Top 10 Best Golf Courses in Thanet

Golf on the Kent Coast

East Kent is one of the most significant golfing regions in England, and Thanet sits right at its northern end. The chalk cliffs, dune systems and exposed coastline that define the isle also produce exactly the conditions links golf requires: free-draining sandy or chalky soil, natural undulation, fine coastal turf and, crucially, wind. Within a short drive of Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs, golfers can play genuine links, cliff-top courses with sea views on almost every hole, and sheltered parkland layouts inland.

What makes Thanet particularly appealing is the density of options and the relative accessibility. Alongside the historic championship venues further down the coast at Sandwich and Deal, the isle itself has courses that welcome visitors, run active societies and offer year-round playability thanks to the free-draining ground that keeps fairways firm when inland clubs are waterlogged.

The Ten Best Golf Courses In and Around Thanet

1. North Foreland Golf Club, Broadstairs — Perched on the cliff tops between Broadstairs and Kingsgate, North Foreland is Thanet's flagship course. The main eighteen-hole layout is a classic cliff-top challenge with expansive sea views, firm fast greens and constant exposure to wind that changes the character of the round from day to day. The club also operates a well-regarded short course, making it a strong venue for families and improving players. Excellent clubhouse facilities and an active society programme reinforce its reputation.

2. Royal St George's Golf Club, Sandwich — A short drive south of Thanet, Royal St George's is one of the most famous links in world golf and a regular Open Championship venue. Its rumpled fairways, deep bunkering and unpredictable bounces demand imagination and humility. Access is limited and green fees are premium, but for serious golfers based in Thanet it is the region's defining course.

3. Prince's Golf Club, Sandwich — Neighbouring Royal St George's, Prince's offers twenty-seven holes across three nine-hole loops that can be combined into different eighteen-hole configurations. It is a genuine championship links with Open history of its own, but with a notably more accessible visitor policy, on-site accommodation and dining, making it popular for golf breaks from Thanet.

4. Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, Deal — Another Open venue within easy reach, Royal Cinque Ports is a demanding out-and-back links running along the shingle shore. The prevailing wind typically helps on the way out and punishes on the way back, producing one of the toughest closing stretches in English golf.

5. Stonelees Golf Centre, Ebbsfleet, Thanet — A pay-and-play facility near Ramsgate combining an eighteen-hole course with a driving range and short-game practice areas. Its no-membership-required model and relaxed atmosphere make it the natural entry point for beginners and casual golfers across the isle, while still offering enough challenge for regular play.

6. Westgate and Birchington Golf Club — A compact cliff-top course on the north Thanet coast, this club offers a shorter but genuinely characterful test with striking sea views. The layout rewards accuracy over length, and the friendly, community-oriented membership makes it a welcoming option for visitors and newer players.

7. Canterbury Golf Club — Inland from Thanet, Canterbury provides a contrasting parkland experience with mature trees, undulating terrain and well-protected greens. It is a useful alternative when coastal winds make links play punishing, and its historic clubhouse and traditional atmosphere are well regarded.

8. Sandwich Bay and Surrounding Coastal Courses — The broader Sandwich Bay area offers additional coastal golf and practice facilities that Thanet golfers use regularly, with the same free-draining links turf and exposure that define the region's playing character.

9. Herne Bay Golf Club — Along the north Kent coast from Thanet, Herne Bay is a cliff-top downland course with generous fairways, sea views and a reputation for excellent winter playability. Its welcoming society packages make it a frequent choice for group golf days organised from the isle.

10. Thanet Golf Practice and Academy Facilities — Driving ranges, short courses and coaching academies across the district complete the local golf ecosystem. These facilities support PGA-led lessons, junior programmes and custom club fitting, and they are central to how new golfers in Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs enter the sport.

Links Versus Parkland: Playing the Difference

Golfers new to the Kent coast often underestimate how different links play. Fairways are firm, so the ball runs considerably further than expected and target lines must account for bounce. The wind is not an occasional factor but a permanent one, and low, controlled ball flight beats high soft shots almost every time. Around the greens, the bump-and-run is frequently a better option than a lofted pitch. Bunkers are typically deeper and more penal than on parkland courses, and escaping sideways is often the correct decision. Parkland courses such as Canterbury reward the more conventional aerial game and provide welcome shelter when the coastal wind is at its strongest.

Trends in Kent Coastal Golf

Several shifts are evident. Course management has become more environmentally focused, with clubs reducing water and fertiliser inputs, encouraging fine fescue grasses and managing dune and heathland habitats as conservation assets rather than rough. Visitor and society golf has grown in commercial importance, supported by improved online booking and flexible membership categories including junior, intermediate and off-peak options designed to broaden participation. Technology has arrived in the form of launch monitors, indoor simulators and data-led coaching, which extend practice through the winter months. Clubs are also working harder on inclusivity, with women's and juniors' programmes expanding significantly.

Practical Advice for Visiting Golfers

Book ahead, especially for weekend tee times in summer, and check individual club dress codes, which remain reasonably traditional at the older venues. Pack for the weather in layers, since conditions on an exposed Thanet cliff top can change within a single round. Take extra balls, as links rough and gorse are unforgiving. Consider a caddie or at least a detailed course planner at the championship links, where blind shots and hidden bunkering punish the unfamiliar. Finally, allow time for the clubhouse; hospitality is a genuine part of the East Kent golfing experience.

Final Thoughts

Few areas of the country put so much high-quality golf within such a compact radius. From North Foreland's cliff-top views to the championship links at Sandwich and Deal, and from accessible pay-and-play facilities at Stonelees to welcoming club courses at Westgate and Birchington, Thanet offers golf for every level and budget. Play the ground, respect the wind, and the coastal courses of the isle will provide some of the most memorable rounds in England.