Weariness set in this morning as we set out to play the ancient links at Deal (Royal Cinque Ports GC).
Site of a couple of Open Championships a century ago, Deal was laid out in 1892 by Henry Hunter with some assistance from James Braid.
The field in front of us was extra slow through the first few holes, and when the rain came in, our tired bodies seem to cry out for relief- perhaps we should do some sightseeing instead?
But we warmed to our task, joined a lovely English couple playing behind us, and ventured forth to explore the links
I thought the course was good- but not as quirky as I had expected .
It was more like a Scottish links IMO, because it had little elevation change for most of the course, which was really defined by it's bunkering.
Deal is a stringent test of golf, and ideal for championships.
Each par is well earned, and the last 7 holes, often played into the prevailing wind are brutal.
Perhaps we should have played Cinque Ports before Sandwich- after the grand scale and drama of Royal St Georges the day before, Cinque Ports suffered a little in comparison...
The second time I played Deal I knew what was coming and really enjoyed the authenticity of the links.
I think it is an ideal warm up to Sandwich on the Open Rota Tour (rather than the other way around)
It's hard, but it is still a lovely links course - it's the REAL DEAL !
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