Golf enthusiasts planning to visit Kent to enjoy a relaxing golf break, including a trip to the Open Championship at Sandwich in July, can fly straight in to the county’s own international airport.
Manston, Kent’s International Airport, is situated just 20 minutes by road from Sandwich and within easy reach of the famous ‘Regal Golf Coast’ courses, as well as a plethora of top tourist attractions, accommodation and restaurants offering fantastic deals on golf breaks available through www.visitkent.co.uk/golf – the county’s official tourism website.
International visitors can also jet into Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, all close to London and Kent, and which are served by excellent rail and road links into the Garden of England.Airline operator Flybe runs regular services to and from airports across the UK to Manston. These include direct routes from Edinburgh and Belfast City.
Kent boasts some of England’s finest and most celebrated links, downland, parkland and castle golf courses together with high-quality, graded hotel, guesthouse, inn and B&B accommodation. And many excellent-value golf-break packages are offered through a recently announced partnership between www.visitkent.co.uk (Visit Kent), www.golfbreaks.com (Golfbreaks.com) – Europe’s largest golf travel company – and Shepherd Neame, the renowned Kent-based brewer, pub and hotel operator.
These premium standard courses include the celebrated ‘Regal Golf Coast’ quintet of Royal St George’s (host venue of this year’s Open Championship, from July 14-17), Prince’s (home of the 1932 Open), Royal Cinque Ports (venue of the 1909 and 1920 Opens), Littlestone (an England Top 100 Course) and North Foreland – all situated along Kent’s picturesque south-east coastline – along with London Golf Club (a European Tour Destination) and Chart Hills (a UK Top 100 Course, designed by the legendary Sir Nick Faldo).
After they’ve finished playing, golfers can also enjoy visiting Kent’s many popular tourist attractions, such as Canterbury Cathedral, Leeds Castle and the White Cliffs of Dover, all just a short drive or rail journey away.
Sandra Matthews-Marsh, Chief Executive of Visit Kent, said: “We are fortunate in Kent to have a well-appointed international airport such as Manston that sits right on the doorstep of some of our most acclaimed golf courses, and which plays an integral role in positioning Kent as a premier destination for golf breaks.
“Dedicated golfers and leisure visitors can take both long and short breaks, and enjoy the magnificent variety of golf courses along with the many other unique attractions Kent has to offer. Visit Kent, in conjunction with its partners, has a fantastic selection of golf-break packages suitable for the pockets of all golfers who want to experience our county during the year of The Open and those to come.”
Golf breaks in Kent www.visitkent.co.uk/golf
Manston, Kent’s International Airport www.manstonairport.com