A Nostalgic Journey Back to Southerness
Returning to Southerness Golf Club for WBGD was a special experience, taking us back to our first-ever National Tournament. It was here, in the 1995 Scottish Amateur Championship, that we first competed at this level, entering with a handicap of 3.4. Though our memories of the course were hazy, one thing stood out: after a first-round win, we bowed out in the second round to Scottish Internationalist Garry Hay, losing 4&3. The silver lining? Just six weeks later, our handicap had dropped to 0.1, officially making us a scratch golfer at age 35.
But enough about us—let’s talk about Southerness.
The History of Southerness Golf Club
Designed by Mackenzie Ross, Southerness Golf Club was established in 1946 and officially opened in 1947. Over the years, it has hosted numerous national and international championships, including three Scottish Amateurs, the Scottish Strokeplay, Scottish Ladies and Boys Championships, the British Ladies and Youths Championships, and the British Boys Home Internationals. This rich history speaks volumes about the quality and challenge of the course.
Playing the Championship Course
With four sets of tees ranging from 5,624 to 6,735 yards, we opted to play from the back tees for a full championship experience. The course delivered a true links challenge, with unpredictable winds and strategic bunkering keeping us on our toes.
The first green
The opening hole plays 393 yards and was into the freshening breeze. We went with the driver off the tee and finished on the left side of the fairway. We had 160 yards to the centre of the green and hit a solid 5 iron, which came up short in the bunker. A splash-out and a missed putt, and we start with an all too familiar bogey. (Check our other reviews.) After a solid par at the second, we stood on the third tee, trying to pick a line.
Disaster Strikes
The view for our fourth shot at the third!
Standing on the third tee, it looks as if you can carry the burn and the rough on the left to reach the fairway. It may look like that, but we failed to do it into the wind. A hack out with an 8 iron squirted across the fairway into the right rough. A 4 hybrid up the fairway left us with the shot above. Needless to say, we failed to get up and down and recorded a double bogey 6 on this hole. Play safe off the tee, and don’t be suckered into taking on too much off the tee!
The fourth hole
The 4th hole is the first par 3. As we approached the tee, the rain came on, and we were still playing into the wind. We chose to hit the 4 hybrid on this 166-yard hole and pulled it left of the green, just short of pin high. A decent pitch and a ten-footer, and we secured our par.
Chance for a Birdie?
The par 5 fifth
The 5th hole is the first of two par 5’s. At 532 yards it was out of reach in two for us. The hole shapes from right to left. A decent tee shot left us with over 270 yards to the green. We laid up with a 4 hybrid and then hit a sand wedge into 25 feet. Our putt came up short but we made our par.
The 7th hole
The 7th hole plays 213 yards. We went with our 3 hybrid and finished on the front left of the green. Two putts and we secured our par. Beware the bunkers on this hole, it wouldn’t be easy to make par from them. After a 3 wood, 9 iron to the green and two putts at the 8th, we headed to the 9th tee. By now, the rain had eased, and we had the wind to dry us out.
Our second shot to the 9th
The 9th hole is stroke index 1 and at 471 yards, it’s the longest par 4 on the course. Our tee shot was downwind so we went with a 3-wood off the tee. The 3 wood found the fairway and had 192 yards to the green. We hit a solid 6 iron which wasn’t quite enough to climb the false front. We duffed our chip but managed to get up and down for a bogey. Four over at the turn.
Homeward Bound
View from behind the 10th green
The back nine starts with a par 3. At 166 yards, it’s the same yardage as the 4th, where we hit a 4 hybrid. This time, we were downwind, and 8 iron was too much club. We finished in the back bunker and failed to get out on our first attempt. We had another go and almost holed it. An easy bogey…
The View of the 12th Green and Beyond
The 12th hole, in our opinion, is the best hole on the course. A 424-yard dogleg from left to right, you don’t see much of the fairway from the tee. Picking your line is tricky, so we went for safety and played left of the bunker on the corner. This left us with a great view of the green and the beach beyond. The wind was from right to left, and our 6 iron stalled and ended up in the front bunker. Our bunker shot was decent, finishing 8 feet from the pin, but we again missed the putt. Another bogey! At least we got a fantastic view of the beach and the Solway Firth to compensate for our average golf.
The Finishing Stretch
The 15th Hole
After making a couple of pars at 13 and 14, we arrived at what in our opinion is the best-looking par 3 on the course. The 15th, at 218 yards, is no pushover; however, it was playing slightly downwind and left to right. We went with our 3 hybrid and managed to reach the front edge. Our 50-foot putt came up 5 feet short, but we managed to hole it to make our par. A couple of pars followed at the 16th and 17th, and we stepped onto the 18th tee, 6 over par.
The Closing Hole
The Approach to the 18th Green
The last hole is a 537-yard par 5. As the wind was blowing left to right, we opted to go with 3 wood off the tee. We hit a cracker and ended up on the right side of the fairway. We tried to hit a 3 wood stinger for our second shot but failed miserably as all we did was top it. If you are going to duff it, duff it straight as our top went about 190 yards and left us 100 yards into the green. A pitch and two putts, and we were finished at 6 over. Not great but not too bad either in the wind and rain.
Course Impressions
Southerness Golf Club is a classic links test, offering a challenging layout that rewards course knowledge. The flat terrain means fewer dramatic elevation changes, making strategic tee shots crucial. The greens were in superb condition, rolling true despite the recent dry spell. It’s the kind of course that grows on you—the more you play it, the better you’ll score.
As Scotland’s most southerly 18-hole links, it’s only fitting that we now set our sights on playing the country’s most northerly counterpart in the future.
Where to Stay: The Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries
The Cairndale
We would recommend staying in the Cairndale Hotel in Dumfries. Southerness is about a 30-minute drive due south of Dumfries. Although we didn’t get the opportunity to use the Leisure Club, the hotel’s pool and gym facilities are excellent.
The Pool and Jacuzzi
Awesome Food
The Sea Bass Breast of Duck
The food in the Reivers Restaurant is superb. We had the Sea Bass and the Breast of Duck on our second evening in the hotel. It was wonderful and beautifully presented.
At a Glance: Southerness Golf Club
- 18-hole championship links
- Practice and short game area
- Remote, peaceful setting on the Solway Firth
- Comfortable clubhouse and starters’ office
- Limited pro shop selection
- 30-minute drive from Dumfries town centre
- Ideal accommodation: The Cairndale Hotel
- Outstanding dining at the Reivers Restaurant
A huge thank you to Ronnie McNellie at Southerness Golf Club for hosting us and to The Cairndale Hotel and the Wallace family for their warm hospitality. We look forward to our next visit!
Header Photo courtesy of Southerness Golf club.
Jim Callaghan CCM is a former Club Manager with experience overseeing several top Scottish Golf Clubs.
Now, as European Editor of Golf Operator Magazine and World’s Best Golf Destinations, he shares insights into club operations and his golfing adventures across Europe.
Jim is also an Ambassador for premium clothing brand Fenix Xcell Clothing and also for the Spanish local DMC, Costa Verde Golf.
If your club/resort or brand wants to reach over 400,000 golfers, contact Jim at [email protected] or call 0044 (0) 78522 88732.
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