The 315-yard dogleg right 2nd can be driven by challenging the heather-covered dune from atop which this picture was taken, with a much easier approach for those who flirt with danger. The dune short of the left hand side of the green makes matters difficult for those who drive safely to the outside of the dogleg.
Course name: Silloth-on-Solway
Location: Silloth, Cumbria, England
Four Word Course Review: An 18-hole high note
Anyone who spends a decent amount of time playing golf around the British Isles will soon realise the depth of fun courses is amazing, but regardless there are still some massive surprises to be had.
It may seem odd to say this given Golf World ranks it 48th in Great Britain & Ireland, but I think Silloth-on-Solway might be the most underappreciated course I am aware of in this corner of the world.
Despite that quite healthy ranking it gets next to no talk, likely because there isn't a world famous course or two nearby to draw travelling golfers to the area, as is the case in Fife, East Lothian, Southport, London, Western/Northern Ireland and Kent.
Silloth is in far north-west England, far from civilisation and a significant detour off the motorway.
I'd be surprised if there are 25 golf courses better than Silloth in GB&I. There certainly aren't 25 that offer better value.
The European Club is 30-odd places ahead of it in Golf World's poll and would get two, perhaps three rounds of a 10-Round Split between the two courses in my book. West Sussex sits about 20 spots higher and despite being a thrilling course is not, for the merits of the golf, deserving of being in front of Silloth. Royal Cinque Ports is ranked nine places higher and despite having holes that exceed anything at Silloth is also home to some moments of weakness that Silloth doesn't suffer. In my mind the two courses are neck-and-neck.
Not surprisingly, each of those three courses is on a much more regularly trodden tourist trail than the B5301 into Silloth. The first two are also much more picturesque.
Silloth is blessed with wonderfully undulating links terrain, where even the "flat" holes have serious movement. The greensites are brilliant for their variety: Dell greens hiding out of view, skyline and plateau greens demanding a precise approach, steady slopes and dune-top domes.
The combination of rollicking fairways and thrilling greens cannot be beat (and neither can the price: £45 all day midweek, £55 on weekends and members pay just £350 a year - such are the benefits of isolation!). Perhaps most crucially, the course offers width, which when combined with interesting fairways and fun greens makes for three things every links should have.
The par fives are a particular high point: from the brilliant bunkering of the 5th to the tightrope walk that is the 13th, the risk of a blind tilt at hitting the 14th in two shots and the approach to the 17th.
But in saying that, how can you not mention the varied one-shotters: a drop shot to a green hiding past the saddle between two dunes with natural slopes to help you work the ball close, a Postage Stamp surrounded by doom, a stadium of gorse encircling 200-yards of subtle undulation and finally a mid-iron to a green protected by a steep false front that feeds the flanking bunkers.
Then there are the par four holes measuring from 308 yards to 433 yards that can't be overlooked: the Dell green mid-length 1st and 7th, the dramatic 4th with steep side slopes at the grade-level green, reachable 2nd with great natural defences and dogleg right 11th inviting you to flirt with the OOB fence arguably the best of them.
That's the difficulty of singling out a handful of Silloth's holes for praise: it's probably the most consistent golf course I've played, dishing up 18 holes with a variety of options on every shot, and a wonderful flow from hole to hole.
Make the effort to see Silloth and I'll guarantee you aren't disappointed. Most golfers won't bother, and they'll be doing themselves a major disservice.
Sir,
ReplyDeleteI am sure that Silloth-On-Solway is a divine place. I have heard great things of it and believe what I hear to be true.
However, instead of just singing its praises you choose to make a comparison and from the 30,000-approx. golf courses on the planet you select my golf links at The European Club!
You seem to have a very rabid negative set on The European Club and display it at every possible turn.
In your latest attack on us, above, you say : "The European Club is an advertisement for the power and capabilities of heavy earthmoving machinery."
On what do you base this statement?
Did you know the lands at The European Club before I brought golf there? Do you have knowledge of how much earth was moved there?
I doubt it because you were only 1 or 2 years old at the time and in Australia!!!!
I suggest you adjust your commentary above and get off my case.
As you are an obvious believer in free expression I expect you to publish this,
Pat Ruddy
Pat Ruddy,
ReplyDeleteHow much earth was moved to construct the almost completely flat fairways at your course? Or were they all discovered looking naturally like that?
You appear to have attacked the claim that a lot of earth was moved without actually saying that it's not true.
Can anonymous act manly and give his name?
ReplyDeleteWhat's to hide?
Pat Ruddy