The History, the winners, the stats.
THE HISTORY OF ROYAL ST GEORGES GOLF CLUB
The 18-hole course of 6107 yards at Royal St Georges, Sandwich has become a regular venue on the Open Championship circuit. Famous for its taxing holes and often prevailing wind, it is the perfect location for The Open Championship, a real test for the most seasoned of golfers.
Royal St Georges Golf Club has been consistently classed as one of the top golf courses in the world hosting 13 Open championships since 1894, when it became the first club outside
Scotland to host this prestigious event.
Royal St Georges is situated in the medieval town of Sandwich where it was founded in 1887 when it was just a stretch of dunes. It has since been converted into a truly challenging golf course, being the holder of the deepest bunker in championship golf; situated on the fourth hole. The varying wind and the natural terrain make this course a golf course more of a challenge than it length suggests.
There have only been three Open winners (Bill Rogers, Greg Norman and Ben Curtis) who have scored under par after 72 holes; a Championship course indeed.
Ben Curtis the surprise winner in 2003, played consistently all week, with scores of 72 and 3 rounds of 70. Early rounds saw Hennie Otto lead with a 68, and the more well known Davis Love lll with a 69. The favourite as ever was Tiger who seemed to play himself out of the tournament, by shooting 7 on the first hole. However, he is always a threat and his closing round of 71, put him in fourth place. Thomas Bjorn and Vijay Singh hoped their final rounds of 69 would be enough, it was not to be, Ben Curtis quietly became the Open Champion, claiming his first major.
PAST OPEN CHAMPIONS OF ROYAL ST GEORGES
The British Open Championship has been played at Royal St Georges, Sandwich Kent on 13 occasions in the past 150 years with some memorable finishes and we are sure that The Open in 2011 will be no exception!
Ben Curtis (2003) - With a solid week scoring 70, 72 and 70 again, Curtis finished one stroke ahead of Thomas Bjorn and Vijay Singh, and thus the relatively unknown golfer claimed his first Major.
Greg Norman (1993) - Norman’s win has to be one of the most memorable victories in sporting history. He managed to achieve the lowest ever score over 72 holes at the challenging course of St Georges. Also along with Ernie Els that week, he became the first players to complete four rounds shooting under 70.
Sandy Lyle (1985) - On the final day, Lyle was set three shots behind the leaders from the day before, Bernhard Langer and David Graham. However, he flourished that day and managed to shoot a 70, which was a one shot advantage over Payne Stewart. Langer and Graham both finished in a tie for third place along with Jose Rivero, Christy O’Connor Jnr and Mark O’Meara.
Bill Rogers (1981) - Rogers took the title by finishing up four strokes ahead of anyone else, Bernard Langer finishing up second. With scores of 72, 66, 67 and 71, Rogers completed the tournament at 4 strokes under par.
Bobby Locke (1949) - South African, Locke impressively scored 69, 76, 68 and 70; and went on to beat Harry Bradshaw in an intense playoff.
Reg Whitcombe (1938) - Whitcombe provided a memorable British Open when he famously won with final scores of 75 and 78. These unusual scores beat the halfway leaders by ten strokes, and hence Whitcombe claimed the title two strokes ahead of Jimmy Adams.
Henry Cotton (1934) - With one round left to play, Cotton found himself ten strokes ahead of his other competitors. He went on to struggle slightly with his nerves, but managed to score a 79 in his final round and won with a five-stroke margin.
(1928) with scores of 75, 73, 72 and 72, Hagen was obviously in control. He won with a two shot margin over Gene Sarazen.
(1922) Not looking like a clear winner with one round to play, Hagen was tied second place with Jim Barnes chasing the leader and defending champion, Jock Hutchinson. Hutchinson faded with a final round of 76, however, Jim Barnes kept neck and neck with Hagen up until the final score where Hagen shot one less than Barnes with a 72, his lowest score of the championship.
(1899) with a five-stroke lead, Vardon cruised to victory over the close competitor Jack White.
(1911) this year was the only time in history that a playoff was not finished with a clear winner. Vardon’s competitor, Massy, put up a fierce fight; however after 34 holes with a score of 148 whilst Vardon’s was 143, he picked up his ball and conceded the championship.
Jack White (1904) - White who finished second to Vardon five years earlier, finally got his hands on the title. He scored 80, 75, 72 and 69, and was part of the first ever record of sub-70 scores at St Georges.
John Henry Taylor (1894) - Taylor scored four rounds in the eighties giving him the highest winning scores ever recorded in the history of the Open of 326. However, this score left him five shots in the lead by the end of the tournament in order to take the title.
