Royal St George Golf Club

Royal St. George's tends to be a controversial link in that it attracts opposite views. This wild links at Sandwich can divide opinion by virtue of its humps and hollows as well as its blind shots, the occasional bad bounce or mystifying lost ball that the eccentric quirky topography can create.

Professional golfers might argue for the merits of Muirfield or Turnberry over Royal St. George's believing that hazards should be seen so that playing strategies can be developed accordingly. Many enjoy the fun element of a quirky course.

Furthermore, the club's main founder in 1887, Doctor Purves was seeking links land to rival that in Scotland where his club memberships included St Andrews where the Old Course has some unusual characteristics. It can be argued that Royal St. George's represents the best of both worlds. It retains its quirk and charm which has been somewhat softened over the years. The Championship layout however provides a worthy challenge across these extensive links. Its characteristics are unique, unlike all the other Open rota courses except ‘The Old Course at St. Andrews’.

 

History of Royal St George Golf Club

Dr. W. L. Purves was the leading founder and creator of Royal St George's Golf Club. He was a member at  Muirfield and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. After moving to London, he became a member of the Royal Wimbledon Golf Club. Missing links golf, Doctor Purves went to the Kentish coast in search of dune land to rival the best in Scotland.

The chosen terrain at Sandwich Bay was spied from the top of St Clements Church in Sandwich. The club was established on May 23, 1887, named after England’s patron saint whereas St Andrews was named after the Scottish patron saint. It became a Royal Golf Club on May 17, 1902, when King Edward VII conferred the royal title. He was the club's first royal patron and the royal club captain from 1927-28.

The Club occupies a unique place in the history of golf, for it was here in 1894, that the Open Championship was first played outside of Scotland just seven years after the club was formed. In that year, the great J. H. Taylor was the winner but there have been fourteen other winners over the years at Royal St. George's.

Some holes have been noticeably changed in order to continue to host golf's most important event. The club makes for a fascinating study in the development of golf course architecture over time. Understanding when what, and who drove certain changes to these historic links traces the evolution of the game as well.

For instance, the shift from gutta-percha to the rubber core Haskell brought alterations to the course prior to hosting the 1911 Open. As golf course architecture became more defined during its Golden Age, the desire to balance the length of the two nines drove further changes.

After World War II, blind shots became unpopular and the club lost some goodwill until modifications were made in the mid-1970s by Frank Pennink whose design philosophy was aligned to that of the Golden Age architects, such as Colt and Simpson.

Yet, throughout all its variations, Royal St. George's has remained true to its founder's vision of being an epic test in one of the game's great secluded settings. Royal St George’s is consistently ranked amongst the leading courses in the world.

 

Royal St George’s Golf Club 

7204 yards, Par 70

The dunes at Sandwich are wild and untamed unlike anything found at Muirfield, St Andrews, or the other three English courses currently on the Open roster. The layout of the course has not changed greatly over the years.

It has had minor changes softening some of the more quirky elements but it still provides a stiff test to professional and amateur alike. The course is laid out with the routing in two loops. This means that no two successive holes play in the same direction, making the ability to play shots in all wind conditions a necessity to score well.

The course has been lengthened over the years so that beyond its charm and quirks there is a fearsome challenge. Members and visitors come from all over the world, to enjoy a world-class golf course and the unrivaled standards, ethos, and welcome that St George’s offers.

Each tee shot is a forced carry-over dune or gorse. Whilst most golfers playing from appropriate tees won't be overwhelmed, even the best players in the world will need to be on their game when playing from the back tees. There are also some island fairways providing target golf from the tee. For those who love golf for its uncertainties, there is no more character-building place to play in England.

This is an endlessly fascinating link where imagination, nonchalance, and humour are as useful to enjoying your round. The movement in the fairway’s ebbs and flows. There are portions of fairways that offer respite, especially on the back nine.

However, the lively nature of the fairways creates bounces and ricochets which add a layer of uncertainty, unfairness, and providence which usually will even out. Royal St George's is a colossus in the game of golf as one of the world's finest links. In a rare twist, the game being showcased on the world's biggest stage is made even better by foursomes play.

Royal St George's Golf Club needs to be experienced to be enjoyed. Predominantly a two-ball club, foursomes is the preferred game of choice. Four golfers, playing two balls in alternating sequence plot their way around the course in well under 3 hours in a morning match.

Royal St George's is more than just a round of golf. It is an experience that must be savoured, absorbed, and then treasured.

 

Hole by Hole description and suggestions

Hole 1

442 yards, par 4, index 10

From the tee taking note of the wind, you need a good carry of over 250 yards. The best line is the left of the rumpled fairway. The green is wide but runs away from front to back and is difficult to hold. There are bunkers across the front of the green.

Hole 2

426 yards, par 4, index 6

This is a right to left dogleg with bunkers at the corner. Play right to avoid the sand. A short iron approach to the front of the green is best, but you need to avoid the false front which can lead you into the right-hand bunker. From beyond the green can be a difficult shot.

Hole 3   

239 yards, par 3, index 16 

This is the only par three on any Open Championship course without a bunker. However, it is statistically one of the most difficult Open holes. Putts from the upper level to a pin at the bottom require a great feel and assessment of line. Revised by Pennink in the 1970s.

