PRINCE’S GOLF CLUB - 16 POINTS
I should start this review of Prince’s with a couple of caveats. Firstly, I only played 18 holes out of the 27 on the property.
Secondly, I didn’t see the course in the best condition. There had been some irrigation issues on both of the courses I played and they had been vigorously overseeded. So, I didn’t get the full running links experience.
Rating this property is really difficult as there has been a huge amount of work undertaken in recent years. However, what I did see showed me this is a great golf property which continues to evolve and develop to provide golfers with an experience they will relish.
Prince’s sits on the eastern boundary of Royal St George’s. The land itself is a little less dramatic than its illustrious neighbour’s - there are fewer dunes - however you get a little bit more of a coastal feel here with views of nearby Ramsgate.
Let’s start with a little history. Golf has been played on this land since 1906 when an 18 hole course, notable for its length, was built. It was almost 7,000 yards long, built that long as a direct reaction to the new Haskell ball which went further than its predecessors. The Open was held here in 1932 where Gene Sarazen emerged as the winner. Sarazen had put something akin to a sand wedge in his bag on his way to victory, a move which revolutionised bunker play the world over.
The Second World War ravaged Prince’s - the land was used for bombing exercises and the course was destroyed. From the ashes rose three 9 hole loops, incorporating 17 of the original greens, but with little else remaining. The original clubhouse site is now used as accommodation for visiting golfers, with a new clubhouse sitting at the centre of the estate.
There is something a little odd about visiting a club with three 9 hole courses. Unless there are two clearly leading 9s you are left wondering whether you got the ‘right’ experience if you only play 18 holes. Up until recently, the traditional combination for rating has been the Dunes and Shore courses, whereas I played the Shore and the Himalayas. Having said that, the work by Mackenzie and Ebert on the Himalayas has been extensive and some believe that it may now form part of the ‘A’ routing. This used to be the members’ nine - a bit easier on the legs than the others and a more gentle outing. Believe me, it is now a proper test. From the back tees it’s over 3,600 yards, but even from the ‘one up’ tees (which we played and I’ll use for the purpose of description) it’s 3,376. However, that only tells half the story. There is a fantastic mix of hole lengths on the Himalayas. Both par 5s are long - 556 and 575 yards - but there is also the short par 4 8th hole, at only 312 yards. Add to those both a postage stamp par 3 and a long iron par 3 and every club in the bag will be needed to score here.
Unusually for links golf there are a lot of red stakes on the Himalayas course as the layout winds in and out of a wetland area which brings an unusual dimension to the challenge. Take off too much of the dogleg on the second, for example, and you’ll find yourself reaching into your bag for a new ball.
The mammoth second hole has actually stitched together the previous 2nd and 3rd holes in order to make room for a new par 3, the 5th. This is one of the best par 3s I’ve played for many a year. Too many courses seem to forgo the short par 3 and that is a real shame, golfers of all abilities love them. The 5th plays 135 yards from the white tees and is unusual at Prince’s as it plays towards the water rather than parallel to it. However, it’s more than just a pretty hole. Accurate clubbing is vital here - anything short will leave you with a very tricky recovery shot, whether from the tightly mown bank, the wide sandy expanse or the deep pot bunker.
The next real stand-out hole for me is the 8th. Again, there’s not many golfers who don’t like a fun, risk and reward, short par 4, and this one ticks all the boxes. From the tee you have a decision to make. If you take the driver and go for the green you risk finding water if you tweak it right. If you do choose to play safe though beware of a pot bunker lurking on the fairway. The double green is shared with the 3rd and, while it’s less dramatic approached from this side, you still need to put it in the right place to avoid the slope on your (hopefully) eagle or birdie putt.
The 9th on the Himalayas course is a 426 yard par 4 where, typically of all the long holes on the Himalayas course, you will need to drive it well to have a chance of getting close in two. The main hazard near the green is the large Sarazen bunker on the left which will gobble up anything hit that way.
I really enjoyed the Himalayas course, it’s a tough test but there are plenty of features here to keep you entertained.
All three of the nine hole courses return to the clubhouse, so we stopped for a lemonade before heading out again. Sometimes it is the little things about a visit to a club that stick in your mind. It was really busy when we were there but, when I asked if we could keep a tab open to settle up when we came in, there was no hesitation at all. There was no demand for a credit card to ensure we didn’t do a runner - just a ‘sure, enjoy the round’. That was nice.
We played our second 9 on the Shore course. The Shore is a more traditional links course. It’s fairly open from the tee, both through the lack of wetlands and fewer dunes, and as a result there was less of an intimidation factor with the driver in hand.
As with the Himalayas, Mackenzie and Ebert have recently worked on these holes. Possibly inspired by their work on the Himalayas they have added a short par 3 here too, again the 5th. It ranges from 116 to 143 yards long and requires play over an attractive sandy expanse.
It was around the greens the course showed its mettle. The surrounds are fantastic and if you miss a green you will have a real challenge for your recovery shot, especially if you’re short-sided. Accuracy of approach will be a key to scoring well here. When you get to the greens you will find nuances that make you think without ever being crazily difficult.
The finish is strong. The 7th has a green up a hill and round a corner, which I like to think I would play better the second time round! The 9th fairway has a wonderful saddle going down the middle - hit to the right to get the best approach into the large green.
The whole experience at Prince’s is a good. A lot of thought has been put into the presentation of the course and there are a lot of little touches that shows they really care about the details. If you are here playing Royal St George’s and Cinque Ports it would be crazy not to play Prince’s too.
The saddled 9th on the Shore course leads back to the clubhouse
BOOKING THE COURSE
Prince’s is a members’ club but they are very welcoming to visitors and you will find them more accommodating for tee times than Royal St George’s next door.
Visitor golf is welcome seven days a week and fourballs are fine. Peak summer, weekend green fees are £155 but there are plenty of other rates available. All details are on the website here.
They are very entrepreneurial in the offers available so I would recommend giving them a call to see if there are any other deals available beyond what’s on the website.
Prices correct as of August 2023.
TOUR TIPS
We stayed in Canterbury, which is about 40 minutes away in the car and has a very pleasant old town with plenty of pubs, restaurants and good value places to stay. You can’t get around here very easily on public transport so a car is a good idea.
However, I think if you are looking to focus your golf in the area you should consider the accommodation on the property at Prince’s or find somewhere in nearby Ramsgate or Sandwich. That way everything is close by and you cut down on the time travelling. There’s probably not enough there to keep you busy for a week, but for a long weekend you’ll be fine.
Golf-wise you will want to add rounds at Royal St George’s - one of the very finest links golf courses in the world - and the excellent Royal Cinque Ports. There is nowhere else you will find three Open courses so close and, while only St George’s is on the rota still today, you are getting a fine line-up here. Just be aware that Prince’s will be the most flexible for when you can play so you will want to book your rounds at the other courses first.
CONTACT DETAILS
Prince's Golf Club and The Lodge at Prince's
Sandwich Bay
Sandwich
Kent CT13 9QB
Phone: +44 (0) 1304 611118
E-mail: reservations@princesgolfclub.co.uk
