Silloth-on-Solway Golf Club *****

The Clubhouse, Silloth, Wigton, CA7 4BL

Nearest main town: Carlisle

 

Silloth-on-Solway's isolated location on the north-wesrcoast of England has been a boon for the golfers of Cumbria for many years. The pres­ence of such a magnificent links in an industrial and soulless area of England has meant empty fairways and time to get to understand and appreciate the intricacies of this form of undiluted golf.

The benefits have also been felt in the condition of the course, which is consistently excellent, the fairways like silk, accentuating every natural contour of the land. The greens, too, have a wonderful feel; the ball clinging to the subtle borrows of each and every putting surface. Silloth­on-Solway is that rare beast - an outstanding course that no one knows about.

It is a very flat, exposed course. The wind is not tunnelled through the dunes as on so many links; rather it belligerently rushes in from the south-west and the holes rarely change character, which is a blessing because otherwise Silloth would be as stern a test of golf as you will find. The problems start off the tee where the ball is placed on delicate contoured fairways, which run off in places or channel your ball into depressions. From there, normally a sloping lie, you are invariably asked to find tight greens with very small approach areas. Silloth's indi­viduality is further enhanced by the fact that the fairway bunkers have been replaced with wiry gorse and heather.

The attraction of Silloth, ignoring the obvious, such as the condition of the course and its peace and tranquillity, is its price. In a period when green fees are rising all the time, you will not find better value anywhere in Britain and Ireland.

 

Secretary: Mr J. Hill

Tel: 01697 331304 Fax: 01697 331 782

Professional: Mr J. Graham                 

Tel: 01697 332404

Playing: Midweek: round n/a; day £32.00. Weekend: round £43.00; day n/a.

Facilities: Bar: 12pm-11 pm. Food: Bar snacks.

Comments: Tremendous links course - everything as it should be Good, contrasting nines... Championship links that is tough in wind. . . A fabulous links in tip-top condition. . .An undervalued and underused course... Fantastic

links.

 

Appleby Golf Club **

Brackenber Moor, Appleby, CA16 6LP

Nearest main town: Appleby

 

Secretary: Mr J. Doig                    

Tel: 01 768 351432 Fax: 01768 352773

Professional: Mr J. Taylor                    

Tel: 01768 352922

Playing: Midweek: round £19.00; day £21.00. Weekend: round £23.00; day £26.00.

Facilities:  Bar: 7.45am-11 pm. Food: Breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7.45am-7.30pm. Closed for dinner on Tuesdays.

Comments: One of the best-value courses in the country... Very remote... Fine heather and moorland at sale prices...Cracking welcome... Great golf at a snip... Really strong course at crazy price.