PAST OPEN CHAMPIONS – DATE ORDER
2009 - Turnberry, Ayrshire, Stewart Cink
2008 - Royal Birkdale, South Port, Padraig Harrington
2007 - Carnoustie Golf Links, Carnoustie, Padraig Harrington
2006 - Royal Liverpool, Hoylake, Tiger Woods
2005 - St Andrews, Fife, Tiger Woods
2004 - Royal Troon, Troon, Tod Hamilton
2003 - Royal St Georges, Sandwich, Kent - Ben Curtis
2002 – Muirfield. East Lothian, Ernie Els
2001 - Royal Lytham & St Annes, Lancashire, David Duval
2000 - St Andrews, Fife, Tiger Woods
1999 – Carnoustie Golf Links, Carnoustie, Paul Lawrie
1998 - Royal Birkdale, South Port, Mark O'Meara
1997 - Royal Troon, Troon, Justin Leonard
1996 - Royal Lytham & St Annes, Lancashire, Tom Lehman
1995 - St Andrews, Fife, John Daly
1994 – Turnberry, Ayrshire, Nick Price
1993 - Royal St Georges, Sandwich, Kent - Greg Norman
1992 – Muirfield, East Lothian, Nick Faldo
1991 - Royal Birkdale, South Port, Ian Baker-Finch
1990 - St Andrews, Fife, Nick Faldo
1989 - Royal Troon, Troon, Mark Calcavecchia
1988 - Royal Lytham & St Annes, Lancashire, Seve Ballesteros
1987 – Muirfield, East Lothian, Nick Faldo
1986 - Turnberry, Ayrshire, Greg Norman
1985 - Royal St Georges, Sandwich, Kent - Sandy Lyle
1984 - St Andrews, Fife, Seve Ballesteros
1983 - Royal Birkdale, South Port, Tom Watson
1982 - Royal Troon, Troon, Tom Watson
1981 - Royal St Georges, Sandwich, Kent - Bill Rogers
1980 – Muirfield, East Lothian, Tom Watson
1979 - Royal Lytham & St Annes, Lancashire, Seve Ballesteros
1978 - St Andrews, Fife, Jack Nicklaus
1977 - Turnberry, Ayrshire, Tom Watson
1976 - Royal Birkdale, South Port, Johnny Miller
1975 – Carnoustie Golf Links, Carnoustie, Tom Watson
1974 - Royal Lytham & St Annes, Lancashire, Gary Player
1973 - Royal Troon, Troon, Tom Weiskopf -
1972 – Muirfield, East Lothian, Lee Trevino
1971 - Royal Birkdale, South Port, Lee Trevino
1970 - St Andrews, Fife, Jack Nicklaus
1969 - Royal Lytham & St Annes, Lancashire, Tony Jacklin
1968 – Carnoustie Golf Links, Carnoustie, Gary Player
1967 – Royal Liverpool, Hoylake Roberto de Vicenzo
1966 – Muirfield, East Lothian, Jack Nicklaus
1965 - Royal Birkdale, South Port, Peter Thomson
1964 - St Andrews, Fife, Tony Lema
1963 - Royal Lytham & St Annes, Lancashire, Bob Charles
1962 – Royal Troon, Troon, Arnold Palmer
1961 – Royal Birkdale, South Port, Arnold Palmer
1960 - St Andrews, Fife, Kel Nagle
1959 - Muirfield, East Lothian, Gary Player
1958 - Royal Lytham & St Annes, Lancashire, Peter Thomson
1957 - St Andrews, Fife, Bobby Locke
1956 – Royal Liverpool, Hoylake, Peter Thomson
1955 - St Andrews, Fife, Peter Thomson
1954 – Royal Birkdale, South Port, Peter Thomson
1953 – Carnoustie Golf Links, Carnoustie, Ben Hogan
1952 - Royal Lytham & St Annes, Lancashire, Bobby Locke
1951 - Royal Portrush, Antrim, Max Faulkner
1950 – Royal Troon, Troon, Bobby Locke
1949 – Royal St Georges, Sandwich, Kent - Bobby Locke
1948 – Muirfield, East Lothian, Henry Cotton
1947 – Royal Liverpool, Hoylake, F Daly
1946 - St Andrews, Fife, Sam Snead
1945 - No Championship
1944 - No Championship
1943 - No Championship
1942 - No Championship
1941 - No Championship
1940 - No Championship
1939 - St Andrews, Fife, R Burton
1938 - Royal St Georges, Sandwich, Kent - Reg Whitcombe
1937 - Carnoustie Golf Links, Carnoustie, Henry Cotton
1936 - Royal Liverpool, Hoylake, AH Padgham
1935 - Muirfield, East Lothian, Alfred Perry
1934 - Royal St Georges, Sandwich, Kent - Henry Cotton
1933 - St Andrews, Fife, Densmore Shute
1932 - Princes, Sandwich, Gene Sarazen
1931 - Carnoustie Golf Links, Carnoustie, Tommy Armour
1930 - Royal Liverpool, Hoylake, Bobby Jones
1929 - Muirfield, East Lothian, Walter Hagen
1928 - Royal St Georges, Sandwich, Kent - Walter Hagen
1927 - St Andrews, Fife, Bobby Jones
1926 - Royal Lytham & St Annes, Lancashire, Bobby Jones
1925 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Jim Barnes
1924 - Royal Liverpool, Hoylake, Walter Hagen
