One of just a handful of designs by the late architect Mike Strantz, Royal New Kent is a delight to play and behold. Strantz, who had one of the most imaginative minds in the golf course design business, created a 7,480-yard course that breaks the mold, with holes that fit together magnificently and look even more impressive. First opened in 1997 as The Tradition at Royal New Kent, the course closed for a few years until new owners brought it back to life, thankfully, so generations could enjoy it for years to come. Strantz, who also designed the magnificent Tobacco Road in North Carolina as well as True Blue and Caledonia Golf and Fish Club in the Myrtle Beach, S.C. area, paid tribute to the seaside links courses of Ireland like Ballybunion and Royal County Down in his design for Royal New Kent, incorporating 120 bunkers, native grasses, and rolling fairways and greens. Every hole on this par-72 layout is different and memorable. There are blind shots, but the landing areas on those are plenty generous, so they are more than fair. The greens, often hidden behind large grassy knolls, have lots of undulation, but if you can shape the ball, or find the right parts of the greens (or both) you can certainly make birdies. Most of all, the course is never boring. Royal New Kent also has terrific practice facilities that include a full driving range, wonderful short-game area and putting green. Lessons are also available. The beautiful clubhouse includes a well-stocked golf shop and the Strantz Pub, offering breakfast sandwiches, salads, burgers, Irish Club with corned beef and flatbread pizzas.