Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club

Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, Deal, South East, England, CT14 6RF

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21 reviews of Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club

RCP is imo one of the best links courses in the UK,if you wish to play a natural links course in southern England this is the one.no gimicks or tricks here,there's no need,the first 10/11 holes if playing with or with no wind are where you must score,last 6/7 holes into the wind are fearsome..probably the strongest finish I have played anywhere.from the moment you arrive at the club there's a feeling of this is how golf should be,from the Secertary to the green staff,and not forgetting the very friendly members it is a wonderful days golf.. I really can't praise RCP enough,if you love the challenge of links golf and are fed up with the numerous and imo boring American style courses,this is the perfect place to return again and again

Posted by Wallis on 24/05/2014
3
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Overall Rating 3
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  • Green conditions 3
  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 3
  • Staff service 3
  • Value for money 3
  • Green conditions 3
  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 3
  • Staff service 3
  • Value for money 3

One of the UK's greatest golf courses. Although many will be drawn to Royal St George's in this area, this is a real gem. As a previous Open championship venue this course is a great test. It is a real tale of two halves with the front 9 going out and the back 9 coming back towards the clubhouse. When I played the front was into the wind so we really had a tough time of it but the back 9 was wind assisted so made it a little easier. The clubhouse was excellent and we were treated very well as guests. I'd go back in a heartbeat I loved it.

Posted by Paul McCaffney on 02/05/2012
5
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Overall Rating 5
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  • Green conditions 5
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 5
  • Staff service 5
  • Value for money 5
  • Green conditions 5
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 5
  • Staff service 5
  • Value for money 5

Royal Cinque Ports has everything a true links should, mounds, hummocks, tussocks and plenty of bunkers in between. The terrain looks and feels so natural that the designer didn't even bother looking for flat areas for the greens, some are basin like to gather the ball, some upturned to eject it. The staff and members we met couldn't have been more friendly, the clubhouse looks and feels as though it has been standing there for centuries and the changing facilities inside are superb. Your round will certainly have more fives than fours in it but the experience of Royal Cinque Ports will more than compensate.

Posted by Rick on 06/01/2011
3
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Overall Rating 3
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  • Green conditions 3
  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 3
  • Staff service 3
  • Value for money 3
  • Green conditions 3
  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 3
  • Staff service 3
  • Value for money 3

Absolutely stunning piece of golfing history, an absolute delight to play. We played there after 24 hours of persistent torrential rain, having sat and watched while despite the weather they were still out cutting the fairways. One day later and you would not have known there had been any rain. The greens are fabulous, so many humps and hollows to putt over, and it is not as flat as it looks either,there are some very tricky raised greens, the 6th in particular. Great par 3's,hole 8 into the wind,very testing,as was the 14th. We found the staff at the club particularly helpful and I would rate this as a must play course if you are in the are.

Posted by John Townley on 12/11/2010
5
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Overall Rating 5
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  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5

I was lucky enough to play this fantastic course as a visitor this weekend using as a birthday gift from my wife and came away wanting more. The approach to the course is through a fairly anoymous looking housing estate in Deal where the last thing you expect to find is a championship golf course brimming with history. First impressions were pleasant enough as you approach with classic period clubhouse and a small parking area for visitors. The course is spreadout over to your right/south as you approach and at first glance is a fairly flat featureless place to play golf. Before I review the course I must say as a visitor playing at the weekend we found the pro-shop,the club secretary, Mr Hannah and the few members we saw to be very friendly and made myself and my playing partner feel very welcome. The course presents a fairly low key start adjacent to the club house with a nice Par 4, reminding me of the Old Course at St Andrews with the burn/stream running in front of the green and small stone bridge to cross. Moving through the remainder of the first 9 the course really comes into its own with the fantastic long par 4 (Hole 3. which was 453 yds off the yellows with its hidden green, a teasing short par 4 (Hole 6) which could be driven if you are brave and very accurate and a cracking little par 3 (Hole 8) surrounded by bunkers. My playing partner and I were playing very solidly in the benign weather and only allowed the course to really show its teeth once on the outward 9 as seemingly good drives both disappeared into thin air. Oh to be playing in the Open with the fans trampling down that second cut of rough!! But the second nine was a very different story as the brutality of the course and adjacent rough, particularly for me the stretch from 14-17 holes, really tested my nerve and skills. Playing off 19 I have been a pretty consistent driver over the last 3 years but without the short game to match but on a course like Royal Cinque Ports driving close to the fairway just isn't good enough. I just wish my golf had been good enough to appreciate the quality of the holes on offer and I that was able to score better. I would probably find it difficult to pick out holes as the run from 14-17th holes all blended into one for me. But thats no criticism as they were each great holes in their own right. Semi-blind tee shots that tested your nerves and your strategic thinking. Slivers of fairways and deep bunkers blocking your way to the fantastic rolling greens. For me the greens were perfect as they weren't too fast but true and really tested your ability to read the line. Even the 18th, which after the precending 4/5 holes, felt quite tame was a still a great finishing hole with a stream meadering across the hole to hold back the bombers leaving an longish approach to a tricky tabletop green Please look up the definition of 'Challenge' in a golf dictionary and you'll surely find these holes. Overall this was a great experience and certainly the finest course I've ever played. Although to be fair it is the highest ranked course I have ever played. My only criticism was that a £120 a w/e round still seemed expensive in the context of other good courses/venues I've visited. The facilities on offer were just fine but were limited and the conditioning on the course around the tee boxes and some bunkers was a little below par. However the showers in the new extension were about the best I've ever had the pleasure of using I would love to go back very soon and have another go knowing what I know now about some holes and try and pick my way around the back 9 more cautiously. Anyone wanting a good value round should aim for their Open week in August where you could play in the competitions for less than £50 per round. Bargain!

