I am delighted to announce that The Open will officially be returning to Sandwich in 2020! The 149th open will be played once again Royal St George’s.

It was last played at Royal St George’s in 2011 when Darren Clarke showed his mastery of links golf in challenging weather conditions to hold off Americans Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson to become Champion Golfer of the Year.

In 2011 there were over 180,000 visitors to The Open, bringing in an estimated £64 million to the local economy. In 2020 it is expected that The Open will generate over £100 million for our local area.

This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase exactly what East Kent has to offer. I am looking forward to working with others to ensure that it is a huge success, not just for Sandwich, but for all of Thanet as well.