Just south of Hadrian’s Wall lies Silloth, a holiday resort from the turn of the last century. LINKS75 has checked out Silloth on The Solway – a links course that is sure to delight. To honour the occasion summer has suddenly arrived. We apply sunblock 25 and wear white, take two bottles of water and low tees. Without expectations we set off on a quite superb journey. The 1st – a par 4 – slight uphill with rough, heather and gorse as good neighbours. Marker post behind the green. When we reach the crown we begin to understand – a first-up bathtub green – fantastic. The clock by the green looks as if it has been taken directly from a nearby port. The 2nd – par 4 – we circle a huge sand dune with reward. A landscape suddenly opens ahead that likens a scrunched tablecloth after a good fiftieth birthday party. Undulation with tough heather along a narrow fairway – wide eyes, stunned and broad grins – LINKS75 CLASS! The 3rd – par 4 – has a viewing platform on the tee, blind tee shot, and a green that rejects anything short. We feel the joy and follow nature. The 4th – par 4 – blind over a big sand dune into the unknown, and a fairway like a stormy sea. We play through with fore caddies and next to the green find a dip worthy of its own card marking. The 5th – a par 5 – is parallel to the sea.
Par 5, 5th – Silloth on Solway
A brilliant start. We are all shook up and expectation is rising. On the 7h – a par 4 - we play through again, this time “a society from Manchester”. We strike two perfect balls into the middle of the fairway and towards a blind green but when we reach them we find that anything but Luke Donald straight is off-line. An extremely challenging hole. We breathe out before the 9th – a par 3 – 110 yards, with a devilish bunker combination to LINKS75 delight. The 10th, a dogleg left with a challenging marker post for the bold – links pleasure. We hit 4-irons with a draw and finish with a chip and one-putt for birdie. On the 12th – a par 3 – the group in front of us shake hands and head off for the waiting clubhouse. The 13th is a signature hole – par 5 – with good hitting zone from the tee. The second shot is played up on a ridge and lands on something similar to Rye’s 4th back-to-front. Perhaps the most difficult approach we have seen and once again quite simply LINKS75 class – exemplary!
13th, Silloth on Solway
The 14th is yet another par 5 with a tee shot towards a VW-beetle contoured fairway, then a marker post and down a floor. LINKS75 hits its second from the heart of the fairway and finds the green. We quickly read the line and sink the putt – EAGLE! The 16th – a par 3 – is 170 yards and demands a lofted, 7-iron with backspin towards the waiting green. We tee-off and land adjacent. On the 17th – par 5 – the tee shot is to the right perfectly straight, a hybrid with no backspin takes us through a narrow entrance and again after quickly reading the line a fearless putt – EAGLE! High five – LINKS75 produces links75 class golf – DE-LIGHT! Down the 18th we march triumphantly towards the finish of a wonderful links course that creates immediate longing and generates pleasure above the ordinary. LINKS75 loves Silloth = truth.
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