The Courses

Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, Deal For a first-time visitor to this stretch of coast, Royal Cinque Ports is our recommendation. One of England’s great championship links, it sits right on the seafront at Deal with the sea visible from almost every hole. The course demands precision and rewards patience — it’s the kind of links that feels completely different depending on the wind, which on this stretch of coast is never entirely predictable. Booking in advance is essential, and playing here even once tends to create a lasting habit.

Kingsdown Golf Club If Royal Cinque Ports is the drama, Kingsdown is the discovery. Set high above the coastline on downland above the village of Kingsdown, this is a very different kind of course — quieter, more intimate, and with views over the Channel that make it one of the most scenically rewarding rounds in Kent. It’s also more accessible than the two Royals, making it an excellent second or third round option and a favourite with guests staying in the area.

Royal St George’s Golf Club, Sandwich No introduction needed for most golfers. One of the greatest links courses in the world, an Open Championship host, and a course that earns its reputation every time. A round here is a bucket list experience, and staying at The Dunes in Sandwich Bay puts you closer to the first tee than almost anywhere else.

Prince’s Golf Club, Sandwich Often overlooked in the shadow of its neighbour, Prince’s is a seriously good course in its own right — three loops of nine holes across spectacular links terrain on the Sandwich Bay estate. More accessible to book than Royal St George’s, it makes an excellent addition to a multi-round trip and is a genuine pleasure to play.

When Golf Is Only Part of the Plan

One of the things that makes this coast work so well for mixed groups is that the non-golfers rarely feel like they’ve drawn the short straw. While one half of the group heads out for an early tee time, the other has a rather wonderful day of their own to look forward to.

Start with yoga on the beach

Hut 55 on Walmer beach runs restorative beach yoga classes every Saturday and Sunday morning, with breakfast and freshly made coffee included in the price afterwards.  It is, by some margin, one of the best ways to begin a day on the Kent coast. Book in advance as spaces are limited.  Walmer Castle also offers yoga sessions and sound baths within its historic grounds – a genuinely extraordinary setting that makes even the most seasoned yogi stop and look around. Check their events calendar for current dates and availability.

A morning at Brooklyn Greenspa

Tucked into St George’s Passage in the heart of Deal, Brooklyn Greenspa is a natural, organic and cruelty-free spa offering facials, massages, manicures and more  with every treatment carried out in a private room.   Nestled in a charming pedestrian passage, it’s a serene oasis built around its owner’s passion for design, self-care and environmental stewardship. Book a treatment and emerge considerably more relaxed than you went in.

Explore Deal

Deal’s high street is one of the genuinely good ones – independent, unhurried and full of proper discoveries. From bookshops to galleries to Barkened’s beautifully curated homeware and lifestyle store, an hour or two here passes effortlessly. Stop for coffee at Middle Street Coffee or grab a picnic from Hut 55 and take it to the beach.

Afternoon at leisure

By mid-afternoon the groups naturally reconverge. Players return from the course – elated, philosophical, or somewhere in between – and the day shifts into its best phase: everyone together, nowhere to be.

Where to Eat

The Rose, Deal High Street The Good Food Guide describes The Rose as pursuing smart technique and quality ingredients in an atmosphere of scuffed wood floors, vintage furniture, modern art and fashionable colours. The menu changes regularly and leans into seasonal Kent produce – this is the celebration supper venue. Book a table and let the evening take its time.

81 Beach Street, Deal A beloved Deal seafront bistro with an interesting seasonal menu and a view over the water. More relaxed in atmosphere than The Rose but no less serious about its food – perfect for a Friday night arrival dinner or a long Sunday lunch.

The Lazy Elephant, Sandwich If you’re playing Royal St George’s or Prince’s, Sandwich is worth a proper visit in its own right – one of England’s best-preserved medieval towns and consistently underestimated as a destination. The Lazy Elephant is the place to eat here: a warm, well-regarded restaurant that locals genuinely love.

The Zetland Arms, Kingsdown For something more informal after a round at Kingsdown Golf Club, the Zetland Arms sits almost on the beach in the village with views straight out to sea. A proper pub, excellent food and the kind of post-golf atmosphere that rounds off a day perfectly.

The Perfect Weekend Shape

• Friday evening: Arrive, settle in, dinner at 81 Beach Street or The Rose.
• Saturday morning: Golfers head to Royal Cinque Ports or Kingsdown. Non-golfers: beach yoga at Hut 55, then Brooklyn Greenspa, then a wander through Deal.
• Saturday afternoon: Reconvene at the cottage. Walk along the seafront to Walmer or down to Kingsdown beach.
• Saturday evening: Celebration supper at The Rose. Le Pinardier wine bar for a nightcap.
• Sunday morning: Sound bath or yoga at Walmer Castle, or second round at Prince’s or Kingsdown.
• Sunday afternoon: Long lunch at The Lazy Elephant in Sandwich, then home

Where to Stay

The right cottage makes the whole thing work — close enough to the courses that early tee times don’t require a 6am alarm, comfortable enough that evenings feel like a proper retreat, and spacious enough for a group to actually enjoy being in together.