Silloth Open. May 27th. Bank holiday Monday.

[Liverbirdie]

My arms are hanging, I'm absolutely drained.

That front 9/10 was harder than some yomps and exercises I have been on, you just couldn't stay still over the ball on any drives, the wind and rain was battering you and there were some very blind and intimidating tee blocks where you were driving out to sea at OOB and you were lucky if you just made the fairway! Struggling to push my trolley at times up the slopes between greens to tee's. I was speaking to the club captain when we got in and he said that it was no less than 35mph and was a forecast gale not wind! That coupled with sharp icy rain, I felt I was being shot blasted at times!

Just as you turned around downwind on the 10th you then went back into the wind on the 13th Si1 which was a great hole and one where the majority of people on the day, didn't finish!

Its definitely a course that you need to play twice to appreciate it even more as there's so much to learn from the first outing as your blind on drives, 2nd shots and even approaches, you just didn't know what was over the mounds, other than a flapping flag!

Took a 4 iron on the 134yd par 3 and landed just between the bunker and the green , madness!

Started to drive better on the back 9 and especially the last few holes picking up a nice birdie and a couple of pars, great company with Dave, Birchy and NWJocko and at times we didn't know whether to laugh or cry, it was so punishing.

Miles better than West Lancs and Hoylake and although I enjoyed Formby which was unique in its look due to the pines, but still a links, Silloth is the best open links course I have played (loose term) and will definitely go back under better conditions but need to play another course, or 2 on a trip as its a long way for me.

I thought the greens were very true, OK some were slightly slower than others but some were more exposed and drying quicker and some more damp. Can't comment on the consistency of the bunkers, was only in 1 pot bunker and got out first time

Amazing experience, not for the faint hearted or fine weather golfer (Sam ) :thup:

Glad to see you arrived safe fella, I wouldn't have fancied your 4 hour+ drive, after that tiring riound yesterday.

I had a look at their other opens, but all are booked up. Maybe next year, we can hijack another one, and tie it in with another round and a 1 night stop over.

I also thought the greens were good, they looked slightly patchy, but were very true.

 

[Val]

I had a look at their other opens, but all are booked up. Maybe next year, we can hijack another one, and tie it in with another round and a 1 night stop over.

:thup:

One to keep an eye on mate

 

[scratch]

I'm loving all these replies, welcome to proper links golf you big bunch of jessies!

Man up and get on with it, golf how it's meant to be

Sounds like you all had a cracking day though despite the weather :thup:

 

[Fish]

Just looked on Southerness GC site and they have some excellent packages and Opens from only £10 up to £20.00 :thup: I reckon a Silloth & Southerness double is a must possibly a 3rd but then that's well worth the journey and stopping over.

 

[Birchy]

I'm loving all these replies, welcome to proper links golf you big bunch of jessies!

Man up and get on with it, golf how it's meant to be

Sounds like you all had a cracking day though despite the weather :thup:

It was an experience i tell thee. Im taking a wind iron next time

 

[Fish]

Glad to see you arrived safe fella, I wouldn't have fancied your 4 hour+ drive, after that tiring riound yesterday..

Floored it all the way back and took 40 minutes off, only 1 vehicle overtook me all the way back covering over 240 miles, I dominated the outside lane, it was that or stop somewhere as I was knackered

 

[Val]

I looked at Southerness last night but dates this year dont fall good with me but will consider next year

 

[Birchy]

Glad to see you arrived safe fella, I wouldn't have fancied your 4 hour+ drive, after that tiring riound yesterday.

I had a look at their other opens, but all are booked up. Maybe next year, we can hijack another one, and tie it in with another round and a 1 night stop over.

I also thought the greens were good, they looked slightly patchy, but were very true.

I checked their other opens too. I know they usually do a good deal when it switches to winter including accomodation etc.

 

[Fish]

I looked at Southerness last night but dates this year dont fall good with me but will consider next year

I reckon a long weekend next year, either Fri-Sun or Sat-Mon taking in Silloth & Southerness and possibly 1 more.

 

[Deleted member 3432]

Glad that you all enjoyed the experience and its just as well you weren't off the blues! Certainly character building conditions but at least you all turned up!

I can definately recommend Southerness, their 36 scratch open is always one of the highlights of my season.

Anyone thinking of coming to Silloth again is welcome to pm me, I work shifts so are often available midweek for a knock and could sign you in.

 

[Val]

Glad that you all enjoyed the experience and its just as well you weren't off the blues! Certainly character building conditions but at least you all turned up!

I can definately recommend Southerness, their 36 scratch open is always one of the highlights of my season.

Anyone thinking of coming to Silloth again is welcome to pm me, I work shifts so are often available midweek for a knock and could sign you in.

