A Gem in Dumfries and Galloway: The Southerness Course
Southerness Golf Course is a hidden gem on a remote headland that lies in Dumfries and Galloway, the southernmost region of Scotland. Located right on the shoreline of the Solway Firth it offers spectacular views across the coast of Galloway and the Galloway Hills to the west. Look to the south and you see the mountains of the Cumbria and Lake District and the North of England. Southerness is about 14 miles from Dumfries, which is the largest town in the South of Scotland. The golf course is only two hours by car from Glasgow International Airport.
This part of Scotland is not normally on a most people’s golfing holiday circuit. It is however extremely scenic and a perfect place for relaxing and enjoying excellent golf at the outstanding Southerness Golf Course. Over the last 20 years, the course has hosted the British Ladies Stroke-Play Championship, the British Youth Championship and has been the venue of the Scottish Amateur Championship on two occasions. Along with Silloth on Solway, another charming course, they make it well worth the detour to play some excellent golf.
Designed by Mackenzie Ross and built in 1947, Southerness is a true Championship Links course, measuring 6566 yards. This is an old-fashioned course with an old fashioned but welcoming club house. Though relatively short it is a par 69 which makes it one of the toughest courses in the country. Eight of its par fours measure over 400 yards making it difficult to hold one’s score. Five par threes of which two are over two hundred yards need the driver when the wind is up. The generous fairways are bordered by heather and gorse, waiting to swallow a wayward ball.
The best holes run along the coast, starting from the eighth. The wind of course comes into play here adding to the challenge. The 12th hole, a 421 yard par four with a left to right dogleg is generally considered to be outstanding hole on the course. Slightly downhill towards the beach the fairway bunkers to the right and left requires an accurate tee shot which adds to your enjoyment for an outstanding day at Southerness.
