thecumbrian

Best thing I ever did was joining, the course never plays the same two days in a row and always in great condition despite the variable weather we get up here. Currently enduring a spell of 3 4,5 clubs winds so very tough at present.... Best thing about such an isolated location is the incredible value of the membership. Couldn't play 36 holes on some of the other top 100 courses for the cost of Silloth subs.

There were plans drawn up pre covid by MacKenzie & Ebert I believe to change 10, 11, & 12th holes. Would involve new tee and green complexes, with 11th becoming a 200ish yard par 3. The 11th fairway has crept further left over the years it's difficult to slice one into the Caravan Park IMO far enough to cause trouble. It's essentially one individual who seems to have a problem with a golf course on his doorstep and the club have bent over backwards for him. Back to the plans, I don't honestly know the current situation, I suspect it's all in limbo at present as costs will have massively increased post covid. Personally I like the hole despite it not suiting my shape, birdie opportunity downwind and a best of of hole when playing into the wind. The 18th is becoming a pressing issue with the houses get a regular peppering from our slicing brethren with their second shots. I have heard rumours of the green being moved 50 yards forward and to the left playing towards it. If they eventually do this hopefully they move the tee back 50 yards as there is room to do so.

We don't get enough overseas visitors to even consider caddies of any form. Members are quite happy to be paired up with visitors, done it myself and it was fun. The wind is a big challenge, front 9 into the prevailing wind is tough, you have to be on your game from the opening shot. Hang on going out and make your score coming home.

The gorse around the 12th and 16th greens was way too close to the putting surface, it's much better and fairer now. There's a long term plan in place to remove the majority of the gorse which was never there years ago. For me as a member I'm more worried about the heather than the gorse which needs a much more offline shot to find. Been an odd summer so far, May was dry and the course was bone dry and playing firm and fast in a non prevailing wind for weeks. Since then it's been wet and very windy and the course has greened up again. On two consecutive days a couple of weeks ago I hit gap wedge and 5 iron on the 9th playing 125 to the flag.