Seacroft

Tucked away on the Lincolnshire coast in Skegness, Seacroft Golf Club is a treasure just waiting for you to discover. A traditional links, that was founded in 1895, its turf and location means it usually plays fast and firm.
 

The fast draining soil also allows for virtually year-round golf using both tees and greens throughout the winter months.

 

Visit Seacroft's website here.
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There can't be many places in the world that have turned down Dr Alister Mackenzie when it comes to golf course design. Seacroft is one of those...

It was originally a 9-hole layout and slightly closer to Skegness when it first opened in 1895 with an exhibition match between reigning Open Champion JH Taylor and club professional GK Wilson. Five years later, more land was acquired to the south,  and which now forms the current club and course. Willie Fernie, the 1883 Open Champion, was commissioned to design the 18-hole layout.
 

Incredibly in a modern context, the club rejected a proposal from Dr Alister Mackenzie to utilise the new piece of land. The directors were apparently not impressed with his proposal. In 2017, Seacroft brought in architect Clyde Johnson to remodel the course, return some of the historic features, and make the course more playable.
 

Over the years, the links have played host to notable competitions and national championships. The English County Finals, English Ladies County Finals and English Ladies Close Golf Championships have all been played at Seacroft.
 

Thanks to its proximity to the coast, Seacroft was designed in the links layout, running in an out-and back fashion, firstly south before turning back to the north for the back nine. The course plays just over 6,600 yards from the tips, and is a Par 71 layout.

The challenge gets underway with a 409 yard par-4, with a pair of bunkers in the middle of the fairway. The 2nd is shorter, but with a narrower landing zone for your drive. A long and thin two-tiered green awaits, with a hill helping balls come down from the left side. The drive on 3 is blind, so aim slightly left of the marker post to reach the correct part of the fairway. It’s only 341 yards, but there is plenty of trouble around both the fairway and the green.
 

The first par-3 on the property follows, with a slightly raised green. Bunkers either side will penalise a wayward approach. The 5th sees you drive to the right of a raised mound which runs down the left, while the right is guarded by a perimeter fence and out of bounds. Just three bunkers sit on the 439 yard par-4, with one short left of the green. The 6th then plays the other way from an elevated tee. A short par-4 that is a birdie opportunity, be careful not to end up in one of the nine bunkers on this hole. 
 

The 7th plays as a long par-4 which dog-legs from left to right before the 8th and 9th see the road follow them up the right hand side. The former, known as Sand Pit, has a huge fairway bunker you must miss, while the closing hole on the outward nine is a strong par-5. A big drive means the green is reachable in two, though the approach is blind. Anything right of the green will hit the road and out of bounds. Both birdie and double bogey are in play.
 

The back nine starts with a par-3, at 153 yards, from an elevated tee to a raised green guarded by two bunkers. The 11th is the longest hole on the course at 538 yards. Out of bounds plagues the right hand side, with a single fairway bunker down the left. Two bunkers in the middle of fairway can catch lay-ups, while a further couple of bunkers protect a long, thin, green. 

The 12th is the longest par 3 on the course, at 210 yards, with bunkers short left and right. The green is slightly elevated, and it is one of the tougher holes on the back nine. 13 is the second par-5 on the inward stretch, and a very quirky one. The fairway is split into two with a couple of bunkers and a row of rough before the hole doglegs and plays up to a small green. Anything long and right falls down a steep slope and becomes a tricky up and down.

The third par-3 on the back follows, with a big green guarded by four bunkers, before 15 is a comfortable par-4. Trouble lines the fairway but a solid drive should allow for par.
 

The closing stretch at Seacroft begins with 16, a driveable 313 yard par-4. Though reachable for the big hitters, anything right of the green is in danger with thick rough, gorse, heather, and bunkers surrounding it. A long iron or hybrid short of the big fairway bunker is the right play. 17 is a straight forward par-4 in which you can see all the trouble in front. The closing hole at Seacroft, called Home, is a slight dogleg right. A drive right of the fairway could spell danger and a big score to finish.
 

Where is Seacroft Golf Club located?
Seacroft Golf Club is located on the Lincolnshire coast on the east of England, just over an hour east from the city of Lincoln in the town of Skegness. The A16, A52, A158 and A1028 all lead to Skegness from different directions.

The nearest train station is also in Skegness, which sits at the end of the train line from Nottingham, and trains run every hour. The station is just a mile north of the golf club. For those coming from further afield, the nearest major international airport is East Midlands Airport, which is more than a two hour drive away.

 

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?  
Seacroft is the only layout on the eastern coastline of the Midlands, with the nearest venue that also claims a spot on the NCG Top 100s: England list being the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, but that is 30 miles inland. The likes of Lindrick, Sherwood Forest and Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell) are 70 miles to the west, with Hunstanton and Royal West Norfolk a similar distance south.

What golf facilities does Seacroft offer?  
Seacroft does not have a practice area due to its proximity to the coastline and a lack of space. There is a putting green outside the clubhouse to get those drills in before taking to the course. 
 

What are the green fees at Seacroft?
The price of a green fee at Seacroft changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. 

 

For more information on current green fees at Seacroft, visit their website here. 

 

 

Visit Seacroft's website here.
Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.