Prince's Golf Club

Prince's Golf Club has seen more than its fair share of history. The venue for Gene Sarazen's 1932 Open victory was then all but wiped off the map when the government turned into a firing range during the Second World War. Happily the course was rebuilt under the direction of Guy Campbell and John Morrison and by 1956 had recovered enough to play host to Bobby Locke as he won the Dunlop Masters. Since then the course has hosted Open Qualifying, Tour events and the British Ladies Open. Peter Alliss is a two time winner at Prince's and Howard Clark and Ian Woosnam have both achieved safe passage into the Open over the famous old links. Today the course consists of 27 holes split into three nines: The Shore, The Dunes and The Himalayas with each starting and finishing at the clubhouse that Prince's favourite Alliss opened in 1985. Championship golf can be played on any combination of the three holes and Prince's Golf Club is still a wonderful example of links golf today. It is impossible for visitors not to feel the history of a course that is one of only 14 to have hosted the Open and which has seen three of the five career "Grand Slammer" negotiate the vagaries of a classic course.

Prince's Golf Club has a very old style links feel to it but in 2010 the club added in new bunkers on many holes that will increase the difficulty. Many of these are on the driving distance and several around the greens are very testing. Set by the sea with great views across the English Channel, Prince's golf course starts with a couple of gentle holes and the Shore front nine is fun without being particuarly memorable. The Dunes second nine has more character to it and provides a very good test of golf. If Prince's was not next to Royal St George's it would have a better reputation, but it suffers a little by comparison. However it is a historic course, good fun to play and the practice greens and clubhouse facilities are excellent and very welcoming.