First Time Visitor to Royal St. George's

[James Brown]

I am going to play RSG 4 times over two days during the second week of August.  First time in that part of the U.K.  Also playing Royal Cinque Ports and Walton Heath.


Curious if anyone has suggestions on features to look out for and parts of the RSG course they really like.  Have done my homework on all the courses.  Curious if there is map somewhere that locates some of the historic holes that NLE on the current layout? 

[Josh Stevens]

Will be interesting to hear your thoughts on the comparison with RCP.  RSG is not for everyone - for me its a once a year course to enjoy with a good lunch.  Too quirky and too many silly OTT moments to want to play it every Sat afternoon

[Tommy Williamsen]

Just make sure to be in the fairway off the tee. I really like RSG. Playing it that much will really give you a feel for it. Walton Heath has two strong courses. I like the Old better but both are good.

[James Brown]

Just make sure to be in the fairway off the tee. I really like RSG. Playing it that much will really give you a feel for it. Walton Heath has two strong courses. I like the Old better but both are good.

I resolved several years ago to try to play the great courses multiple times so I can really get the full sense of the place.  Well worth it every other time. 

[Tony_Muldoon]

Will be interesting to hear your thoughts on the comparison with RCP.  RSG is not for everyone - for me its a once a year course to enjoy with a good lunch.  Too quirky and too many silly OTT moments to want to play it every Sat afternoon

Josh would you elaborate on what you find "silly OTT" bits.  I know for members comps they have ball spotters on 4 and 17, but compared to a lot of places I don't think its that quirky?

James enjoy the trip.  The main one to wonder at is imagine hitting a feathery onto the 6th green over that dune on the left!  As the Maiden that's how it used to be played and it was a famous Par 3 then.  I assume the green has been changed  as it now plays two levels, front and back.

The appeal of RSG with its large Dunes is more obvious than that the low lying Deal, but I don't think there's that much in it in overall quality. Deal has the better set of greens. Agree multiple plays is the way to go.

[Adam Lawrence]

England's greatest course. Enjoy

[Ally Mcintosh]

RSG has the perfect mix of rumple, quirk and a "championship" sense of scale. That alone makes it the best course in England that I've played. Throw in an excellent set of greens and it really is a stunner.

However, Deal has an even better set of greens and as such, a really great variety of holes.

Walton Heath Old is a clear length ahead of the New but both are the best examples of what a true heathland is.

I did a similar trip to yours last summer. Very memorable few days. I chose well.

[Mark Chaplin]

RSG has some real variation in tees so try a couple including the back tee on 4 and the longer but easier championship tee on 13.

You are playing the best courses but clearly staying in inferior accommodation 😉.

[Philip Gawith]

James the map you are looking for is on the wall as you enter the showers in the change-room. It shows you the original lay out of the course including the Maiden hole Tony talks about (see also metal sculpture/trophy of same hole in the main lounge).


For me the stand out feature is probably some of the wonderfully rumpled fairways, especially 2, 4 and 17. The 9th green and 10th hole with its skyline green are other favourites. The picture of Laidlaw Purves in the dining room is only matched for impact by the Crump portrait at Pine Valley.


Philip

[Eric Smith]

The beguiling skyline green at 10 that Philip just mentioned:



4 times around you say, James? Lucky you! Enjoy.

[James Brown]

James the map you are looking for is on the wall as you enter the showers in the change-room. It shows you the original lay out of the course including the Maiden hole Tony talks about (see also metal sculpture/trophy of same hole in the main lounge).


For me the stand out feature is probably some of the wonderfully rumpled fairways, especially 2, 4 and 17. The 9th green and 10th hole with its skyline green are other favourites. The picture of Laidlaw Purves in the dining room is only matched for impact by the Crump portrait at Pine Valley.


Philip

This is gold and thanks for sharing.  I am a total sap for these kind of things.  I almost lost it when I came across the Bobby Jone room in the Sunningdale clubhouse a few years ago totally by chance. 

[Josh Stevens]

Will be interesting to hear your thoughts on the comparison with RCP.  RSG is not for everyone - for me its a once a year course to enjoy with a good lunch.  Too quirky and too many silly OTT moments to want to play it every Sat afternoon

Josh would you elaborate on what you find "silly OTT" bits.  I know for members comps they have ball spotters on 4 and 17, but compared to a lot of places I don't think its that quirky?

James enjoy the trip.  The main one to wonder at is imagine hitting a feathery onto the 6th green over that dune on the left!  As the Maiden that's how it used to be played and it was a famous Par 3 then.  I assume the green has been changed  as it now plays two levels, front and back.

The appeal of RSG with its large Dunes is more obvious than that the low lying Deal, but I don't think there's that much in it in overall quality. Deal has the better set of greens. Agree multiple plays is the way to go.

Personal view of course.  I have played both RSG and RCP maybe 20 times each I think.  I don't mind a bit of quirk but I think the scale of RSG is just too much in places.  Given the massive size of the property, they would seem to have intentionally chosen to route in a way that exaggerates the dunes.  I think in places the dunes are just too big and the scale of place takes too much away from the golf  - holes like 2, 4, 5, 9, 12, 17 are just perhaps a bit too exaggerated for my liking.

