A Tour of Kent's Most Scenic Golf Courses

By Improving Your Chipping Around the Greens
Comments 35
19 Aug 2026

A Tour of Kent's Most Scenic Golf Courses

Why Kent Works So Well for Golf

Kent has a habit of surprising golfers who arrive expecting little more than a pleasant county course or two. In a single weekend you can play a windswept links beside the Channel, a mature parkland track under oaks, and a downland layout where the ball runs for ever on chalk turf. That variety, packed into a county you can cross in under an hour, is what makes it such a rewarding destination.

The geography does the heavy lifting. The coast faces east and south, so sea breezes are a constant; the North Downs provide elevation and fast-draining ground; and the Weald gives you heavy, tree-lined parkland where accuracy matters more than carry. Add good road and rail links from London and the South East, and you have a county that suits a day trip, a long weekend or a full golfing holiday.

Coastal Links: Where the Sea Sets the Rules

The links courses along the Kent coast are the county's headline act. Expect firm fescue fairways, revetted bunkers that look as though they have been there since the Victorians, and greens that hold a well-struck ball but punish anything tentative.

The defining feature is wind. On a calm morning these courses feel generous; by early afternoon, with a three-club breeze off the sea, the same holes become genuinely demanding. Learning to flight the ball low and to accept a running approach is the key to scoring.

Play early if you can. The first hour after dawn is usually the calmest, and the greens are at their truest.
Take more club than you think. Links turf releases the ball, so a bumped seven iron often beats a lofted wedge.
Pack layers. Coastal weather changes fast, even in July, and a waterproof top earns its place in the bag.

Rolling Parkland in the Weald

Head inland and the character of the golf changes completely. Wealden parkland courses tend to be lined with oak, beech and chestnut, laid out over undulating ground with streams and ponds in play. These are courses that reward straight hitting and thoughtful course management rather than raw power.

Because the trees channel your line, the fairways often feel narrower than they measure. A sensible strategy is to leave the driver in the bag on the tighter par fours and trust a long iron or hybrid to find the short grass. Approach play here is usually into softer greens, so a high, stopping shot is an asset.

Many of these clubs are traditional in the best sense: a warm welcome, a proper dress code, a roll-up on a Saturday morning and a clubhouse that serves a decent steak pie. If you are visiting as a guest, it is worth ringing ahead to check visitor times, as weekends are often reserved for members and competitions.

Downland and Heathland Along the North Downs

The chalk ridge of the North Downs produces some of the most enjoyable golf in the South East. The turf drains superbly, so winter golf is far better here than on the clay soils of the Weald, and the ball runs generously in summer. Views across the Weald and out towards the coast are a genuine part of the experience.

Downland golf is honest golf: the ground tells you what to do. Playing the ball along the contours and using the slopes to feed it towards the hole is far more effective than firing at every flag. The one thing to watch is the wind, which is rarely blocked by trees and can make club selection on the exposed holes a real puzzle.

Heathland-influenced layouts on the higher, sandier ground offer a similar feel with a touch more heather and bracken in play. They tend to be shorter than the links courses but require just as much precision off the tee.

Practical Notes for Visitors

A little forward planning makes a Kent golf trip run smoothly.

Green fees vary widely: expect roughly £30 to £60 for midweek visitor play at a good parkland or downland club, and £70 upwards for the better-known coastal links.
Tee times. Midweek mornings after about 9.30am are usually the easiest to secure. Most clubs now take bookings online, but a phone call often opens up slots that do not appear on a screen.
Handicap and dress. Some links courses ask for a handicap certificate, so carry proof. Smart casual is the norm on the course, with no denim or football shirts, and most clubs prefer tailored trousers or shorts.
Pace of play. Four hours for a fourball is the accepted standard. If you lose ground, wave the group behind through.
Travel. The M20, M2 and A2 cover most of the county, and several clubs sit within a short taxi ride of a mainline station.

After the Round: Clubhouse Life

Half the pleasure of Kent golf is the nineteenth hole. Clubhouses here are unfussy and sociable, and a visitor who signs the book and chats to the steward will usually find the conversation easy. Ask about the history of the course — many were laid out over a century ago, and members are rightly proud of it.

If you are staying overnight, base yourself near the coast for links golf and around Sevenoaks or Maidstone for parkland and downland. A two-night stay allows you to play three very different courses, which is the best way to understand what makes Kent such a quietly excellent golfing county. Bring a spare sleeve of balls, keep the ball low when the wind gets up, and you will enjoy every round.

Course Guides

How to Practise Putting Indoors During Winter

Use mirrors, slow-motion drills and simple feedback to correct early extension and poor posture without regular range time.

Previous Post At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium.

Next Post Dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentiu deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores

5 Comments

Robert Sonny says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am

I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
Reply
- John Abraham says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am
  
  I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
  Reply
  - Robert Sonnysays Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am
    
    I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
    Reply
Robert Sonny says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am

I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
Reply

Jenny Watson

Hi! beautiful people. I`m an authtor of this blog. Read our post - stay with us

Instagram

How We Can
Help You!

Waterproof uppers, reliable grip and a comfortable fit matter most when fairways become soft and muddy in autumn.

section heading hidden

Our Latest News

How to Fix Common Swing Flaws at Home

Choosing Golf Shoes for Wet British Weather

Understanding Stableford Scoring for Club Competitions

Contact Us

Article