On the way to the course we are aggressively overtaken by two police cars with blue flights flashing. Is there start time before ours – a flying start? “Where is the pro-shop?” “There is none – you pay here,” says the lady in the bar with studs on her shoulder pads. A familiar setting with the 18th green arm in arm with the first tee. We head off on the first and the first putt goes up and down more than a Finland ferry – rugged links personified. On the horizon lies the area’s nuclear power station – swathed in brand new barbed wire. Every second hole has right-hand side out of bounds so we keep to the left and hole the day’s first birdie on the 2nd. The 3rd – a par 4 – offers a tough classic, out-of-bounds cornered dogleg. We overcome and move on. The course zigzags down towards a railway line and the sea. Far in front of us are a number of 4-balls in a Saturday competition and behind us a 3-ball. The 6th – a par 5 – has an undulating fairway and a marker post. We feel at home and get down to the green in two – birdie. On the 8th – a par 3 – we catch up with a 4-ball. We wait and study the nuclear power station which comes ever closer.

9th, Seascale

The 9th – a par 4 – is divided into three zones on two levels – links75 class including a burn. Troublesome and challenging. We turn at 1 over par. the 10th – par 3 – has a burn, a delightful stone bridge and a tough green – birdie.

10th, Seascale

The 11th faces the power station and is a 468-yard par 4. Third shot from the rough, two bounces and straight in – birdie. We edge past the power station, glowing with new superpowers. The 14th – a par 5 – has once again an undulating fairway with a railway to the right. On the green in two – another birdie. The 15th is a short par 4. Two balls ahead hit their drives at  LINKS75′. Take their stance in the rough for a low angle -curses rain down along the turf. We continue towards the green – birdie. The 16th – par 4 – slight dogleg, skyscraper high dunes to the left, sighting marker behind the green and mounds as big as VW-combis in front. We wait in the links-jam ahead. Suddenly, a ball lands from behind – hooligan golf – LINKS75 gives it the evil links-eye. The 17th is played from a lower level to a higher – sighting marker – with County Sligo in our thoughts and we are home. We play the 18th to a worthy score – just over par. The local IPA at the bar, where a new member makes an application and pays the fee – links membership anyone? Classic nuclear-powered links – no thank you.