That doesn't mean they are bad - I just prefer a day out at Deal with its more intimate  contours.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Will be interesting to hear your thoughts on the comparison with RCP.  RSG is not for everyone - for me its a once a year course to enjoy with a good lunch.  Too quirky and too many silly OTT moments to want to play it every Sat afternoon

Josh would you elaborate on what you find "silly OTT" bits.  I know for members comps they have ball spotters on 4 and 17, but compared to a lot of places I don't think its that quirky?

James enjoy the trip.  The main one to wonder at is imagine hitting a feathery onto the 6th green over that dune on the left!  As the Maiden that's how it used to be played and it was a famous Par 3 then.  I assume the green has been changed  as it now plays two levels, front and back.

The appeal of RSG with its large Dunes is more obvious than that the low lying Deal, but I don't think there's that much in it in overall quality. Deal has the better set of greens. Agree multiple plays is the way to go.

Personal view of course.  I have played both RSG and RCP maybe 20 times each I think.  I don't mind a bit of quirk but I think the scale of RSG is just too much in places.  Given the massive size of the property, they would seem to have intentionally chosen to route in a way that exaggerates the dunes.  I think in places the dunes are just too big and the scale of place takes too much away from the golf  - holes like 2, 4, 5, 9, 12, 17 are just perhaps a bit too exaggerated for my liking.

That doesn't mean they are bad - I just prefer a day out at Deal with its more intimate  contours.

Interesting take on the exaggerated contours, Josh. One I can understand, despite not agreeing with on this occasion.

What are your favourite GB&I courses?

[Josh Stevens]

But they do an epic lunch, so perhaps that makes up for something

[Bill_McBride]

I was just there for one day of 36 holes but have some good memories.  We started at 10 and immediately encountered that great hole.  Don't pull your second shot!   The 13th is a very good par 4 with the old Prince's clubhouse behind the green and the Suez Canal crossing the next fairway.  Liked the 2nd hole tee ball, the huge fairway bunker on 4 😱😱 and the approach between the dunes on 5.   Lots of fun holes out there. 

[James Boon]

James the map you are looking for is on the wall as you enter the showers in the change-room. It shows you the original lay out of the course including the Maiden hole Tony talks about (see also metal sculpture/trophy of same hole in the main lounge)
Philip

James,


You ask about old maps of the course? I took a couple of pictures of these plans mounted in the clubhouse:


1888



1907



Apologies for the reflections... Hope these are what you are looking for? Only played Sandwich once but thoroughly enjoyed it!


Cheers,


James

[James Brown]

James the map you are looking for is on the wall as you enter the showers in the change-room. It shows you the original lay out of the course including the Maiden hole Tony talks about (see also metal sculpture/trophy of same hole in the main lounge)
Philip

James,


You ask about old maps of the course? I took a couple of pictures of these plans mounted in the clubhouse:


1888



1907



Apologies for the reflections... Hope these are what you are looking for? Only played Sandwich once but thoroughly enjoyed it!


Cheers,


James

Wow, this is great to see.  Now I understand the design of #3 at Old McDonald as the replica of the Sahara hole. 

[Mike Hendren]

Me?  I'd play Sandwich once and Walton Heath
Old four times. 

[Thomas Dai]

All that land and only one 18-hole course. Tut, tut, can do better.
Atb

[Josh Stevens]

Yes, they could probably fit in 3 and still have room to move.

[Will Lozier]

I would have liked two cracks at RSG - once wore me out! - but went round Deal 4 times (in 2 days) and would have kept going if not for darkness and the need to head back to Surrey!!


Also should try to get a game (or two) at Rye if possible!


Enjoy

[James Brown]

Me?  I'd play Sandwich once and Walton Heath
Old four times.

My itinerary fit into a plan. 


Being an east coaster in the US, I figure I will get many chances to play the courses close to Heathrow over time. I enjoyed two days at Sunningdale several years and Walton Heath seemed the next best stop in the London rota. Swimlet Forest and Woking are the next two on that list.


I tried to get on at Rye as well, but they never responded to my emails.  Alas. 


I can honestly attribute the next 5-6 years of UK trips to my reading the Confidential Guide V1.  St. Enodoc and Westward Ho or Pennard and Porthcawl may be next. 

[Josh Stevens]

I would have liked two cracks at RSG - once wore me out! - but went round Deal 4 times (in 2 days) and would have kept going if not for darkness and the need to head back to Surrey!!


Also should try to get a game (or two) at Rye if possible!


I think that perhaps says it all.  Deal is one of those place you come off, and then say "lets do that again"
After a round at Sandwich all you really want is a good lie down


Enjoy

[Thomas Dai]

Deal is one of those place you come off, and then say "lets do that again"
After a round at Sandwich all you really want is a good lie down

Nicely put.
Atb

[Sean_A]

Deal is one of those place you come off, and then say "lets do that again"
After a round at Sandwich all you really want is a good lie down

Nicely put.
Atb

Not for me.  I find the holes coming home at Deal a serious trial with any wind about and have never felt a desire to head back out.  The bashing at Sandwich is more measured and rhythmical...a much better flow which one would expect given the differences in the property shapes and sizes....but I still haven't felt a need to head back out.


Ciao