A James Braid design, and opened in 1909. Established in 1909 the course was officially opened on Saturday 17th April with a match between James Braid, the course designer, and Harry Vardon with Braid the winner 3 and 2. Based high up on the very edge of White Cliffs Country between Dover and Deal, Braid designed the course around the natural landscape and made sure it was rich with panoramic view
s and an abundance of plants and wildlife. The original idea of the golf club was to encourage more families and ladies to take up golf; ladies are much better represented in the sport now but we’re still proud to welcome youngsters and families into a very friendly and community feeling club. The natural beauty was marred considerably with important reason during World War Two with all three military services putting it to good use; the clubhouse became a billet for 60 soldiers, the course was covered in barbed wire and gun emplacements with a barrage balloon looming overhead; not the sort of hazards you really want to meet on a round of golf! It’s unimaginable standing on the course today taking in the fresh sea breeze amongst a sea of green grass and natural downland features; a credit to the greenkeepers who took two years to repair the war damage before re-opening shortly after the club’s 40th anniversary on 11th June 1949 with a match between Henry Cotton, Max Faulkner, Charles Stowe and Kenneth Frazier to celebrate the occasion. Business then returned to normal up to the present day. From the very beginning Walmer and Kingsdown set out to be a club where membership was about golfers enjoying their golf; it’s a beautiful place for a beautiful sport to be enjoyed by one and all and we welcome young, old, male and female players to come and enjoy the atmosphere and a great round of golf.
