insideKENT Magazine Issue 49 - April 2016 | Page 75

GOLF
Kent: A Golfer’s Paradise CONT.
Leeds Castle
One of Britain's historic golf courses, in the 85th
anniversary year of the Leeds Castle Golf Course
first opening for play, a major recent two-year
investment has revitalised the course.
Set within the Kent countryside, the course now
has a new 6th hole along the moat's edge and
a teasing par-three 8th, with the 9th hole having
been extended to a par four. The course offers
spectacular views of the 900-year-old castle as
you play and provides an excellent test for golfers
of all standards.
Originally built on the 500-acre estate in 1924 for
the Hon. Lady Baillie, the then owner of Leeds
Castle, today the nine-hole course continues to
provide stunning views of the castle with the
addition of new vistas, created by thinning out
existing overgrown woodlands.
PGA Professional Steve Purves has created a
designated short game coaching area and can

Prince’s Golf Club

help you enhance your strengths whilst developing
areas for improvement. With 30 years’ experience
in coaching, from tour professionals to beginners,
take advantage of Steve’s PGA qualified teaching
and playing expertise. Golf coaching is available
for individuals or groups in half hour or nine-hole
playing sessions. For more information, visit the
website.
Pay and play prices start from just £13.50 for 9
holes and for those wishing to play unlimited golf,
purchase a Season Ticket in five- or seven-day
format starting from as little as £295 per year.
Season tickets are available to purchase online
at www.leeds-castle.com/golf or by calling the
Pro Shop on 01622 767828.
Leeds Castle Golf Course is located on the A20
near Maidstone, just off Junction 8 of the M20.

www.leeds-castle.com/golf

Canterbury Golf Club

© Kevin Murray

Canterbury Golf Club opened for play in 1927 on
160 acres of land leased from the War Office.
Designed by the renowned course architect Harry
Colt, the 18-hole course boasts several areas
given SSSI status by Natural England. Over many
years, the original heathland nature of the course
has altered with the introduction of huge expanses
of trees. The resulting mature woodland with its
carpet of bluebells in spring and wide variety of
wildlife all year round, make this an uplifting place
to play golf. The course is 6,272 yards off the
whites, a par 71, and is a mix of open par 5s,
tight par 4s and challenging par 3s.
www.canterburygolfclub.co.uk

Prince’s Golf Club, located on Sandwich Bay on
the east Kent coast, boasts wonderful
accommodation offering sea or golf course views
and 27 holes of championship links golf set near
to the charming ancient town of Sandwich.
2016 is set to be an exciting year at Prince’s with
two R&A events being held there. These are the
St. Andrews Trophy, where golfers from GB&I
play against their continental counterparts, and
the Jacques Leglise Trophies, with the same
format for boys. In 2017 Prince’s will co-host the
Amateur Championship with Royal St. George’s,
and from 2018 to 2021 the links will be one of
the final qualifying venues for the Open.
The championship links of Prince’s, scene of
Gene Sarazen’s 1932 Open victory, have benefited
from continual investment over the last few years
and are now presented in the best condition that
members and golfing visitors have ever seen.
In the three years since the Lodge at Prince’s has
opened, golfing guests have enjoyed the
comfortable surroundings and friendly welcome.

The 38 en-suite bedrooms offer the perfect choice
for a golf break at Prince’s or indeed to also enjoy
the other championship links alo ng this coastline
(Royal St. George’s and Royal Cinque Ports Golf
Club) over several days. Guests have been
impressed by the quality of the dining experience
in the 2AA Rosette restaurant at the Brasserie
on the Bay.
But Prince’s can offer more to their guests in
2016; a new grass practice will be opened (it
could double as a football pitch given its size!)
with the professional team headed up by Kent
PGA captain Anthony Tarchetti offering lessons
to include Trackman technology, or a ‘links’ warmup to give golfers a flavour of links skills before
teeing off. The gym onsite is always available for
hotel guests to use. Guests can also book to
view ‘The Gallery’, a fascinating and visual walk
through the history of Prince’s.
Golfers are welcome to visit for a day’s golf or
stay overnight to enjoy the next day on the links.
www.princesgolfclub.co.uk

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