Royal New Kent opened in August 1996. From a playability
standpoint, Royal New Kent features generous, contoured fairways, occasional
blind shots, 140 bunkers and large, fast greens with bold swales and ridges. A
thinking man’s course, each hole has several ways to play it and every shot has
options regarding the choice of clubs and ball trajectory—depending on the wind
and the firmness of the turf. When you play Royal New Kent, just let your
imagination run wild.
What lies before golfers on the 1st tee will seemingly
transport them to another continent. Inspired by Ireland’s
Ballybunion, this 396-yard par 4 plunges more than 50 feet straight down to a
narrow-looking ribbon of fairway set in a valley between two massive,
fescue-laden dunes. The opening hole at Royal New Kent is no handshake.
Upon reaching the tee of the 431-yard 4th hole, it appears
that designer Mike Strantz hasn’t left a clue as to where to hit your tee shot.
But he is just warming up. After closer study, you will see a small, white
aiming rock atop the large dune directly in front of you. Hit your drive over
the rock and you will be thrilled to find your ball in the middle of a generous
fairway. Blind shots are just one of the simple pleasures of golf in the
kingdom—as is playing with a local caddie who knows every nook and cranny of his
course, the yardage to every flagstick and the subtle breaks of each putting
surface.
At 403 yards, the 8th hole may be the best golf hole on the
course, with a premium on playing the angles and smart shotmaking. The 379-yard
9th hole may offer the best opportunity for birdie on the outgoing nine.
As you approach the elevated tee at the 567-yard 10th hole,
you will notice a marked difference in style. To the right is a large pond, the
fairway is broader, the contour of the land is somewhat gentler and mature trees
frame the hole—although the wide open feeling continues throughout the nine.
Regardless of style, Royal New Kent’s homeward half presents
you with nine more thrilling and well-designed golf holes. The 401-yard 11th
hole plays down another serpentine fairway, twisting and turning its way to a
wide well-bunkered green. Next is the 202-yard 12th hole, unique in that its
hourglass shaped putting surface is 86 yards deep, pinched by bunkers in the
middle. Incredibly, this is a four- or five-club green.
All in all, Royal New Kent is an exhilarating and fitting
tribute to the fabled seaside links of the Emerald Isle. If you use your
imagination, you may see the mountains of Mourne over Dundrum Bay at Royal County Down and the Atlantic
surf breaking over the magnificent dunes of Ballybunion.
