Royal Cinque Ports

Royal Cinque Ports | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Courses

Rankings

5.0

2nd

7th

19th

22nd

Royal Cinque Ports sits on a stretch of golf course royalty in the corner of South East England. With Royal St. George’s a short drive away in Sandwich, and with Prince's over the fence from that, you can rarely find three venues that have hosted the Open Championship in such small proximity.

Royal Cinque Ports is tucked at the start of a dirt road in the popular seaside town of Deal, just along the coast from Dover.

The sea wall runs down the side of the course, which also features some tee boxes for those brave enough to play from the back tees. This is one of many features that makes this one of the best golf courses in Kent and one of the best golf courses in the UK.

Play on the NCG Top 100s Tour!

Book your spot to play at Royal Cinque Ports on the NCG Top 100s Tour in 2026 here.

You can also play at Royal Cinque Ports as part of our Kent Swing, which you can find here.

Visit Royal Cinque Ports' website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.

A Brief History of Royal Cinque Ports

Harry Hunter became the first greenkeeper of Cinque Ports Golf Club in Kent in 1892, and he became responsible for the design of the first nine-hole course.

The first competition was held in June and the clubhouse was opened in November. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th holes of the first layout resemble today’s outlook, while the original 7th, 8th and 9th became the last three holes of the present course.

18 holes were opened in 1899 and this was also the year Deal Ladies’ Club was founded. 10 years later, the course hosted its first Open Championship which was won by JH Taylor.

The first evidence of association with the Royal Family is found in 1910. The Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, played the course regularly when he visited Deal. The official title of ‘Royal Cinque Ports’ came in 1949.

George Duncan won the second Open Championship held at Deal in 1920, while Roger Wethered won its first Amateur Championship in 1923. Royal Cinque Ports was denied the chance to host the Open due to severe flooding in 1938 and 1949, while the First World War and the Second World War prevented the club hosting the 1915 and the 1942 championships.

Royal Cinque Ports Review | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Courses

If you were to look on the golf course map, Royal Cinque Ports is very much out and back. The 1st hole, despite being very short, provides the daunting prospect of the clubhouse to the right of the fairway.

This is followed by a challenging par 4 and par 5 before you come across a treacherous, but stunning par-3 4th hole that hugs the sea wall. A pinpoint tee shot is needed here to avoid tricky chips back up the slope both long and short of the green.

After another par 5, the drivable par-4 6th hole can leave you pondering an iron to the middle of the fairway to leave a short approach to the raised green, or going for the putting surface over the mound.

The 7th hole ventures in-land with a series of bunkers dotted in the fairway, and an undulating green at the end. You hit back towards the sea wall with on the par-3 8th hole. Holes 8, 9, 10 and 11 form somewhat of a zigzag to and from the coast, but once you reach the long par-4 12th hole, you’re at the furthest point from the clubhouse and hitting home. When the wind is blowing from the sea, this poses a strong challenge. The par-4 13th requires precision off the tee with a row of fairway bunkers hungry to gobble up your ball.

Regardless of the conditions, you’re grateful for a par on the par-3 14th hole, which will require a long iron at best to reach the putting surface. The teeth of the course are revealed in the final four holes. The 15th fairway epitomises the wave-like formation of many other fairways on the course.

The 16th hole is unique in the way you can choose between two fairways on your way to the green, but even the most exact of approaches can miss this raised putting surface protected by a large front slope, a bunker and long grass short and right. The 17th is drivable for bigger hitters with favourable wind, but two large bunkers before the green could have other ideas, and the 18th hole is divided by a stream that can suck in a well-struck tee shot.

Our Panellists Notes for 2025

Sean Arble: I have long believed the terrain at Deal is ideal for golf. As good a set of par 4s as any course I know

Peter Rudd: Certainly challenging and well maintained

Steve Carroll: Incredible green complexes, fearsome rough, your fortunes determined by the wind, what's not to like?

Chris Griffiths: One of the best links courses I’ve ever played

Chris Myatt: It feels like nothing has changed in the last 100 years although the condition is near-perfect

David Walker: Classic out-and-back links. This is a course on wonderful links turf which is a true challenge to mere mortals and has a relentless feel where only good shots are rewarded.

Read more about our panellists here.

FAQs about Royal Cinque Ports

Where is Royal Cinque Ports located?

Royal Cinque Ports is situated on the southeastern tip of England, in Kent. It is just to the north of the village of Deal, with the course overlooking Sandwich Bay and out over the merge between the English Channel and the North Sea. The A2 and A256 are within reach of Royal Cinque Ports, while England’s capital city is 85 miles away to the southwest.

Deal is also the home of the closest train station to the course. Trains run from Ramsgate to London St Pancras, getting golfers into the centre of England’s capital within 90 minutes. Thanks to being on the southeast coastline of England, it has easy access for those coming across the English Channel from Continental Europe. Both Folkestone and Dover are within 20 miles of the venue. For international travellers coming to England via the air, London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London City and London Stansted Airports are all within two and a half hours from Royal Cinque Ports.

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?

It is the southernmost of three Open Championship courses on the eastern coastline of Kent, all of which are on the NCG Top 100s: England list. Prince's and Royal St George's are both just north of Cinque Ports. Littlestone, Rye and Chart Hills are also within a 50-mile drive of Royal Cinque Ports.

What golf facilities does Royal Cinque Ports offer?

There is a driving range at the venue, with the teeing area being predominantly grass. There are also a handful of matted bays as well, along with hitting nets. The putting green and short game area are on the other side of the clubhouse.

What are the green fees at Royal Cinque Ports?

The price of a green fee at Royal Cinque Ports changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at Royal Cinque Ports, visit their website here.

Check out what our expects had to say about Royal Cinque Ports on the NCG Golf Podcast here.

Play on the NCG Top 100s Tour!

Book your spot to play at Royal Cinque Ports on the NCG Top 100s Tour in 2026 here.

You can also play at Royal Cinque Ports as part of our Kent Swing, which you can find here.

Visit Royal Cinque Ports' website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.

Website

http://www.royalcinqueports.com/

office@royalcinqueports.com

Phone

+44 (0) 1304 374007

Address

Golf Road, Deal CT14 6RF

Course Reviews

5.0 | 1 reviews

| a year ago

Fantastic golf course that provides a stiff test and plenty of enjoyment. Couldn't recommend it more.

Matthew Chivers

a year on

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