1923 - Royal Troon, Troon, AG Havers
1922 - Royal St Georges, Sandwich, Kent - Walter Hagen
1921 - St Andrews, Fife, Jock Hutchinson
1920 - Royal Cinque Ports, Deal, George Duncan
1919 - No Championship
1918 - No Championship
1917 - No Championship
1916 - No Championship
1915 - No Championship
1914 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Harry Vardon
1913 - Royal Liverpool, Hoylake, JH Taylor
1912 - Muirfield, East Lothian, Edward Ray
1911 - Royal St Georges, Sandwich, Kent - Harry Vardon
1910 - St Andrews, Fife, James Braid
1909 - Royal Cinque Ports, Deal, JH Taylor
1908 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, James Braid
1907 - Royal Liverpool, Hoylake, A Massey
1906 - Muirfield, East Lothian, James Braid
1905 - St Andrews, Fife, James Braid
1904 - Royal St Georges, Sandwich, Kent - Jack White
1903 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Harry Vardon
1902 - Royal Liverpool, Hoylake, Alex Herd
1901 - Muirfield, East Lothian, James Braid
1900 - St Andrews, Fife, JH Taylor
1899 - Royal St Georges, Sandwich, Kent - Harry Vardon
1898 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Harry Vardon
1897 - Royal Liverpool, Hoylake, HH Hilton
1896 - Muirfield, East Lothian, Harry Vardon
1895 - St Andrews, Fife, John Henry Taylor
1894 - Royal St Georges, Sandwich, Kent - John Henry Taylor
1893 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Willie Auchterlonie
1892 - Muirfield, East Lothian, HH Hilton
1891 - St Andrews, Fife, Hugh Kirkaldy
1890 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Jack Ball Jnr
1889 - Musselburgh Links, East Lothian, Willie Park Jnr
1888 - St Andrews, Fife, Jack Burns
1887 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Willie Park Jnr
1886 - Musselburgh Links, East Lothian, David Brown
1885 - St Andrews, Fife, Bob Martin
1884 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Jack Simpson
1883 - Musselburgh Links, East Lothian, Willie Fernie
1882 - St Andrews, Fife, Bob Ferguson
1881 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Bob Ferguson
1880 - Musselburgh Links, East Lothian, Bob Ferguson
1879 - St Andrews, Fife, Jamie Anderson
1878 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Jamie Anderson
1877 - Musselburgh Links, East Lothian, Jamie Anderson
1876 - St Andrews, Fife, Bob Martin
1875 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Willie Park
1874 - Musselburgh Links, East Lothian, Mungo Park
1873 - St Andrews, Fife, Tom Kidd
1872 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Tom Morris Jnr
1871 - No Championship
1870 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Tom Morris Jnr
1869 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Tom Morris Jnr
1868 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Tom Morris Jnr
1867 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Tom Morris Snr
1866 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Willie Park
1865 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Andrew Strath
1864 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Tom Morris Snr
1863 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Willie Park
1862 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Tom Morris Snr
1861 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Willie Park
1860 - Prestwick, Ayrshire, Willie Park
THE HISTORY of Sandwich, and neighbouring towns
Sandwich
Sandwich, the host town for the 2011 Open Golf Championship, is a charming and historic gem of a market town with beautiful medieval houses and lovely winding streets on a river setting just 2 miles from the sea. There are a good selection of historic Inn’s and shops in the town to enjoy or why not follow in royal footsteps and visit The Bell Hotel which dates from Tudor times, and still features a Georgian dining room and musician’s gallery - King Charles the Second visited here in 1660.