Thanks for the invite and thanks for the heads up on the condition earlier in the year, it was absolutely the correct decision to call off in March, the effects of the water are still very visable. I fear had we played back then we may have looked on the course in bad light which wouldnt have been right.

:thup:

 

[Fish]

Don't fight the wind, try and swing easy and make sure you find the fairway. Into the wind bogie will be a good score so try and hang on for the front 9 and make your score coming home. It will be a good experience and tell you a lot about your game.

The links boys will have a big advantage, the 100 yard 5 iron shot will be out in force!

Only just saw this as I couldn't get on-line at Silloth, even through their wireless at the hotel, it kept kicking me out, the conditions affected everything.

Just cleared my bag out and I've got some Heather amongst it, do you think they'll miss it :mmm:

It was very hard to not fight it, more so the front 10 holes and the 13th, if you relaxed over the ball for too long, it blew you off your feet! I now have no fear of anywhere after that, can't wait to go back under better conditions and knowing what's around and over hills will make for better club selection.

 

[Qwerty]

I've never played in conditions as bad as that yesterday. I was thinking from the off " Hit the fairways, doesn't matter how far, and don't let It grind you down". By the 10th though I was a beaten man.

Birchy did our individual scores after 9 and the best of the bunch was 8 points :rofl:that front 9 was definately an experience. I was expecting Bear Grylls or Ray Mears to pop up from behind a dune filming a survival programme.

luckily enough though the holes were easier coming back and a birdie on the last restored some confidence. I'd certainly go back, its just a great course on a great piece of land.

Thanks for the game and the day Fellas :thup:

Just a thought, could we do the Silloth/Southerness thing without using opens? More expensive I know but the rates are reasonable considering the quality of the courses. if we got enough interest we could maybe get a deal out if them?

 

[HDID Kenny]

Silloth & Southerness sound like a good idea because as the Crow flys they are 5 miles apart, however driving from one to the other is a 1.5hr trip.

 

[Birchy]

Silloth & Southerness sound like a good idea because as the Crow flys they are 5 miles apart, however driving from one to the other is a 1.5hr trip.

I was thinking it looks a long way round on the map

 

[Liverbirdie]

Glad that you all enjoyed the experience and its just as well you weren't off the blues! Certainly character building conditions but at least you all turned up!

I can definately recommend Southerness, their 36 scratch open is always one of the highlights of my season.

Anyone thinking of coming to Silloth again is welcome to pm me, I work shifts so are often available midweek for a knock and could sign you in.

Off 4 playing at Silloth - you must be a golfing titan!

When Carlisle United get in the premiership, I'll tie it in with an away match.

I clocked one of the blue tees on the first par 5 (I think) the one nearest the sea on the front 9, which looked another good 50 yards back. Scary long from there.

 

[Liverbirdie]

Silloth & Southerness sound like a good idea because as the Crow flys they are 5 miles apart, however driving from one to the other is a 1.5hr trip.

GM viking long boat?

In that wind it would have only took us 3 minutes with a tail wind.

 

[Deleted member 3432]

Off 4 playing at Silloth - you must be a golfing titan!

When Carlisle United get in the premiership, I'll tie it in with an away match.

I clocked one of the blue tees on the first par 5 (I think) the one nearest the sea on the front 9, which looked another good 50 yards back. Scary long from there.

Haha I wish I was a golfing titan, just fairly steady and handicap travels well. Like most of us on here would like to be lower.
Aye the back tee on 5 is tough, barely reached the fairly off it in club champs qualifier. 7 and 13 are the same, they rarely use them for members as most can't reach fairway. When English mid am was held here a few years back several tees were moved up to the yellows on final day, it was that windy!

 

[Liverbirdie]

Haha I wish I was a golfing titan, just fairly steady and handicap travels well. Like most of us on here would like to be lower.
Aye the back tee on 5 is tough, barely reached the fairly off it in club champs qualifier. 7 and 13 are the same, they rarely use them for members as most can't reach fairway. When English mid am was held here a few years back several tees were moved up to the yellows on final day, it was that windy!

Is 7 the blind green in the dip? Parred that! Funnily enough my best shots on the day where I put things dead or to 3-4 feet were all the blind shots.Says a lot about my game, really.

3 was brutal in wind against, out of 4 of us only one got a point.

Have you had 10 friend requests since yesterday?

 

[Val]

Is 7 the blind green in the dip? Parred that! Funnily enough my best shots on the day where I put things dead or to 3-4 feet were all the blind shots.Says a lot about my game, really.

3 was brutal in wind against, out of 4 of us only one got a point.

Have you had 10 friend requests since yesterday?

Hard hole that the 7th, 3 off the tee for me, couldnt reach the green in 2 either. Mental stuff.