Royal St George's clubhouseRoyal St George's clubhouse

Now this is a championship golf course!

When I first played Sandwich in mid 2010, it was in preparation for the 2011 Open Championship. The course was in great shape with the rough starting to look dangerous, and all playing surfaces in great shape . 

It is a course built on a grand scale, and I cannot imagine a better site for an Open. 

The R & A were on their way to inspect as we played, with preparations well advanced for the year ahead.

 

Royal St George's GC- starters hutRoyal St George's GC- starters hut 

 

Set out by Dr Laidlaw Purves in 1887, Royal St Georges (Sandwich) has been the site for the Open fourteen times, including Greg Norman's wonderful performance in 1993. It will also host in 2021.

My impression was that there was a lot more movement in the fairways than many links courses- the fairways really buck and roll, and the ball skittles about- you can get some ripper lies!

And it was quite a challenge to find a fairway to hit to when on the tee- with semi blind tee shots- there were glimpses but you could never be sure!

 

Did I mention I really liked this course?

It has-  some magnificent short 4's- tight and tricky

        - Wonderful par 3- all lengths, and very good green complexes

        - Lots of bunkers- very, very deep bunkers, and long rough if you miss.

 

We played of the members competition tees, and I played really well

While I was hitting fairways, and following up with decent shots to the green it was all very playable- I was 2 under through 8.....but as the game progressed it was the inevitable misses that became more memorable- I played career golf to make bogey, bogey, par on 9, 10, & 11 when I missed my approaches, and was deflected into very difficult territory . 

Sandwich does that- hit to the right spot and apparently there are not even too many blind shots- but hit to the wrong position, or miss a green and you are in serious trouble!

 

Royal St George's GC- miss the approach, pay the penalty!Royal St George's GC- miss the approach, pay the penalty!

 

Notable holes include:

 

- the stretch of holes 4, 5 & 6.

Four is a strong par 4 with an enormous (Himalayan) bunker in play off the tee. The Elysian Fields is the name of the fairway past the bunker that all golfers seek...

 

Royal St George's GC- hole 4 teeRoyal St George's GC- hole 4 tee

Royal St George's GC- hole 4 tee shotRoyal St George's GC- hole 4 tee shot

 

 

Royal St George's GC- hole 4 first bunker shotRoyal St George's GC- hole 4 first bunker shot

Royal St George's GC- hole 4, more fun in the bunkerRoyal St George's GC- hole 4, more fun in the bunker

Royal St George's GC- hole 4, still climbingRoyal St George's GC- hole 4, still climbing

Royal St George's GC- hole 4, the unplayable lieRoyal St George's GC- hole 4, the unplayable lie

 

 

 

Hole 5 is a long par 4 playing between the dunes toward the sea. The second shot must negotiate a seemingly very narrow gap between dunes to approach the green.

 

Royal St George's GC- hole 5 tee shotRoyal St George's GC- hole 5 tee shot

 

The par 3 sixth is a classic links golf short hole- it sits up proudly surrounded by a ring of bunkers, and in the wind will test your club selection, ball flight and your mettle.

 

Royal St George's GC- hole 6Royal St George's GC- hole 6

 

- hole 14, a strong par 5 with OOB right, a water hazard to cross and fairway bunkering to avoid- it is a handful for anyone

 

Royal St George'ss GC- hole 14Royal St George'ss GC- hole 14

 

- hole 16, another delightful par surrounded by bunkers- you need to hit a good shot to get home..

 

Royal St George's GC- hole 16Royal St George's GC- hole 16 

Royal St George's tests your game in all respects- your driving has to be accurate, and you have to plot your way around the course, and hit greens, for you will be penalised if you miss in the wrong spots

I thought it was fantastic

But it was too tough for me- I played one of my better games, but a double on 15 had me settling for 73.

Over the years since, I have had the chance to play Sandwich a number of times.

I have played it in indifferent weather, and seen the course in different conditions, but I will never forget that first visit.

 

If you ever get the chance, you must play Royal St George's

 

 

Golf Tours

 

The Travelling Golfer can tailor a golf tour to suit your group.
See  Destinations for itinerary suggestions.
Note also that Royal St Georges is played as part of the epic Open Rota Tours, which plays each of the current Open Championships courses in a social tournament.

 

 
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