Silloth on Solway
Silloth on Solway | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Courses
Rankings
1st
7th
23rd
44th
57th
Utterly without pretension, Silloth is one of the delightful and rare band of clubs where the locals seem not to realise just what a wonderful course it is their privilege to tackle on a weekly or even daily basis. A regional qualifying venue for the Open Championship, Silloth is tough yet also manageable, providing you play within your limitations. And apart from the firm, springy turf that is very much the real deal for fans of genuine seaside golf, the distant location comes with the added reward of some fabulous vistas in all four directions.
Chief among them is the view across the Solway Firth towards Southerness, just a few miles away as the crow flies yet the thick end of a two-hour drive via Carlisle and Dumfries. Looking further round, the Cumbrian mountains come into view while the northernmost peaks of the Lake District are also a feature.
Founded by the North British Railway Company in 1892 and with the likes of Willie Fernie and Willie Park offering their advice, Silloth was originally laid out by Davy Grant. Now stretching to over 6,600 yards it is fact that, located elsewhere, it would have hosted countless national tournaments. As it is, Silloth remains nothing less than a delight to those intrepid golfers prepared to venture beyond the beaten track.
Visit Silloth on Solway's website here.
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A Brief History of Silloth on Solway
With additions from Dr Alister MacKenzie and Willie Park Jr, the course has grown in popularity for its gorgeous setting and unpredictable nature due to its unexpected blind-holes. Although they are technically incorrect for a modern golf course, members and visitors alike enjoy the unforeseen challenge.
More recently the links have been used to host Regional Qualifying for the Open Championship, gaining it even more prestige to confirm its worthiness as one of the top UK golf courses, and in 2009 it hosted the EGU Mid Amateur for the Logan Trophy.
Silloth on Solway Review | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Courses
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A taste of what is to come is provided on the 2nd – an inviting fairway but heavy punishment if it is missed. The size of the green reflects the length of this tactical short par 4. The 5th is a particularly attractive par 5 that plays parallel to the beach while the 7th is a longer, harder and more dramatic version of the 1st, with a green that is large enough but invisible from the fairway; surrounded by unpleasant bramble-ridden rough.
The outward half ends on a classic links par 3. Just 120 yards, more often than not the wind howls across the direction of play meaning that a short iron struck with a high trajectory will float away from the green. Ticklish indeed.
The toughest stretch of the course comes – depending on the wind of course – at the start of the back nine. The tee shot on 11 is both blind and intimidating while the next is a long par 3. Then comes the 13th, a hole that looks straightforward on the card but features a hog’s-back fairway that makes its second half highly awkward.
Respite comes in the form of a second successive par 5, this one downwind and downhill at the end, but normal service is resumed at the 15th, which features a rumpled, uneven fairway that must be played in fading sunlight to be seen in its full glory.
Another birdie chance is offered at the 17th, where the green is often in range in two but is difficult to find before a closing hole that is more difficult than its yardage would suggest. The drive must be straight to avoid gorse bushes and bunkers on either side of the fairway.
Our Panellists Notes for 2025
Peter Rudd: An excellent links always maintained in good order. The design allows for the holes to frequently change direction
David Walker: A difficult journey to the remote location but well worth it. You start in the town before taking a journey via a clever routing through dunes and cool green complexes
Dan Murphy: Incorporates an array of bold architectural features, all of them entirely natural. From the sunken green at the opening hole to the long, thin plateau on the 4th, through very short par 3s and hog’s-back fairways. Not to mention the mogul field of a fairway at the 15th. What a place to play!
Michael Verity: The front nine is as good as any links nine in the country. The back nine isn't bad either!
Read more about our panellists here.
Where is Silloth on Solway Golf Club located?
Where is Silloth on Solway located?
Silloth on Solway Golf Club is located in Silloth, a small coastal town in Cumbria, England. Silloth is situated on the Solway Firth, which is a body of water separating England and Scotland. The city of Carlisle is just under 25 miles to the east of Silloth, along the A596 which is the nearest major road.
Aspatria is the closest railway station to Silloth on Solway, but that is some ten miles to the south. Trains run on a regular basis between Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, with several trains per day running down to Lancaster as well. Newcastle International Airport is the closest major airport to Silloth, but that is still 80 miles to the east. Glasgow Airport is to the north and Manchester Airport to the south, but both are more than 120 miles from the golf club.
Are there any other NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?
There are only two venues in Cumbria that can claim a spot on the NCG Top 100s: England list. Silloth is one of those, with the other being Seascale, which sits 40 miles to the south. Goswick, Dunstanburgh Castle and Seaton Carew, the big three in the northeast, are all around a 120-mile journey from Silloth.
What golf facilities does Silloth on Solway offer?
Along with the seaside golf course, Silloth on Solway is also the home to some great practice facilities. The club has two driving nets to help you get warmed up, along with a pair of practice putting greens, both situated next to the clubhouse.
What are the green fees at Silloth on Solway?
The price of a green fee at Silloth on Solway 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 Silloth on Solway, visit their website here.
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