Links to the future

Offering a heady blend of old and new, Prince’s in Kent has become one of the country’s premier play-and-stay facilities

- Fergus Bisset

This July, the eyes of the golfing world were supposed to be focused on the Kent coastline and the game’s elite doing battle for The Open Championship at Royal St George’s in Sandwich. It was going to be the 18th time The Open had been contested in Kent, but only the 15th time at St George’s. Unfortunately, The R&A was forced to cancel this year’s Open owing to the coronavirus crisis – it will now take place here in 2021 instead. Right next door to Royal St George’s, Prince’s was the venue for The Open Championship of 1932 and the club is due to play host to Final Qualifying for 2021.

In recent years, Prince’s has gone from strength to strength. A huge amount of work and effort has been put in to enhance the golfing experience for members and visitors. All three nine-hole loops have been significantly renovated and improved upon, and luxurious on-site accommodation has been developed to make Prince’s one of the leading play-and-stay venues in the country.

A RICH HISTORY

Golf was first played at Prince’s in 1906 when former Prime Minister AJ Balfour drove in the first ball as Captain. The club had been established with a view to attracting junior, lady and family golfers and it was fitting that the first significant championship hosted at Prince’s was the 1912 English Ladies Open, won by Miss M Gardner. Prince’s remains an inclusive and welcoming club to this day.

Prince’s survived World War I and was a hugely popular venue with the golfing fraternity through the 1920s and ‘30s. In 1932, the club played host to The Open Championship. The event was won by Gene Sarazen. It was The Squire’s only Open triumph and his total of 283 was an Open record, one that wouldn’t be bettered until Bobby Locke returned 279 at Troon in 1950.