Best Golf Courses in Cumbria

Best Golf Courses in Cumbria

The best golf courses in Cumbria offer no fuss, no fanfare, but quietly a huge amount of depth and enviable variety.

The number one best golf course in Cumbria is a clear winner, perhaps more so than any of the other counties we’ve ranked, but after that the panel debated furiously about the courses that followed, which is testament to the high-calibre of golf courses throughout Cumbria.

It boasts rollercoaster fell land, rugged links and moorlands, while some of the most appreciated architects have left their mark; Harry Colt, Alister MacKenzie, James Braid and Mackenzie Ross.

It is a county where you will most likely not have a flat lie, and very rarely a par 72.

Silloth on Solway is the clear No.1. It would hold its own and more if it was in Fife or on the Southport coast and is a GB&I and indeed World Top 100 entry.

Why you can trust our ranking of the best golf courses in Cumbria

Our Top 100 panel has been ranking the finest courses in England for a decade and has the most comprehensive knowledge in the game, which is why you can trust this to be the most accurate reflection of the best golf courses in Cumbria.

We welcome your feedback on all of our rankings and know that everyone will have an opinion on their favourite’s position. We’d love to hear from you via email, on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

And, once you’ve enjoyed this ranking, please do take a look at some of our others – including the best golf courses in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Europe.

Chris Bertram, Golf World Top 100 Editor

The Best Golf Courses in Cumbria

1. Silloth on Solway Golf Club

Remote, unfussy, low profile (relatively) Silloth made it into our list of the Top 100 Best Golf Courses in the World. Those who’ve been will have nodded sagely at that. Those that haven’t will wonder if it can really be that good. It is.

Silloth on Solway offers an invigorating journey via clever routing among dunes and cool green complexes.

2. Seascale Golf Club

Seascale features in our Top 100 Best Golf Courses in England and this classic links is home to several outstanding holes.

The par-3 5th could easily be part of an Open rota course, the 3rd a tough, strategic par 4 and the delightful, split-level 9th are just some of its stand-outs.

3. Appleby Golf Club

Appleby is a rustic moorland course played in a beautiful expanse but with the backdrop of the Pennines and lakes.

Some wonderful holes – ‘Bell’ is worth a visit alone – on a canvas perfect for interesting golf.

4. Brampton Golf Club

Undulating terrain and heathland turf make Brampton an interesting and enjoyable loop around a James Braid course that is more than a century old.

“Wild and interesting,” says one panellist.

RELATED: Golf World Top 100: Best Links Golf Courses in Great Britain and Ireland

5. Windermere Golf Club

Windemere is a twisting and turning heathland that puts a premium on accuracy and tries to distract you with predictably jaw-dropping views. Bunkerless and packed with unusual holes.

6. Carlisle Golf Club

Carlisle is a pristine, underrated parkland touched by architects such as Theodore Moone, Mackenzie Ross and Frank Pennink.

Rewards good shots and punishes bad.

7. Penrith Golf Club

Penrith sits on springy turf and has great views across to the lakes.

Super back-to-back par 3s around the turn of varying length are a highlight.

Dr MacKenzie is said to have had input on a redesign.

RELATED: The best golf courses you can play for £60 and under

8. Ulverston Golf Club

Ulverston is an undulating parkland that benefited from a Harry Colt redesign.

Par 3s that look discovered within the landscape, several exciting par 5s, and great views.

9. Workington Golf Club

Workington is an interesting James Braid design. This rolling parkland course was recently updated by Howard Swan.

10. Kendal Golf Club

Kendal split the panel as it has blind shots and is hilly, but it has some unforgettable holes, and that’s why it makes the top 10.

RELATED: Best Golf Courses for £60 and Under in Great Britain and Ireland

11. Furness Golf Club

Furness is a classic out-and-back, old-fashioned links which dates from 1872.

The usual challenge comes from the wind off the Irish Sea, as well as a good routing and clever bunkers.

12. Cockermouth Golf Club

Cockermouth is an old-fashioned, bunkerless James Braid course which wraps itself around a fell.

A tough walk, but you’re rewarded with spectacular views.

13. St Bees Golf Club

St Bees is a short links course that offers charm in abundance.

Situated on a cliff edge with dramatic views and holes.

Don’t miss it when playing Seascale and Silloth.

14. Kirkby Lonsdale

Kirkby Lonsdale is a very enjoyable layout that shouldn’t be too taxing, but is still enough of a test.

15. Whitehaven

Whitehaven was laid down in 2000 on the site of a former open-cast mine. This parkland is populated by water hazards and woodland and offers views of Ennerdale.

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