Silloth on Solway G. C.

Situated in the north west of England, in the county of Cumbria, the small port town of Silloth lies on the shores of the Solway Firth. Located thirty minutes from the city of Carlisle, with its excellent hotels and transport links, and from the M6 motorway, a key route North and South, Silloth on Solway Golf Club is home to a world class links, which is rated within the UK and Ireland's top fifty courses. The course's fabulous reputation has ensured that it has played host to many prestigious events in recent years, including the English Amateur Championship. Offering magnificent views of the Scottish Borders, to the North, and The Lake District, to the South, and a stunning course, set on a traditional links layout, Silloth on Solway Golf Club is a must play venue. With friendly staff who pride themselves on looking after visitors to the club, making your visit a memorable one, and with excellent practice facilities open to guests, Silloth on Solway Golf Club is without doubt a fantastic destination to play at while enjoying a golf holiday with Scottish Golf Breaks. 

History: The North British Railway Company founded Silloth on Solway Golf Club as a natural extension to its development of the town as a port, holiday resort and terminus for both commercial and passenger traffic. The course itself was originally laid out by David Grant in 1892. Over the years the course has evolved, with contributions from two great classic designers Dr Alister MacKenzie and Willie Park Junior. The railway company hired prominent Scottish professionals of the time, such as Willie Fernie and Park, for their expert advice in establishing the course, and for publicising it through exhibition matches. Over the next thirty years, the course was visited by ten Open Champions including Harry Vardon, J.H. Taylor and James Braid.

Silloth soon produced its own great names, the first being the Leitch sisters, daughters of the town doctor. Three of them were awarded international caps, two won national championships, and one, Cecilia became simply the best lady golfer in the world. She dominated the game around the time of the First World War, transformed the way ladies played, and in the process, won a record four British, five French, two English and one Canadian championship. In an era when female golfers swung prettily, Cecil (as she was popularly known) hit hard, long and straight, with a distinctive swing that was moulded by the need to reach the narrow Silloth fairways and “handkerchief-sized” greens. 

The Leitch connection was an important factor in bringing the Ladies British Strokeplay Championship to Silloth in 1972, followed by the Ladies British Amateur (Matchplay) Championship in 1976 and regular national women’s events thereafter including the English Ladies Championships in 2000 and 2007. More recently, the testing links has been used for R&A Regional Qualifying for the Open Championship and in 2009 the Club hosted the EGU Mid Amateur for the Logan Trophy.

Silloth has always had Parliamentary connections, the most recent being with the late Viscount 'Willie' Whitelaw, a fine golfer in his youth, Captain of the R & A in 1970 and much loved President of the Club until his death in 1999. On a visit to the clubhouse, make a point of checking out the pictures adorning the walls, where you will see images of Lord Willie Whitelaw and Cecil Leitch, along with other historical artefacts.

The links at Silloth on Solway Golf Club: Considered to be one of the finest links golf courses in England, Silloth has undulating fairways that meander through dunes, flanked with heather and gorse. With its traditional links layout of nine holes out and nine holes back, played on the springiest of Cumbrian turf, inviting crisp iron shots and courageous woods, the course throws up a true test of links golf to those who visit. A test where you will encounter some blind shots, firm and fast greens situated on plateaus and in sunken dells, and due to its coastal setting, the wind in varying degrees.  Affording magnificent views across to the mountains of the Lake District, The Scottish Borders and even to the Isle of Man on a clear day, and world class links golf, the course at Silloth on Solway Golf Club is both a challenging test and a real treat. The links at Silloth on Solway Golf Club is an eighteen hole, par 72 (men), par 75 (women), track. It has tees ranging from 5,806 to 6,641 yards.

