Royal Jersey

Jersey is the southernmost of the Channel Islands, extending to an area of forty-six square miles, with its royal golf club situated on the eastern flank of the island, alongside Grouville Bay. In 1878, F. W. Brewster and several others were given permission by the parish constable to lay out a links on Grouville Common and within twelve months Queen Victoria approved the club’s use of the royal prefix.

A number of Royal Jersey golfers – the most famous of whom were Harry Vardon and Ted Ray – would make their mark as professionals and they started out as caddies at the club, learning the game and playing once a week on a Sunday afternoon. Vardon would eventually claim six Open titles and Ray would win the Open in 1912 and the US Open in 1920.

Today’s 18-hole layout begins with a taxing tee shot along the bay on the narrow 1st fairway, where the opening drive is aimed between the stone walls of Fort Henry on the left and a WWII German gun bunker on the right, positioned above the water’s edge. It’s a uniquely engaging start to a round that will keep golfers captivated all the way until they hole out on the 18th green.

Royal Jersey is rather hemmed in by housing nowadays but it still plays to a respectable 6,120 yards from the back tees with a standard scratch score of 71, one more than the par for the course.

Thomson Perrett & Lobb to consult on improvements to historic Channel Island golf course. Click here for more.