
- The best regions for golf in England.
- Tips for making the most of your trip.
- Where to enjoy the Good Life between rounds.
- Lesser known courses you should play.
Plus links to nearly 50 additional guides and resources.
By downloading up you agree to receive marketing communications from Haversham & Baker and have read our privacy policy.
Learn More About Royal Cinque Ports and Golf in England
7 Things to See at Royal St. George’s Golf Club
7 Things to See at Royal St. George’s Golf Club Explore the Channel Coast’s Open Championship Venue After an unexpected year-long delay, The Open Championship returned to Royal St. George’s Golf Club and the Channel Coast of England in 2021. The first club outside of Scotland to join The Open Championship venues, the event marked…
Where to Play Golf in England – The Best Regions for a Golf Trip
Where to Play Golf in England The Best Regions for Your Golf Trip When golfers come to us looking to plan an H&B golf tour of England, the process often begins a little different than it might for Scotland or Ireland. Unlike those countries, where the bucket-list courses are a bit more obvious, England…
How to Choose the Right Golf Travel Company
How to Choose the Right Golf Travel Company Tips for Deciding Who to Trust for Your Journey So you’ve been appointed to the rank of Captain for your upcoming golf trip. In the time since, perhaps you’ve scoured the internet in search of answers to your numerous questions. Seeing that you’ve landed on our…
GOLF Top 100 Courses – Best in Scotland, Ireland and England
GOLF Top 100 Courses in the World Best in Scotland, Ireland, and England The GOLF Magazine Top 100 golf courses in the world list is out for 2023/2024. We’re not here to quibble over particular rankings. We’ll leave those debates to social media and the various online forums. But as much as we’d…
Your Guide to 2025 Golf Trips to Scotland, Ireland, and England
Your Guide to 2025 Golf Trips to Scotland, Ireland, and England Best Destinations and Planning Tips Given the extraordinary demand for international travel, planning for 2025 golf trips to Scotland, Ireland, and England is already well underway. Based on initial inquiries and early bookings, we anticipate 2025 will be another record-breaking year for overseas…
10 Tips for a Stress-Free Golf Trip Across the Pond
1o Tips for a Stress-Free Golf Trip Across the Pond How to Keep Your Golf Trip in the Fairway After weeks, months, or even years of stressing over the details and reading countless tips for planning your overseas golf trip, the time has finally come to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor.…
Who to Invite on Your Overseas Golf Trip
Who to Invite on Your Golf Trip Across the Pond Essential Tips for the Success of Your Journey The early stages of planning an overseas golf trip brings along a range of questions. From when to begin planning a Scotland golf trip, to the hours of the Guinness Storehouse in Ireland, with countless others in-between,…
Discover More of Golf at its Finest with H&B