Seascale

Seascale Golf Club is one of two Cumbrian venues on the NCG Top 100s: England list, with the course offering views west over the Irish Sea to the Isle of Man. 

It was out over a seven-year period in the 1890s, first as a 9-holer by Willie Campbell before being extended to 18 by George Lowe. 

Harry Colt also had a hand in some alterations a few decades later, with the course remaining relatively unchanged since then – and still the same test it has always been.

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Seascale Golf Club, like many other venues on the NCG Top 100s: England list, was founded in the 19th Century – 1893 to be precise. 

The original 9-hole layout was designed by Willie Campbell, a six-time top five finisher at the Open Championship in the decade previous. 

Six years later, just before the turn of the century, George Lowe added another nine to make it into an 18-hole layout. Seascale also called in the help of the great Harry Colt, who made alterations to the course in the 1930s.  

The club has hosted several big amateur competitions, including the 2012 English Amateur Championship, along with Silloth on Solway.

The club is helped in offering such a memorable course by its position overlooking the Irish Sea – with the Isle of Man and Scotland frequently visible. A majestic maritime panorama to the west is complemented by the Lake District mountains to the east. It is a traditional links maintained to the highest standards, and laid out over less than 100 acres but it doesn't give the impression that one hole is encroaching on another. It isn't a particularly long course at just 6,540 yards but encompasses a varied terrain, rising on the 1st hole and continuing down the inland side of the course. Characterised by fast greens, Seascale can create a very tough test of links golf, particularly in windy conditions. 

The opening three par 4s keep you alongside the inside boundary of the course, with out of bounds coming into play down the right side of all three holes. The first two are both gentle in length, with the opener only coming in at 315 yards. However, it feels much tighter than it actually is because of the OOB right. The play is out to the left on the 2nd, thanks to its wide fairway, and that will give you a good chance of birdie. The first of many panoramic views comes on the 3rd tee, but you cannot get too distracted, as you have a choice to make with your tee shot. Do you take the corner on – which has out of bounds jutting into the fairway? Or do you play safe behind and then have a longer approach to the green? 

Get through that unscathed and you come to the easiest hole on the course. The 4th is only 320 yards long and plays slightly downhill. Some might fancy their chances, but most will lay up with a long iron or hybrid. The course’s opening par 3 comes next, with the 5th playing 180 yards, and to a green that has five pot bunkers surrounding it. Seascale then offers up back-to-back par 5s, running in opposite directions. The 6th is the first of those, and plays as a slight dog-leg right but with a wide fairway, it is definitely one where driver can be used to attack. Coming back the other way is the 7th, the longest hole on the property by far – pushing 590 yards from the back tees. Depending on the wind direction, this could be a two-, three-, or even four-shotter. 

The 8th is another lengthy par 3, at more than 190 yards, and again played to a green that is guarded by sand traps. The 9th is the only hole played directly towards the sea. Driving from a high tee, the line is straight at the Isle of Man. There is a stream that runs alongside the right side of the green, so don’t push anything with your approach shot. That same hazard comes into play on 10, the shortest hole on the course. This par 3 is only 142 yards but with the stream in front of, and to the right of the putting surface, there is plenty of danger. It will reappear at the 13th as well... 

11 takes you to the furthest point north, and the closest point to Sellafield. It is a 468-yard par 4, playing in the opposite direction to the 7th (the 590-yard par 5). If the wind is up, you have to just accept you are dropping a shot on one of these two holes. The 12th has a generous fairway, and the green only has two bunkers in front of it, but they are both small, and there is an alley to run the ball up onto the surface between them. That stream reappears on 13, the longest of the quartet of par 3s at Seascale. It plays 216 yards from the tips, and back towards the coastline.  

You then get to play along the beach for the first time at the 14th. At 475 yards, it is the shortest of the par 5s, and can provide a real birdie (or even eagle) chance, as long as you don’t flail one right into the Irish Sea. 15 then plays back inland, before you come to the Stroke Index 1. The par 4 16th is only 3 yards shorter than the par 5 14th, and plays as a dog-leg left, taking you back to the coastline. The 17th tee overlooks the beach, and the fairway comes across on a diagonal angle, so if you can play a fade off the tee, you should be in good shape. The closing hole at Seascale is only 335 yards, and there is plenty of space to the left. The green is almost L-shaped with several possible pin positions to create an added challenge when approaching. 

David Walker: After a uninspiring start, there are unique, memorable holes scattered throughout and a particularly fine finish

Sean Arble: It’s clear to me that somebody with architectural acumen was involved in the design and it didn’t surprise me when I discovered Colt rebuilt Seascale in the 1920s

Dan Murphy: It’s very unfair that people associate Seascale with Sellafield. In fact, many more holes offer terraced views down to the coastal railway line and sea beyond. The links is packed with entertaining and distinctive holes from the 3rd onwards

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Where is Seascale Golf Club located?  

Seascale Golf Club is situated on the northwestern coastline of England, in the county of Cumbria. The course is located along the coast, with Seascale Beach running alongside several holes. The course overlooks the Irish Sea, with the Isle of Man in the far distance looking west from the layout. Redhall Nuclear Power Station is to the north of the course, with the A595 – which runs from Carlisle to Dalton-in-Furness – just a few miles inland from Seascale. 

Seascale Train Station is just a five-minute walk from the golf club, running trains between Carlisle and Lancaster, stopping at Sellafield and Barrow-in-Furness along with Seascale. Newcastle International Airport, Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport are all over 100 miles from Seascale Golf Club, but they are the three nearest international airports to the golf club, with Manchester being the busiest airport in the United Kingdom outside of the London. 

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?  

Seascale is one of just two venues on the NCG Top 100s: England list in the county of Cumbria. The other is Silloth on Solway, but even that is more than 40 miles to the north, and more than an hours’ drive.

What golf facilities does Seascale Golf Club offer?  

Along with the championship links offering, Seascale also has its own practice area, which sits inland from the clubhouse and car park. There is a range where you can hit full shots, along with a short game area that features a practice green and bunker. There is also a small putting green between the clubhouse and the 1st tee.  

What are the green fees at Seascale Golf Club?  

The price of a green fee at Seascale Golf Club 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 Seascale Golf Club visit their website here.