Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, commonly known as Deal, holds a prominent place in English golf history. It was the third course, after Royal St George’s and Royal Liverpool, to host the Open Championship, with J.H. Taylor winning in 1909. Established in 1892, the club quickly expanded from nine to 18 holes. Despite suffering devastation during both World Wars, it was restored by James Braid in 1919 and later enhanced by Sir Guy Campbell and other architects.
Deal is renowned for its challenging links layout, especially the relentless back nine, where strong southwesterly winds and stark dunes provide a stern test for golfers. The front nine offers scoring opportunities, but the final stretch demands precision and resilience, with tight fairways and awkward stances adding to the difficulty.
Plans to host the Open again in 1949 were thwarted when the sea breached the course’s defenses, leading to a relocation to Royal St George’s. Since then, Royal Cinque Ports has continued to evolve, with significant improvements overseen by architect Martin Ebert. Recent updates include lengthening the par five 3rd hole to feature a stunning punchbowl green and transforming the par four 16th into a par five with a split fairway, providing strategic variety.
Blending a storied past with modern enhancements, Royal Cinque Ports offers a quintessential links experience, making it a must-play for those seeking a challenging and historic round of golf.
