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Upgrades at a golf club crowned the best in England have been approved to ensure it can continue hosting major competitions.
Royal St George’s in Sandwich was named the country’s best club by magazine National Club Golfer in October last year and has hosted the Open Championship 15 times, the most recent in 2021.
Changes have been approved for Royal St George’s Golf Club in Sandwich. Picture: National Club Golfer
In December, bosses submitted a planning application to Dover District Council (DDC) for a new maintenance area for its team of greenkeepers, which they say will help ensure the green remains up to tournament standard and strengthen its appeal as the nation’s top course.
Currently, the team’s facilities sit within the main cluster of buildings alongside the clubhouse and shop – but bosses want to separate them to improve layout and operations.
With the plans now approved by DDC officers, several new buildings will be created including a machinery store, covered storage bays, water tanks, a pump house and a fuel store.
Twenty car parking spaces for greenkeeping staff will also be added.
The application to DDC explained the new project, near the driving range, will help improve traffic flow and safety between visitors and greenkeepers.
A new greenkeeping facility will be added to the golf club under the approved plans. Picture: National Club Golfer
They added the project is a “sustainable form of development” that will support the club’s future needs.
No comments for or against the proposal were lodged on DDC’s planning portal.
In granting approval, DDC officers acknowledged the importance of Royal St George’s to the district as a “world-class golf course” and a key contributor to local tourism.
The report added: “Whilst the application site is within the countryside, that is the case for all golf courses, and the development does not encroach beyond the boundaries of the existing site.
“The scale and design meet specific operational requirements of the club, and considering the characteristics of the site, it’s agreed the built form is compatible with the surroundings.
“The development is supported by national and local planning policy and would contribute to social, economic and environmental qualities of the district.”
The scheme is earmarked for land near the club’s driving range. Picture: Kent Design Studio
Royal St George’s, which opened in 1887, has hosted the Open Championship 15 times since its establishment in 1887, becoming the first club outside Scotland to host the prestigious tournament in 1894.
Nearby courses, Royal Cinque Ports in Deal and Prince’s in Sandwich, also featured among the top 30 in the country.
It’s currently unknown when work will get underway on the new upgrades.
Royal St George’s has been contacted for comment.