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The Global Golfer Top 100
Southerness Golf Club
Southerness, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland · #18 in the World
Location: Southerness, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland | Ranking: #18 — The Global Golfer Top 100
Type: Links | Partner Stay: Balcary Bay Hotel; Cavens Country House Hotel
Editor’s Note: Southerness is golf’s best-kept secret in southern Scotland. Mackenzie Ross designed it in 1947 — the same architect who restored Ailsa at Turnberry after the Second World War — on a peninsula jutting into the Solway Firth with views to the Lake District across the water. Green fees start at £50. This is the most extraordinary value for quality ratio in British golf.
1. Travel & Logistics
- How to Get There: 16 miles south of Dumfries on the A710 Solway Coast road. From Glasgow, 1h 45m. From Edinburgh, 1h 50m.
- Nearest Airport: Glasgow (GLA) — 1h 45m. Edinburgh (EDI) — 1h 50m.
2. Contact & Booking
- Tel: +44 (0)1387 880677 | Website: southernessgolfclub.co.uk
- Green Fees: From £50 — the finest bargain in British golf | Rating / Slope: 73.5 / 136
3. Championship Scorecard
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | OUT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 35 |
| Yards | 392 | 450 | 517 | 174 | 464 | 422 | 423 | 207 | 407 | 3,456 |
Par 4
Par 3
Par 5
Total
| Hole | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | IN | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 35 | 70 |
| Yards | 404 | 420 | 466 | 423 | 216 | 432 | 199 | 498 | 476 | 3,534 | 6,990 |
4. Key Strategy Notes
- Hole 12 — Par 4, 466 Yards: The hardest hole on the course — a long two-shotter along the Solway with the Lake District visible across the water on clear days. The approach is into a small, well-protected green with no bail-out.
- Holes 14–16: Three consecutive demanding holes — par 3, par 4, par 3. The two short holes are both exposed to Solway wind; accurate iron play is essential.
5. The 19th Hole
- Balcary Bay Hotel (3★): 20 minutes from Southerness — a charming coastal hotel above Balcary Bay with exceptional Scottish seafood. Book via Expedia →
- Robert Burns Country: Dumfries is 20 minutes north — the poet’s house, museum and grave make an excellent non-golf afternoon.