Posted by Chris Robinson on 22/06/2009
4
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Overall Rating 4
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  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 4
  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 4

We are working our way through Donald Steel's 'Classic Golf Links of Great Britain and Ireland, and so far have played all the mainland Scottish and Irish courses and most English. Deal ranks in the top dozen alongside the very best Open courses, in our opinion. We played as a fourball on the first weekend of May 2009. The greens were perhaps a little slower than they are likely to be later in the season, but we weren't complaining as they present a tremendous challenge whatever the speed. There is wonderful variety in the holes, and the occasional blind shot can be expected on such a traditional links. This is the price to be paid for the enormous undulations which make golf at Deal such fun. Expect some quirky bounces, but hit the ball straight, find the right part of the greens and putt very well and you can build a score. Unfortunately, if you fail in any of these departments, or find the wind is up, you might have to fall back on enjoying the views (which are lovely). Our only complaint is that if Deal are charging £120 for one round, they might like to think about spending some of it on improving the green surrounds. You expect to see scabby areas on a links - it's almost a rule - but not a few paces off a green. The links is worth the green fee, but deserves better condition where it matters.

Posted by k murphy on 07/05/2009
5
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Overall Rating 5
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  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 4
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 4

I have played a number of the top links in this country as well as in Ireland(St Andrews Old, Muirfield, Royal Liverpool, Saunton, Portmarnock, Royal county down etc)as well as Sunningdale, Wentworth,The Addington and to me Deal is one of the very best, infact it is in my top 5 courses.The course will test every facet of your game. To me what sets this course apart from many others are the green complexes. They are FANTASTIC. Stand out holes are #3(what a green),#6 (who says short holes are boring)#8 (miss those bunkers)#10 (flirt with it left with your sunday best) #11 (miss that fairway bunker)and then hold on to your score. What a course

Posted by sam krume on 16/10/2008
5
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Overall Rating 5
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  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5

Heaven on Earth! This place oozes history, quality and class. A simple, faultless layout - classic links. Into a light steady breeze on the way out - I'm sure the members would have said there was no wind at all - which is on your back as you come home. A dry hot day was a complete, unexpected bonus. If these are not the best greens in the country, I would be astounded - immaculate surface, consistent and speedy without being silly, with challenging humps, hollows and borrows even on the three footers. I'm no expert, but in my opinion this is better than both neighboring courses - condition, challenge and quality. Spend some time on the practice green before going out and allow time for a look around the clubhouse, which is steeped in history. Yes it is pricey.... spoil yourself!

Posted by Gavin Roy on 20/09/2008
5
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Overall Rating 5
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  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 4
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 4

Great Clubhouse /practice facilities, played in Deal open week, well organised and enjoyable day out. The Course- a very well kept and challenging links course, the wind added the the overall challenge. Big dunes, with a few blindish shots. Some very tough greens to stop the ball, but a joy to putt on. The course was a little slicker/ better groomed/ challenging than Princes down the road, if I was paying the full green fee it would be difficult to split them for VFM, but as a challenge RCP come out on top. I look forward to returning to them both.

Posted by steve a on 26/08/2008
4
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Overall Rating 4
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  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 4
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 4

Played here midweek August 07 (£50 after 4.30 ). Fantastic links course ,one of the best i've played.Very enjoyable & it makes you want to play it again.It lived up to my expectations & a bit more. It's quite a narrow course & the first 10 holes run along a sea wall bank (unfortunately there are no real sea views) & then turns & heads straight back for home. Thinking back there wasn't one hole that i didn't enjoy or thought was weak. For the first 10 holes the strong wind was helping (massively) ,although strangely it was more across than a hinderance on the coming back holes.Part of the fun here is judging shots allowing for the strength of the wind which meant hitting a wedge on the 170 yard par 3 8th & on several of the front 9 par 4's getting really close to some greens with the driver.If you connect the wind & firm humpy fairways take the ball miles. For these reasons i didn't think that it was a particularly difficult scoring course & if you're straight there are several birdie opportunities on the first 11. Although it's fairly easy walking the fairways are brilliantly undulating & get fantastically quirky towards the end. Loads of great links holes & quirks (e.g greens in hollows,elevated or even V shaped ).One of them ,the short 325 yard 6th is a cracker.It's a dog leg right with a big dune on the right but from the tee you can see the flag straight ahead of you through the low part of the dune.There are loads of combinations to play it.With the wind you can go left with 8 iron,wedge or it brilliantly tempts you to go for it.Also the finishing holes are truly memorable. Superb course conditioning & for a links course the fairways were surprisingly lush & also great design in the bunkering. Despite how good it is i think the £80 standard /£50 twighlight green fees are too high .Better would be £50/£35. Kevin B.

