Princes Golf Club enjoyed its proudest moment in 1932 when it hosted the Open Championship (Gene Sarazen won the tournament and there are reminders of The Squire and the course’s Open history to be found around the course and clubhouse) but, unfortunately, just a few years later it was all but destroyed during World War II.  Sir Guy Campbell and John Morrison were the men responsible for restoring Princes to its former glory and, amazingly, they were able to save no less than 17 of the original greens and incorporate them into the 27 holes that now await golfers heading to the South Eastern shores of England. Your Golf Travel …

Getting there … A short journey from Deal, and Kent’s better known town of Ramsgate, the area is easily accessibly by train from London (although you will need a taxi to get to the course itself), and is particularly easy to get to by car.

When to go … Being a traditional links, Prince’s enjoys a sandy based location and as such it drains perfectly all year round which means it’s an excellent option for those still hitting the fairways in the depths of winter.  With a warm welcome awaiting as well, much as it did it when Prince’s Golf Club first opened 100 years ago, now is the time to take advantage of the excellent value for money on offer at this former Open Championship gem.

What to do … Golf is certainly the main attraction at Prince’s, but the other parts of a golf break (think 19th hole) are delicious dinners and evenings lubricated by a well-deserved drink or two – both of which are perfectly achieved here.  Alternatively, guests can make the short journey into Deal or Sandwich to mingle with locals. Deal is your quintessential seaside town and Sandwich is as charming a place as you could wish to visit, lined with age-old houses and medieval buildings. Choose either and a night that kicks off with a traditional fish and chip dinner can be capped off with a few stops in the nearby pubs. With plenty of excellent b&b accommodation options also available, those who prefer to be based in town are well catered for.

Who to take … Accommodation in the form of The Lodge overlooks the Bay of Sandwich, boasting views of the golf courses (including neighbouring Royal St George’s), English Channel and out towards the White Cliffs of Ramsgate.  So whoever you go with, stay for a couple of days and enjoy everything the place has to offer.

Favourite features … The rippled fairways that weave their way between deep, punishing bunkers, small dunes and banks of long, and wispy links rough leading to raised greens that are subtle in their undulations.

Top Tip

– Out of the three loops of nine at Prince’s, the Dunes and Shore nines are regarded as the Championship Course.  The Himalayas Course lays slightly further inland but is equally as enjoyable as the others.  Irrespective of which combination you choose to play, it is as authentic a links challenge as you will face.