southerness

Southerness golf course was designed by McKenzie Ross, and built in 1947. This is a true Championship links course, measuring 6566 yards from the white tees and 6106 from the yellow tees. The SSS is 73 from the white tees and 70 from the yellow. The par in each case is 69 having two par 5s and five par 3s. It is an indication of the length and difficulty of these holes that the SGU course rating produce a SSS higher than the par figures.

The course is situated on the Solway coast giving panoramic views of the Solway Firth, the Cumbrian Lake District to the south, and the Galloway Hills to the west. The terrain is level allowing for easy walking with no hills to climb. Being totally remote from large centres of population a feeling of being well away from the rat race is engendered. As each hole is entirely separate from the feeling of "being away from it all" is greatly enhanced. McKenzie Ross's brilliant design has been complimented by an excellent head green keeper and staff, who have now had a settled period of several years together which has brought the course into tip top condition. This has been recognized by "Golf Monthly", who have included Southerness in their list of top 100 courses in Britain and Ireland each year since 1990.

The magazine "Golf World" has recently done a survey of 1000 courses in Great Britain and Ireland for the best value in golf, and in this list Southerness is placed as high as number 6. Recognition has also been given from official bodies who have awarded the Scottish Amateur Championship twice, the Scottish Ladies Championship, the British Ladies Championship and the British Youths to Southerness. It was in the British Youths Championship of 1990 that Matthias Gronberg set the course record of 65 on his way to winning the title.

The 12th hole is generally regarded as the best hole on the course. This is a 421 yard par four with a left to right dog leg. Fairway bunkers right and left require an accurate tee shot. Having split the fairway the hole then opens out to view a green, protected by bunkers on the right, a pond to the left, a large mound guarding front left entry, and the beach ten yards behind the green. The forward view on playing the hole is the simmering Solway Firth, and a large sandy bay opens out to the right as you progress towards the green. A truly memorable hole on a truly memorable Golf Course.