Introduction

Since the first Open Championship was held at Prestwick in 1860, only 14 British courses have been chosen to stage the event, with no new venue for more than half a century. Prince's was honoured to host the tournament in 1932, when Gene Sarazen set two records that will stand for all time. His win at Prince's was followed just two weeks later by victory in the US Open, making him the first ever winner of both Opens in the same year. Three years later he added the Masters title to his US PGA and Open victories to become the first of golf's "Grand Slam" winners. Tiger Woods is the latest of only five golfers ever to win all four majors. The Open Championship returns to Sandwich in 2003, to our neighbours, Royal St George's and Prince's will again see some of the world's most famous golfers competing in final qualifying.

Sandwich, on the Kent Channel coast, some seventy miles east of London is in the centre of one of the most historic parts of Great Britain. The conquering Romans first landed here in 55 B.C., as did St. Augustine, sent to convert the English to Christianity, in A.D. 595. Until the River Stour began to silt up, in the late Middle Ages,  Sandwich remained England's premier port. Nearby  Dover is now the modern ferry link to continental Europe, with the Channel Tunnel Rail link station just up the motorway at Folkestone.

Kent, the Garden of England, is known best for its farms and its fruit but its coastal strip is a tourist playground and the site of several seaside resorts. Part of this delightful land has been devoted to Europe's fastest-growing sport, golf.

At Prince's, inside the wide sweep of Sandwich Bay, the scene has been set for rest, relaxation and enjoyment by the whole family. There are twenty-seven holes of championship standard, though the less skilful players will still find delight in them.

The championship golf course at Prince's is more modern than most of our links because it has twice risen Phoenix-like from the desolation of war. Its present eminence is due, in no small measure, to the foresight of the Bridgland family.

Since 1976 the course has been part of the Ramac Holdings Group, who began a major development programme of their own aimed at providing superb leisure facilities in this area which is so accessible to both Continental and British golfers.

As a Final Qualifying Course for The Open, held next door at Royal St. George's in 1985, it showed its teeth, limiting the professionals to only one score under 70 and that by Massimo Manelli with a 69, a record for the Himalayas/Shore course at that time. Since that date, competing in the 1989 PGA European Challenge Tour, Joe Higgins came in from the Shore/ Dunes combination with a 7 under par 65. Later in the same year Clive Hancock set a record 64, also 7 under, for the Dunes/Himalayas in the Wilson Club Pro Championships. In the final round of the 2002 PGA Europro Tour Nick Ludwell set a course record of 63 for the Shore/Himalayas to win the event, and break Manelli's seventeen year old  record. Here too Peter Alliss won both the Schweppes PGA Championship and the Piccadilly Medal, no doubt with thoughts in mind of his father Percy's performance at Prince's in the 1932 Open, when he finished joint fourth, behind Sarazen, and but for a third round 78, might well have kept the Claret Jug on this side of the Atlantic. However, Sarazen, with the help of a local caddy and his newly designed sand wedge, led after every round and finished with a record low score of 283.

The Club also holds its own well known amateur events, including the Prince of Wales Cup, the Lord Donoughmore Cup, the Prince's "Famous" Open Amateur Week and The "Laddie" Lucas Spoon.

Today at Prince's we find all that is best in modern links golf. The grass is fine in texture, and the fairways maintain a certain springiness throughout the year. The climate is relatively mild, and play is generally possible throughout the year, without resort to temporary greens or tees. Indeed, Scandinavian visitors frequently remark upon the contrast with the scene on their own courses in midwinter!

The Course

From the back tees, the holes of the championship course are truly formidable, presenting a tremendous challenge to the "tiger". But we are not all scratch players, and we do not all wish to tackle Prince's in its most challenging form. There are other tees further forward, with only modest carries to the fairway. Using them, less experienced players often find that their greatest problem is the choice of club for the second shot. In the clear air of Pegwell Bay, the greens often seem closer than they really are. Also, a breeze generally prevails. Perhaps it blows from the sea, perhaps from the land.  The task that was successfully accomplished yesterday with a 7 iron, today might require a 4 iron. As the tide changes, so does the golf course.

The greens are a famous feature of Prince's. Most of them are of generous size and allow for a number of pin placements. Here the ball runs fast and true, but there are many subtle folds which call for close study. Strike the putt firmly, but cautiously! All 27 holes were designed so that the bottom of the flag can be seen for any approach shot from the centre of the fairway, a feature much appreciated by professional and occasional golfer alike.

Each tee affords a full view of the fairway and choice of landing areas, which are particularly generous from the forward tees. However, really wild tee shots are severely punished, for the natural cover of the ancient dunes is left untouched.

These dunes have existed since at least the time of Elizabeth I, and besides the rough grasses which cover them, give harbour to such wild flowers as Sea Holly, Rocket, Bindweed and Orchids, and also a wide variety of insect life.

All through the year, but especially from autumn to spring, the whole area is the habitat of numerous ducks, wading and sea birds. Oystercatchers, Grey Plover, Sanderling and Dunlin are to be viewed from the course and many an ornithologist has been temporarily distracted from his golf by these sights.

Prince's Today

Modern Prince's does not use these dunes as unfair hazards, so there are no blind shots across them to hidden greens. The major hazards are the natural drainage ditches which, like the few out of bounds areas, catch only the wildest shot, and the bunkers. They are sited to dictate the strategic play of the hole and except, of course, for the greenside bunkers, are not meant to enforce penalties for inaccuracy.

Altogether, Prince's is what we care to make it. A strenuous test leading, perhaps, to the tremendous satisfaction that comes from the acquisition of pars, or maybe even birdies, over the full length of the mightiest hole; or an amiable amble, with time to listen to the sound of the sea, admire the flowers and watch the birds winging their way towards the Stour estuary and the white cliffs beyond.

The Clubhouse

A new clubhouse, sited to enable the course to be played in three loops of nine holes, was opened by Peter Alliss in 1985. It provides stunning panoramic views over the course and across Sandwich Bay to the white cliffs of Ramsgate. It undoubtedly has been a significant influence in the Club's establishment as one of the leading prestigious venues in the south for Society and Corporate Golf Days. It is being significantly extended and completely refurbished to provide facilities of the highest, modern standard.

While the restaurant, which can seat up to 200 diners, provides the quality and variety of fare that the modern golfing fraternity demands a new "spike" bar serving drinks and meals is accessible both from within the clubhouse and directly from the course.

The Clubhouse is also the ideal location for weddings, Christmas parties and all dinner/dance functions. The restaurant is open from 07.30 with breakfast, lunch & dinner available from a full menu (booking advisable - telephone 01304-611118).

With a new tournament office, a variety of function rooms, some with panoramic views across the course, driving  range, pitching and putting greens and well-stocked Pro-Shop, Prince's offers the complete leisure package, not only for visitors, but of course for members as well. In addition, the professional and his assistants provide a complete range of services from tuition to regripping and will give expert advice on any subject relating to your golf day.

The 'cherry on the cake' for those wishing to extend their stay is the proximity of The Bell Hotel in Sandwich C no more than a few minutes away from the course. This splendid old golfing hotel, situated on the quay beside the River Stour, is well known for both the excellence of its cuisine and the old fashioned hospitality which it lavishes on its guests. Set in medieval surroundings, it has long been a Mecca for golfers from all over the world.