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Josh Carter
8th November 2019

Royal St George’s was the first venue outside of Scotland to host The Open back in 1894. Since then, the sweeping Sandwich Bay course has witnessed some of the finest players lift the Claret Jug such as Darren Clarke and Sandy Lyle. But who will take the victory at The 149th Open this year?

As Fleetwood and Koepka prepare to go head to head on the Kent coastline, now is the perfect time to start planning your own competition victory. Courses across Kent are welcoming visitors to their own Open Competitions, so read on to find out more.

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Royal St George’s Golf Club

It is a given that Royal St George’s course would appear on this list – and for good reason! In July 2020, specifically the 12th to the 19th, the Sandwich links will be descended upon by 156 of the very best professional golfers. The Open was hosted for the first time outside of Scotland in 1894 at Royal St George’s in Sandwich, and since the course has witnessed some of the finest players lift the Claret Jug such as Darren Clarke and Sandy Lyle. Returning to Kent for the 15th time, the course's location at the edge of the sweeping Sandwich Bay is sure to provide a true spectacle of golf.

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Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club

Moments from Royal St George’s is Royal Cinque Ports golf course, a links that itself is playing host to a Championship - The R&A Senior Amateur Championship. Played from the 29th to the 31st July, just 10 days after The Open has finished, the championship is a big hit and rightly so as it has been contested since its inception in 1969 by The R&A. It will however not be the first time that the tournament has visited as in 1971 the course co-hosted it with Royal St George's and it returned in 1987 and then again in 2008, when on both occasions Prince's co-hosted the increasingly popular event.

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Littlestone Golf Club

You may have reached this far and thought that Kent surely couldn’t have any further big-name competitions, but you’d be wrong! Testament to the quality of courses across Kent, the next prestigious event happening in the county is The R&A Junior Open at Littlestone Golf Club. Providing a platform to watch the finest new talent from the world of golf, the championship takes place from July 13th to 15th just days before The Open is held at Royal St Gerorge’s in Sandwich and spectator entry is free of charge. If you’re looking to hone your championship skills and play like the young amateurs, Littlestone still has a number of fourballs priced at £450 available all day on the Thursday, July 16, and Friday, July 17, and from 7 am until 10 am on July 18 & 19 for those wishing to combine 18 holes of golf over a course in championship condition with attendance at The Open Championship in Sandwich.

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The World Championships for one armed golf players

Just one month before The 149th Open is held, The World Championships for one armed golf players is taking place at the Walmer & Kingsdown Golf Club. Being the number one event for global one armed players, the championships attracts around 50 of the world’s best players from up to 12 countries. After the huge success of the Fightmaster Cup event for one-armed golfers between European and North America players, at the club from September 20 to 22 2018, the Club on the Cliffs will be once again in the world spotlight. 

If you’re not able to head to any of these big-name competitions to watch, be sure to at least head to one of the clubs away from July and take on a competition yourself – or least play at a championship course!