Hole 4  

496 yards, par 4, index 2

A daunting tee shot over, it is claimed, the second deepest bunker in England. The approach shot is the harder of the two shots as it rises to a heavily contoured green high on a dune. For scale and utter excitement, no hole on the current Open rota matches it. Out of bounds is three paces over the back.

Hole 5  

416 yards, par 4, index 8 

From the tee, you get your first sight of the sea. Tempting as it is to take on the carry a lay-up short of the sand ridge is the safe shot. The approach is to a long green with no bunkers that slopes from right to left.

Hole 6  

176 yards, par 3, index 18 

This hole has been much modified over the years. The long two-tiered green is at an angle to the tee. You must find the correct level to avoid the chance of three-putting. The green is well bunkered to trap anything pushed, pulled, or short. The name Maiden is from the shape of the towering dunes around it.

Hole 7 

573 yards, par 5, index 14 

The first of just two par fives. The blind tee shot is best down the left side to make use of the left to right slope, but avoid bunkers on the right. The fairway is hidden by the summit of a hill. A good approach can yield an eagle or a birdie.

Hole 8 

457 yards, par 4, index 4 

From the tee, you need an accurate uphill drive. The approach is down the left across broken ground to a long green surrounded by dunes with tricky contours to read. In 1975 Pennink changed the hole from a par three to a most difficult par four.

Hole 9

410 yards, par 4, index 12 

A rather short hole with a different challenge. It is all about the approach shot to a long undulating green that has some severe breaks. Second shots will run in from the right but need to avoid a drop off. A miss to the left will probably find one of two deep bunkers.

Hole 10 

412 yards, par 4, index 9 

Drive down the left of the fairway which has just one bunker. The elevated green has a severe drop off behind the green. The approach needs to keep right of centre to avoid two deep bunkers. Tom Kite destroyed his Open chances here going from one bunker to another when leading in 1985.

Hole 11 

242 yards, par 3, index 7 

On this long par, three precision is required. The right to left slope on the green can feed your ball to a bunker. Too much length will likely find trouble at the back. From the wrong tier, putts can be extremely difficult to read. Pennink turned the eleventh from a par four into the par-three that it is today.

Hole 12 

379 yards, par 4, index 15 

The tee box is set diagonally to the dune line that parallels the coast. A good driving line is to the right of the bunker on the left. Although this may appear too far left the shape of the hole is deceptive. This is the shortest par four on the course and although not straightforward can be a birdie opportunity.

Hole 13 

457 yards, par 4, index 3 

A difficult hole to start the finishing stretch. From the tee, you need a straight drive or one with a draw. Bunkers down the left and greenside bunkers can come into play with the wind against or a short approach. The green has a ridge running down its 40-yard length making it tricky to get close if the pin is left of the ridge.

Hole 14 

545 yards, par 5, index 13 

From the tee, the best line is down the left with out-of-bounds all down the right. The approach will then be over bunkers to a two-tier undulating green with a stream running beyond and falling away at the back.

Hole 15 

493 yards, par 4, index 1 

A very long par four which is well bunkered throughout. A good drive still leaves a long carry across cross bunkers to the green. This is relatively small and elevated four feet above the fairway. It will reject anything but the well-struck shot. A miss to the left will often leave a difficult recovery

Hole 16

161 yards, par 3, index 17 

There are eight deep bunkers surrounding this large deep green that slopes down from the back. Flag positions around the perimeter cause trouble as Thomas Bjorn found when his lead evaporated taking three to get from a bunker in 2003. Tony Jacklin fared better in 1967 making the first televised hole in one on this hole.

Hole 17 

424 yards, par 4, index 5 

The fairway is notorious for its swales and humps which sometimes diverts balls into the rough. From the tee a draw following the dog leg line is ideal. The fast green is on a plateau with a false front so anything slightly short will roll back. There are greenside bunkers left and right

Hole 18 

456 yards, par 4, index 11 

This is said to be the most difficult finishing hole on the Open roster. The fairway has been altered to some flatter ground on the right, but there is a deep greenside bunker in play from that side. Furthermore, two new bunkers now protect against approach shots from the left.  Cross bunkers have to be carried 120 yards from the green.

 

The Open Championship

Royal St George's has hosted The Open Championship on 15 occasions since 1894.

Year	Winner	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total	Winners Prize £
1894	J.H. Taylor England	84	80	81	81	326	30
1899	Harry Vardon Jersey	76	76	81	77	310	30
1904	Jack White Scotland	80	75	72	69	296	50
1911	Harry Vardon Jersey	74	74	75	80	303	50
1922	Walter Hagen USA	76	73	79	72	300	75
1928	Walter Hagen USA	75	73	72	72	292	100
1934	Henry Cotton England	67	65	72	79	283	100
1938	Reg Whitcombe England	71	71	75	78	295	100
1949	Bobby Locke S. Africa	69	76	68	70	283 (−5)	300
1981	Bill Rogers USA	72	66	67	71	276 (−4)	25,000
1985	Sandy Lyle Scotland	68	71	73	70	282 (+2)	65,000
1993	Greg Norman Australia	66	68	69	64	267 (−13)	100,000
2003	Ben Curtis USA	72	72	70	69	283 (−1)	700,000
2011	Darren Clarke N. Ireland	68	68	69	70	275 (−5)	900,000
2021	Collin Morikawa USA	67	64	68	66	265 (−15)	$2,070,000