Posted by Kevin B. on 16/08/2007

Great course!!! Couldn't fault it

Posted by J Tutton on 25/10/2006
5
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Overall Rating 5
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  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 4
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 4

Played 'Deal' on a beautiful summers days with very little wind and it was absolutley brilliant. The fairways were firm and fast and the greens where as true as any i have played. You need to make a score on the front side and hold on on the last seven holes a s they play into the wind. Very good value for money as well.

Posted by Rob Sims on 30/08/2005
5
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Overall Rating 5
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  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5

A real links course. Quality from top to bottom. Very Rolling fairways, very deep bunkers and roller coaster greens. The last 7 holes are very tough but to be honest the other 11 are no walk overs. Every facet of your game will need to be A+ to keep to your handicap. All in all the best British course I have played. Can't wait to return.

Posted by Craig Willson on 26/07/2005
4
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Overall Rating 4
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  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 4
  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 4

I recently played RCPGC and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Just about every aspect of a tough course (without trees) all rolled into one. Deep rough, strong breeze, large bunkers and greens like glass. Not windy enough for me to call it impossible but I struggled to keep near my handicap. A true sense of history felt both on the course and in the clubhouse. A real privilege to play there and with our 2 Fore 1 voucher, great value too. I can't wait to go back to try and conquer it. Gary Player wasn't far wrong when he said this was one of the best courses he's ever played!

Posted by David Jenner on 17/10/2003

Visited for the first time yesterday with a group of friends and have to say this is one of the best links courses I have played. We picked a good day, just a gentle breeze so the course was playing relatively easy but it is easy to imagine what a brute this could be if the wind was up! A few tee shots were a little daunting as you tried to guess where the fairway's were, and those bunkers!! But if you are reasonably long, and straight, you should'nt have too much trouble. Due to the lack of rain recently the course was very dry but the greens were superb...some of the truest and quickest I have had the pleasure to putt on. All in all a great day out and by using our "two for one" vouchers managed to get 36 holes for £37.50 which in my books has to be one of the golfing bargains of the decade. Go play........YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED I PROMISE YOU.

Posted by Robert Smith on 27/08/2003

An absolutely awesome golf course, one of the very best. It will test every part of you game to the full. The last four holes can destroy your card! Also, a friendly welcome in the pros shop and clubhouse.

Posted by Chris Downes on 24/06/2003

One of the finest links in Britain. Each hole is different and has it's own unique challenge. I have played this course several times in different seasons and the greens are always immaculate. If you are going to score well and the wind is coming in off the sea, then you have to score well on the first nine as the back nine will murder you against the wind. If this club had more land for hospitality and could extend the tees if could host the open again, such is the quality of the links.

Posted by Neil Scott on 08/06/2003

The links at Deal is a fabolous course. Top quality from Clubhouse to the greens. The back-nine must be one of the toughest finishes in golf when the wind is blowing against. If You hit straight and long from tee, if You are accurate in the short game, if You putt well - then You can come home with a reasonable score - if not prepare to come close to 100. I love the course and would very much like to get back there. Best holes in my opinion must be #1, #8, #12, #17 and # 18. Do go there and play - it's good value for money.

Posted by Åke Appelgren on 17/05/2003

One of my absolute favourites. The course can only be described as a "gem" - great collection of short and long holes, with the wind playing a major factor. The back nine is more difficult, with some strong par 4s and the classic par 5 16th hole. The staff and club members are extremely friendly and I would strongly recommend this course, keeping in mind it's only a couple of hours from London by train.

Posted by Michael Lee on 06/05/2003

What an absolute gem - Everything about this course is superb. A friendly welcome, a course in superb condition and not bad value using 241. The first is probably the easiest hole on the course which lulls you in. The greens on the 3rd and the 12th are amazing and if you get a chance play some shots up and down the banks - great fun. The fairways are undulating to say the least and getting a flat stance is quite a rarity. The par 5 16th was probably my favourite hole but there is not a bad or weak hole on the course.

Posted by Ian Brown on 07/04/2003

Pray there is little wind,coming in from the sea, holes facing anywhere near seaward go up 3-4 clubs. A challenge in any weather, some strange rules re 4 ball. Brings memories of when I was a lad peeing in the bunkers, now I'm trying to avoid them, actually some of them are not bunkers, are rather more like bomb holes from 39-45. My annual trip home is never without a few games on this must not miss course. Don't forget the Bovril and sherry at the turn, another must.(in fall and spring)

Posted by JohnJackson on 24/02/1998

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