Lydd Golf Club

Lydd Golf Club sits on the flat, windswept expanse of Romney Marsh, a proper links course that's been going since 1892. It's eighteen holes of genuine challenge - the kind of place where the wind does half the work for you, and the greens demand accuracy rather than brute force. The landscape is bracingly bleak: no trees to soften the blow, just open fairways rolling towards the horizon and rough that'll swallow your ball without remorse.

This is a members' club primarily, but visitors are welcome subject to handicap restrictions and advance booking. You'll need to check their website for current guest rates and availability - it's not a drop-in scenario. The course plays differently depending on the wind direction, which comes with the territory out here. Golfers will find it properly engaging; non-golfers will find it a bit sparse.

For a caravan holiday in the area, Lydd works well if golf is genuinely on your agenda. Romney Meadows and Parkdean's Romney Sands are both within walking distance, making it feasible to base yourself there for a round or two. It's worth phoning ahead rather than turning up - the club takes its booking system seriously. Allow a full morning or afternoon depending on your handicap and how punishing the wind decides to be. The stark beauty of Romney Marsh appeals to a certain type of visitor: those who like their golf unadorned and their scenery austere.