Along with its great restaurants, Sandwich has a stunning stretch of sand dunes, rolling out into a wide safe beach, ideal for swimming and water sports. You can glance back towards Royals St Georges and Princes Golf Clubs and enjoy views over Pegwell bay towards Ramsgate. Teamed with a picnic and a deck chair, the setting is perfect for a day out.
In Ancient times, Sandwich used to be a natural harbour for ships between the continent and London, and into the eleventh century it became one of England’s major ports although the port slowely silted up over time which is why it is now 2 miles inland! Slowly, the five most important towns on this coast, including Dover, Hythe, Romney, Hastings and Sandwich, created an alliance; they were from then on known as the Cinque Ports. After years of success supplying ships and workers, the Cinque Ports were granted more power. They even became the third most influential establishment in the country, after the Crown and Church. This is reflected in the style and quality of ancient buildings found in this beautiful town – definitely worth an explore!
Deal
From Sandwich Bay with Royal St George’s to your right, you can stroll along the seafront past the remowned links golf course at Royal Cinque Ports and into the vibrant seaside resort of Deal. Deal is an ideal location for your visit to The Golf Open Championship 2011 as it offers the wonderful mix of an English seaside town being only a few miles and one train stop from Royal St George’s. Take a walk down the award winning pier and look back at the pretty fisherman’s cottages and Georgian houses on the sea front in their lovely pastel shades. Take timeout for coffee in a seafront cafe and look out towards the Channel or back at Deal, once one of the busiest ports in England. Deal has no less than three castles, two of which are open to the public. Deal Castle, right in the middle of the town, is considered one of the finest Tudor artillery castles in England along with Walmer Castle, with its stunning gardens built in the reign of Henry VIII and is now famous for being the home of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.
If you are enjoying a break in one of Deals delightful houses, you can wander to a wide range of pubs with views over the ocean, fresh fish restaurants on the beach, an original ice cream parlour or browse the antique and art shops.
Dover
Dover is 20 minutes from the 2011 Open Golf Championship venue at Sandwich with its elegant white washed Georgian terraces facing the sea. Famous for the white cliffs which have for centuries played a key role in our history as Britain’s frontline, standing majestically as a welcome to millions of visitors to Britain. Whilst in Dover, visit Dover Castle, set high above the famous white cliffs. You can visit the newly opened Great Tower at Dover Castle and immerse yourself in the medieval world and royal court of King Henry II or re-live the secrecy of second world war HQ as you discover the labyrinth of Secret Wartime Tunnels built deep within the cliffs and tour the underground hospital. The factory outlet at de Bradelei Wharf is also well worth a visit.
Canterbury
This is a must if you are in the vicinity, 20 minutes from Sandwich; the town is steeped in history. Canterbury Cathedral is the focal point of the city and known as the first Church of England. This historic gothic-style cathedral goes back to 597AD when St Augustine, sent by Pope Gregory the Great as a missionary, established his seat in Canterbury. In 1170 Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in the Cathedral and ever since, the Cathedral has attracted thousands of pilgrims, as told famously in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
Not only does Canterbury provide history and heritage in its tourist attractions, but also in its appearance and layout. The beautiful architecture and tiny medieval town houses give a real feel of a historical town. However, although the town oozes history, it also offers a more modern spin, with the wide range of shopping and activities for all the family to enjoy.
Broadstairs
If you would like to stay in self catering accommodation a little further away from the excitement of the 2011 Golf Open Championship, Broadstairs would appeal to all the family. Botany Bay in particular draws people to Broadstairs for it is a brilliant place for you to go and relax on a fresh sandy beach. On top of this, the beach is perfect for children as the swimming is especially safe.
There are many different cycle routes around the area; however there is one in particular you cannot miss. The cycle route from Broadstairs to either Margate or Ramsgate is a highlight where you can discover secluded bays off the beaten track.
Ramsgate
Ramsgate is famously known for its extremely busy harbour and marina and attractive coastline, in particular Ramsgate Main Sands which has been awarded a Blue Flag award. You can relax on the beach or just simply visit the town and admire the beautiful Georgian terrace houses and pretty marina. On top of this, Ramsgate offers a wide variety of restaurants for everyone to enjoy.
For more information on places to visit and restaurants and pubs within easy reach of Sandwich, please look at the Eat Out guide or for information further afield in Kent we have more a extensive guide on the main pages of our website section ‘Things to do in Kent'.