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GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture Discussion Group => Topic started by: John Foley on March 27, 2025, 08:49:15 AM

Title: Visit to SE England
Post by: John Foley on March 27, 2025, 08:49:15 AM
A month from now I'll de-camp for SE England week long golf get away. I've lined up Littlestone, Rye, Princes Deal and Sandwich. Spending a few days in Rye & Deal. I'd love to hear a few suggestions about any unique places I should make sure to see and food & beverage options. If anyone is in that area and want to grab a beverage at the end of the day please reach out.
Title: Re: Visit to SE England
Post by: Michael Felton on March 27, 2025, 08:59:15 AM
The King's Head in Deal is a pretty good pub. It's next door to Dunkerley's which I think is a pretty nice fish restaurant. I have been there once, but it was many years ago and I wasn't exactly dry on the way in, so I might be off (on Dunkerley's, not the pub). I spend a week or so in Deal every year and my group hang out in the King's Head and eat at various places you can just walk into. Most of the beachfront stuff is housing - you need to head a road or two away from the beach to find the shops and restaurants.


That's also a good line up of golf you've got there!
Title: Re: Visit to SE England
Post by: Adam Lawrence on March 27, 2025, 10:30:48 AM
There is a lot of good food in Deal. The relatively new Blue Pelican is a Japanese influenced restaurant that has been getting stunning reviews on a national level. I haven’t been yet — I live about half an hour from Deal in Margate, a town with even more good food — but I would really like to. Needs my baby daughter to pass the Soya Ladder, hence allowing my breastfeeding wife to eat soya!
Title: Re: Visit to SE England
Post by: Brett Hochstein on March 27, 2025, 11:42:06 AM
Rye and Sandwich are both lovely little Cinque Port towns to have a stroll about. I made time in the morning to explore both and did not regret it; it's a complemental and enhancing experience on top of the golf. 


For extra golf, I recommend the Short (Cliffs) Course at North Foreland. 18 Simpson greens overlooking the water on a nice little plot of land. Only takes an hour or so to play if by yourself, though you'll probably end up wanting to go around for more!
Title: Re: Visit to SE England
Post by: Adam Lawrence on March 27, 2025, 12:44:57 PM
John

If you follow Brett's suggestion re North Foreland, let me know. The club is less than two miles from where I am currently sitting.

The short course is now known as the Northcliffe course btw. It was the venue for Henry Longhurst's first tournament win as a thirteen year old in a kids competition in, I think, 1922.

Adam
Title: Re: Visit to SE England
Post by: Michael Moore on March 27, 2025, 01:45:33 PM
Get as much Indian food as you can. I just triangulated my Liverpool hotel based off this.
Title: Re: Visit to SE England
Post by: Brett Hochstein on March 27, 2025, 02:22:24 PM
John

If you follow Brett's suggestion re North Foreland, let me know. The club is less than two miles from where I am currently sitting.

The short course is now known as the Northcliffe course btw. It was the venue for Henry Longhurst's first tournament win as a thirteen year old in a kids competition in, I think, 1922.

Adam


Northcliffe! Sorry--in a rush and conflated the name with another short course I know
Title: Re: Visit to SE England
Post by: PThomas on March 27, 2025, 02:45:43 PM
Rye and Sandwich are both lovely little Cinque Port towns to have a stroll about. I made time in the morning to explore both and did not regret it; it's a complemental and enhancing experience on top of the golf. 


For extra golf, I recommend the Short (Cliffs) Course at North Foreland. 18 Simpson greens overlooking the water on a nice little plot of land. Only takes an hour or so to play if by yourself, though you'll probably end up wanting to go around for more!


Brett is correct re Rye, i was just there
Title: Re: Visit to SE England
Post by: David_Tepper on March 27, 2025, 04:02:10 PM
https://www.northforeland.co.uk/the_northcliffe_course
Title: Re: Visit to SE England
Post by: Adam Lawrence on March 27, 2025, 05:20:29 PM
Rye and Sandwich are both lovely little Cinque Port towns to have a stroll about. I made time in the morning to explore both and did not regret it; it's a complemental and enhancing experience on top of the golf. 


