Canterbury Golf Club has confirmed that its hugely successful Festival of Golf will return from 5 to 12 July 2026, with close to 1,400 golfers expected to tee it up across a packed seven day programme.
The week long celebration of the game, once again backed by Canterbury based accountancy firm Burgess Hodgson as headline sponsor, will showcase a variety of formats over the club’s classic Harry Colt designed course on the outskirts of the cathedral city.
Pilgrims Cup to headline opening day
Proceedings will get under way on Sunday 5 July with the prestigious Kent Order of Merit Pilgrims Cup, a 36 hole medal competition that traditionally attracts a strong field from across the county and beyond.
The festival will then feature a broad mix of individual and team events, culminating in the Members Better Ball Stableford on Sunday 12 July.
General Manager Roger Hyder welcomed the expanded backing from the club’s long standing supporters.
“Burgess Hodgson have been long term supporters of Canterbury Golf Club and have always sponsored one of the competitions held through the week but this year they have really stepped up their support by agreeing to be the headline sponsor for the whole Festival,” he said.
“It would also be remiss of me to not thank our daily event sponsors Perspective, Shepherd Neame, Brakes, Café du Monde and WWMartin.”
Strong local backing for flagship week
Burgess Hodgson is a full service accountancy practice based in Canterbury, combining London level expertise with a local relationship led approach. Founded in London in 1938, the firm relocated to Canterbury in 1976 and is celebrating its 50th anniversary in the city this year.
Rachael Florence, Head of Marketing at Burgess Hodgson, said: “Supporting the Canterbury Golf Club Festival of Golf reflects long held values at Burgess Hodgson. Sport has always played an important role in the firm’s culture, reflecting the same commitment, drive and resilience that underpin success both in sport and in business.”
The full schedule for the Festival of Golf is:
Sunday 5 July – Pilgrims Cup 36 hole medal
Monday 6 July – Over 55s Seniors Open
Tuesday 7 July – Texas Scramble
Wednesday 8 July – Canterbury Open 18 hole Stableford
Friday 10 July – Texas Scramble
Saturday 11 July – Team Stableford
Sunday 12 July – Members Better Ball Stableford
All events are open to men and women unless stated otherwise, and golfers with an official WHS handicap can enter via the club’s website.
Established in 1927, Canterbury Golf Club is home to a renowned 18 hole layout designed by Harry Colt, whose portfolio includes Wentworth, Sunningdale, Rye and Camberley Heath, along with significant redesign work at Muirfield, Hoylake and Royal Portrush.
The club is also taking entries for its Ladies Open on 13 May and its Junior Open on 25 August, both of which regularly attract strong fields.