SGB Signature Hole: Name: Hogs Back. Number: Hole 13. Measuring 511 yards (M) and 439 yards (W) from the tee this fantastic par 5 opens with a drive over banks of heather to a deceptively wide and flat fairway. The second shot is where the trouble may begin. It is played through a narrow gully to an elevated ridge and subsequently a plateau green. The angled slope of the ridge falls away sharply to the left and right, and will deflect all but the most accurate of approaches, repelling balls to the right towards the heather, and those to the left towards a combination of treacherous gorse and heather. Not the longest par 5 five, but one where achieving a par is always a great relief.  

Clubhouse & Practice facilities: The clubhouse at Silloth on Sollway Golf Club was designed by Carlisle architect and club member, Walter Gibbings in 1903, and extended in 1908. It retains a period atmosphere reflecting the true character of Silloth and the course. The Lounge has recently been extensively modernised and remodelled, and it looks out from an elevated position offering good views of the first fairway, and eighteenth green. It is a great place to enjoy a drink while being served by attentive bar staff, as is the Dining Room, where visitors can enjoy the local speciality – Solway Shrimps – from the menu. (see food and dining section). Or, for a complete change, visitors are welcome to indulge in a quiet game in the popular Snooker Room. The club openly welcome visiting golfers, male and female, to use their members' locker rooms and shower facilities. The pro shop at Silloth is a major stockist of Ping, Srixon and Cleveland equipment. While it stocks leading brands such as Footjoy, Sketchers, Galvin Green, Adidas and Ping for clothing and shoes. The shop offers a full range of Silloth on Solway mementos and products carrying the club logo, including, ball markers, pitch forks, bag towels, headcovers, shirts & knitwear. Buggies, manual and electric trolleys as well as club hire are all available at the pro shop. Practice facilities: Silloth on Solway Golf Club have excellent practice facilities for visiting golfers. These include two large practice putting greens and driving nets, all of which are situated next to the clubhouse. In addition, the club offer a full size practice area, with good quality teeing ground and a dedicated short game area. This facility requires golfers to supply their own balls. 

Food & Dining: Silloth on Solway Golf Club offer a range of tempting catering options within the clubhouse. The breakfast menu, which includes Cumberland Sausage filled rolls, Eggs Benedict, full breakfasts and vegetarian breakfast options, is available from 9 am until 12 noon. While a light bites and lunch menu are served from noon, until 5 pm. The main menu is operational from noon onwards and offers tasty starters, servings from the grill, extensive main course options, and of course the local speciality – Solway Shrimps.  The well stocked bar in the clubhouse offers a wide range of beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks, for visitors to enjoy before or after a round on the links.

Accommodation: SGB partner with a number of hotels in Carlisle, Berwick Upon Tweed, and Newcastle, covering the North of England, from the Cumbrian coast on the West, to the Northumberland coast on the East. Many of our customers travelling, by car, from central and southern England, choose to stop off in Carlisle, Cumbria's largest city, for a game of golf in the region and a night's accommodation, before venturing further northwards onto Scotland's west coast for the remainder of their golf break. Alternatively, many others stop off for a game in the area and then continue onwards into Dumfries and Galloway, where we partner with a number of hotels, such as the Cairndale Hotel and Leisure Club, in the town of Dumfries, and work with many smaller ones situated across the region. In addition, we have partnerships with several letting agencies to ensure we provide a fantastic suite of accommodation options across Cumbria and, Dumfries and Galloway. Whether you want to stay on a country estate, in a hotel, a luxury lodge, an apartment or a signature villa, Scottish Golf Breaks can arrange it for you.

 

Featured deal: 

 

Typical packages include:

• Accommodation in a hotel, lodge or signature villa
• A round at Silloth on Solway Golf Club
• A round at Southerness Golf Club
• A round at Powfoot Golf Club
• Dinner Reservations
• Full English or Scottish Breakfast
• Access to changing & locker-rooms, clubhouse and practice facilities 

 

Golf packages can be designed to your specification and group size, and can include alternative accommodation, additional courses across Cumbria, in England, and Dumfries and Galloway, and or other regions within Scotland.

 

Additional services:

• Airport or train station transfers (all sizes of groups catered for)
• Executive travel
• Caddie service

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