For extra golf, I recommend the Short (Cliffs) Course at North Foreland. 18 Simpson greens overlooking the water on a nice little plot of land. Only takes an hour or so to play if by yourself, though you'll probably end up wanting to go around for more!


Brett is correct re Rye, i was just there


Yes, Rye is a very lovely town. Deal is a bit less obviously picturesque, but it has a lot of character and plenty to recommend it beyond the golf course. Sandwich is super-cute, but a bit twee and there isn't much to it.
Title: Re: Visit to SE England
Post by: Tommy Williamsen on March 27, 2025, 06:09:08 PM
Wear a sports coat to Rye.
Title: Re: Visit to SE England
Post by: PThomas on March 27, 2025, 09:09:58 PM
Wear a sports coat to Rye.


and tie!
Title: Re: Visit to SE England
Post by: Michael Felton on March 27, 2025, 10:48:03 PM
Wear a sports coat to Rye.


and tie!


Same at RSG - especially if you want to tuck in to the carvery - highly recommended. One of the best golf club meals in the country
Title: Re: Visit to SE England
Post by: Richard Fisher on March 28, 2025, 05:44:16 AM
Complete 100% agreement. The lunch at Rye is very much part of the whole experience, and if you have time a knock on the Jubilee Course (18 greens, about 14 fairways) is also recommended. Ditto a quick evening salvo around the Warren course at Littlestone, which isn't in the same league as the Jubilee but has some fun holes nonetheless.


The 'old' nautical part of Deal is very appealing, with some excellent pubs amidst the small townhouses. Rye is just a special place overall, and Sandwich has its charms. You will also see how much improvement has been undertaken at Prince's, both on the courses and in the clubhouse, even if the club flavour at Prince's is very different from that at both RCP and RSG: prior to WW2 Prince's was just as posh as its neighbours (as you can see from some of the old benches around the place that survived the war), but during the conflict (when the course was basically a firing range) membership fell from over 500 to barely 100, of whom (very interestingly) the majority were Ladies. It's all very different now!


Anyway this is one of the great trips in golf, so enjoy...
Title: Re: Visit to SE England
Post by: Sean_A on April 01, 2025, 05:17:28 AM
In Deal..,

I like the Just Reproach for a drink.

Dine India has no atmosphere, but good food.

There is a lovely pub with good food, I think on Middle Street. Can’t recall the name.

I like the Standard Inn and Ypres Castle Inn in Rye.

Ciao
Title: Re: Visit to SE England
Post by: Craig Disher on April 01, 2025, 10:02:32 AM
Sean is correct about the Standard in Rye but if you've hired a car a short trip to the Queen's Head in Icklesham is worth the 10 minute drive. Always fresh fish from Hastings, a selection of local ales and one of the best views from any pub anywhere. The Globe Inn located just outside the town is also an excellent pub with very good food.
Title: Re: Visit to SE England
Post by: Mark Chaplin on April 01, 2025, 12:04:27 PM
John - I’ve messaged you.


Adam - The Blue Pelican is very good but I’d take all the gushing reviews with a pinch of salt. It’s owned by the guys who have The Rose and they appear have every marketing agency in London eating out of their hand. We can tell you which places will be written about by the critics before they get here. The best restaurant in town needless to say never gets a mention!


Sean - The Prince Albert only does Sunday lunch now, book at least 4 weeks in advance. The rest of the time it’s basket meals. The Just Reproach is still around £2 a pint cheaper than the Kings Head.


Fish and chips is Sea View all day long, the London types prefer Middle Street fish bar but the owner doesn’t seem to like anyone let alone his punters!


For curry Nameste in Sandwich is worth the journey.


As for the golf it’s pretty good as well.



Title: Re: Visit to SE England
Post by: Robin_Hiseman on April 02, 2025, 06:23:09 AM
A complete aside, but the girl who used to work in the Deal chip shop was scientifically adjudged to be the most beautiful woman in Britain, due to her perfect facial symmetry and proportions. I'm certain Chappers knows more!