Kent has more golf courses than almost any other county in England, and it has them in almost every style. Parkland courses folded into the North Downs. Open Championship links along the coast at Sandwich and Deal. And, at Broome Park, a course built into the grounds of a 17th-century estate, with the golf, the accommodation, and the dinner afterwards all in one place.
If you’re planning a golf weekend in Kent, that combination is worth building your trip around. Here’s how a couple of days might look, and where the golf is genuinely worth the detour.
Broome Park’s Own Course
Start where you’re staying. Broome Park’s course was designed by Donald Steel and opened in 1981, an 18-hole parkland layout set within the estate’s grounds, running to a par of 72 over roughly 6,600 yards from the championship tees.
The course is part of a working estate rather than a golf resort bolted onto a hotel, which changes the character of the round. You’re playing within sight of a Grade I listed mansion house rather than a clubhouse built for the purpose, and that history is part of what makes it worth the trip.
After the round, Mansion House bar is on hand for the obligatory post-round pint and a chance to compare scorecards before dinner.
Day One: A Full Day on the Estate
8:30am Breakfast at Broome Park before you head to the first tee, either in The Peacock Restaurant or something lighter to eat on the move.
10:00am Tee off on Broome Park’s own course. Set across undulating ground within the estate, with mature trees lining much of the round and a finishing hole regularly singled out by golfers who’ve played it. Tee times can be booked directly through the hotel.
1:00pm Lunch at The Peacock Bar once you’re off the course, a relaxed spot for something to eat and a pint while you compare scorecards.
3:00pm The rest of the afternoon is yours. Some will want a second nine or time on the practice ground; others will make use of the estate’s leisure facilities to properly unwind after the round. Either way, there’s no need to leave the grounds.
7:30pm Dinner at The Peacock Restaurant, a proper sit-down meal to round off the day, followed by drinks at the bar.
Staying on-site for the whole day like this is really the advantage of golf at Broome Park over a course with nothing else attached to it. You play, eat and unwind without getting back in the car.
Day Two: Venture to the Coast, or Stay Inland
This is where a golf weekend in Kent earns its reputation. You’ve got two directions to go from here, and both are worth knowing about, it depends on the type of golf break in Kent you’re looking for.
8:00am Breakfast at Broome Park before heading out. The buffet runs until 10:30am, so there’s no need to rush the first morning after a day on the course.
9:00am Set off from the estate. From here you’ve got two directions to choose from, and both are genuinely worth the trip.
(Option 1) The Coast: Royal St George’s, Royal Cinque Ports and Princes
Around half an hour towards Sandwich and Deal puts you among some of English golf’s most significant links courses. Royal St George’s has hosted The Open fifteen times, most recently in 2021. Royal Cinque Ports, in Deal, has a reputation as one of the most demanding tests on the coast. Princes, next door to Royal St George’s, offers 27 holes across three combinable nines.
Worth knowing before you build a day around this: these are private members’ clubs, not pay-and-play courses. Visitor access is usually possible but needs booking well in advance, often with a handicap certificate required. If a coastal round is the plan, contact the club directly before you set off.
(Option 2) Inland: Canterbury Golf Club
If you’d rather stay closer, Canterbury Golf Club is a short drive from Broome Park, well within the city itself. It’s a hillier, tree-lined course running through land Natural England has designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
It’s shorter and, by most accounts, a fairer test than the links courses, with a well-regarded closing stretch, and there’s no advance planning required in the way the coastal clubs demand.
Afternoon Whichever direction you’ve chosen, a round at any of these takes you through to late afternoon. Coastal or inland, you’re never more than about half an hour from Broome Park.
6:00pm Back at the estate, with time to swap golf shoes for something better suited to the pool.
6:15pm Broome Park’s indoor pool is heated year-round. An evening swim after two days of golf is a straightforward way to loosen up before dinner, particularly after a second round on your feet.
7:00pm onward Dinner and drinks at Broome Park to finish the weekend properly – with time to compare scores and plan your next golf weekend in Kent – before retiring to your rooms.
Where to Stay: Choose Broome Park Hotel as Your Base
Whichever direction day two takes you, coming back to Broome Park in the evening means you’re not driving to a chain hotel after a long day on the course.
The mansion house suites put you inside the Grade I listed house itself, each with its own character rather than an identical hotel-room layout. For groups, the woodland lodges are worth a specific mention: each sleeps up to six across two bedrooms, with a fully equipped kitchen and its own living space, which suits a golf society or a group of friends better than four separate hotel rooms.
If you’re planning a golf society day, the lodges and the course together mean a group can play, eat and stay without leaving the estate at all.
Evening at Broome Park
After a full day on the course, The Peacock Restaurant and the Mansion House bar are the natural next stop, close enough that there’s no need to drive anywhere after your second round of the weekend.
The Peacock Restaurant serves dinner nightly from 6:30pm to 9pm, built around ingredients sourced from the surrounding Kent countryside, which suits a day spent outdoors rather well. Reservations are recommended, and there are private dining rooms available if you’re here as a golf society or a larger group who’d rather eat together away from the main room.
If you’d rather keep things simple after 18 holes, the bar and lounge serve more relaxed food, fish and chips, burgers, sandwiches, alongside a proper wine list and selection of gins. It’s the better option if you just want to wind down with a pint and something to eat without committing to a full sit-down meal.
If you’re staying in one of the woodland lodges, there’s a dedicated lodge menu too, so groups don’t need to walk back to the main house for dinner if they’d rather eat where they’re staying.
Planning Your Golf Weekend
Planning a golf weekend in Kent doesn’t need to feel stressful, the team at Broome Park can help put your trip together for you, from tee times to the table at dinner.
It’s simple: tee off on Broome Park’s own course on your first day, decide on day two whether you want the discipline of links golf at the coast or the shorter, woodland test at Canterbury. Then, let the estate handle the rest: accommodation, food and somewhere to relax between rounds.
If you’re planning with a group, get in touch about golf society days at Broome Park, where the course and the lodges can be booked together.
Ready to turn this into a proper trip? Take a look at our current golf breaks in Kent for stay and play packages, including midweek rates and what’s included.
FAQs
How far is Broome Park from Canterbury?
Broome Park sits just outside Canterbury, making it a convenient base for exploring golf courses in the city and further along the coast toward Sandwich and Deal.
What’s included in a golf break at Broome Park?
Package inclusions vary depending on the offer running at the time, but golf breaks at Broome Park are generally built around a night’s stay, breakfast, dinner at The Peacock Restaurant, and a round on the estate’s own course.
Do I need to book coastal courses like Royal St George’s in advance?
Yes. Clubs like Royal St George’s, Royal Cinque Ports and Princes are private members’ clubs. Visitor tee times are usually available but need to be arranged directly with the club, often with a handicap certificate required.
Can a golf society stay and play together at Broome Park?
Yes, the estate’s woodland lodges and golf course make it possible for a group to play, eat and stay together on-site. See our golf breaks page for current packages.
