Playing the English Top 100

El Gringo · July 16

1 hour ago, thecumbrian said:

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.

Is there a definitive plan for 11 and 12? I saw the rough was cut back down the left on 11 presumably to stay well Lear of the Caravan Park. Hopefully some semblance of 11 can be saved.

Frank_Kasule · July 16

9 hours ago, El Gringo said:

Silloth is pretty cool! After a long layoff I spent a few days there this year. They have cleared back quite a lot of rubbish! I didn’t make it to Seascale…love that place! If you go back up, play Appleby, just off the M6. Lovely course.

Indeed we played Appleby 2 years ago and I really enjoyed it. The Bell hole is fantastic! Course was empty so we played it twice, nearly birdied the first time and then left it down the hill on the right the second!

9 hours ago, Schley said:

Played Silloth last fall and if it has been hacked back, I'd say they ran out of gas for the weedwacker. 😁

Very tough and penal, with we were told average wind. What would have helped a great deal is at least a forecaddie to help guide us and spot balls for us first timers.

I think it has been cleared this year, we were also there towards the end of last summer last year. Was very tough, I lost 7 balls! Despite that I still had the best score in my group on the day! Haha

2 hours ago, thecumbrian said:

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.

You are lucky to be a member, it's definitely one of my favourite courses I've played.

thecumbrian · July 16

1 hour ago, El Gringo said:

Is there a definitive plan for 11 and 12? I saw the rough was cut back down the left on 11 presumably to stay well Lear of the Caravan Park. Hopefully some semblance of 11 can be saved.

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.

thecumbrian · July 16

4 minutes ago, Frank_Kasule said:

You are lucky to be a member, it's definitely one of my favourite courses I've played.

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.

Pleasedwith3putts · July 16

On 8/10/2024 at 12:27 PM, El Gringo said:

Gog Magog Old reminds me a bit of Hockley. Chalky downland course which climbs and descends a hill. Hockley is a fine course which ascends a bit more gracefully than Gogs, but Gogs descends in a more imaginative manner. Gogs may pip it, but I haven’t seen Hockley in some time. I may overstate the quality of such courses because I am a big fan of downland golf. Fast running courses which need control in dealing with slopes.

Hockley is nothing special, just well drained (and windy!) in Winter. Certainly fast running on holes like 18 where you can hit it 400+ yards at certain times. Never played Gog, just recall Russel Claydon being a member there.

Chanceman · July 17

15 hours ago, thecumbrian said:

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.

Silloth is one English course I would dearly love to play . Just hope to live long enough. It sounds superb despite the threat of high winds. And it is such a pain to get there.

El Gringo · July 17

36 minutes ago, Chanceman said:

Silloth is one English course I would dearly love to play . Just hope to live long enough. It sounds superb despite the threat of high winds. And it is such a pain to get there.

I just did a trip to Arran and Campbeltown…getting to Silloth is a doddle. 😎

Chanceman · July 18

On 7/17/2025 at 3:59 PM, El Gringo said:

I just did a trip to Arran and Campbeltown…getting to Silloth is a doddle. 😎

Not for me it isn’t.

hammergolf · July 20

On 7/17/2025 at 12:59 AM, El Gringo said:

I just did a trip to Arran and Campbeltown…getting to Silloth is a doddle. 😎

With the ferries out, did you drive to Campbeltown? I’m doing some early scouting for our groups trip in 2028 and trying to figure out the ferry schedule from Adrossan to Campbeltown to play Machrihanish and Machrie for our trip to Ayrshire.

El Gringo · July 21

4 hours ago, hammergolf said:

With the ferries out, did you drive to Campbeltown? I’m doing some early scouting for our groups trip in 2028 and trying to figure out the ferry schedule from Adrossan to Campbeltown to play Machrihanish and Machrie for our trip to Ayrshire.

The ferry was running between Troon and Broderick. We drove on the way back because the Campbeltown ferry wasn’t running. The ferries are a mess at the moment.

hammergolf · July 22

On 7/20/2025 at 8:13 PM, El Gringo said:

The ferry was running between Troon and Broderick. We drove on the way back because the Campbeltown ferry wasn’t running. The ferries are a mess at the moment.

Yeah, it must be really hurting the islands to not have the tourists this summer.