Southerness
Philip Mackenzie Ross laid out Southerness in 1947 on the Solway coast, and many regard it as his finest work. A par 69 of about 6,566 yards of true links land, it is one of Scotland's most underrated and least crowded great courses, with the Galloway hills and the Lake District filling the horizon.
Photo: Southerness Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Southerness was the first new championship links built in Scotland after the Second World War, laid out by Philip Mackenzie Ross in 1947 on heather and gorse beside the Solway Firth. Ross, who would soon rebuild Turnberry, considered Southerness among his best, and it has the natural, uncontrived quality of the very best links.
It is a par 69 that asks far more than the number suggests. The par 4s are long and exposed, the greens sit naturally in the dunes and heather, and the wind off the Solway is rarely still. Visitors are welcome and the green fee is modest for golf of this quality, which makes Southerness one of the great value rounds in Britain and a perfect anchor for a trip to Scotland's quiet southwest.
Southerness at a glance
- Opened
- 1947
- Designer
- Philip Mackenzie Ross
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 69
- Yardage
- About 6,566 yds
- Green fee
- About £50 to £60
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Southerness Golf Club and leading course databases. Southerness was laid out by Philip Mackenzie Ross in 1947, a par 69 of about 6,566 yards. Visitor green fees were about £50 midweek and £60 at weekends per round (indicative, 2026); rates change by season, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Southerness builds slowly and finishes hard. The early holes ease you in along the heather, but the closing stretch beside the Solway is as tough as any in Scotland, the long par 4 twelfth and the exposed homeward holes demanding accurate, flighted golf into the prevailing wind.
The greens are the joy of the place, set down naturally into the links so that the ground game is always on, and the gorse and heather punish the loose drive without a single artificial feature. There is no housing, no clutter, just links golf as it has always been played.
What lingers is the sense of space and quiet. Southerness sees a fraction of the traffic of the famous Scottish names, yet the golf is the equal of many of them, and the value is extraordinary. For the traveller who wants great links without the crowds, it is hard to beat.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Visitors welcome on weekdays and at limited weekend times; private members club |
| Green fee | About £50 midweek and £60 at weekends per round (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book through the golf club in advance, especially for weekend tee times |
| On the day | Walking links; trolleys available; dress for exposed coastal wind |
| Getting there | Southerness on the Solway coast, about 40 minutes south of Dumfries |
| Best months | May to September for the driest weather and firm links turf |
Access and fees verified June 2026; rates and visitor times change by season, so always confirm directly with the golf club before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base themselves in or around Dumfries, the natural hub for the southwest, with a good range of hotels, inns and dining within easy reach of the coast. A Dumfries base puts Southerness and the wider Galloway courses within a short drive.
For a golf focused trip, pair Southerness with the other quiet links and parkland of Dumfries and Galloway, or break a journey here on the way to or from the famous courses of Ayrshire. It is a peaceful region to build an unhurried golf tour around.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Southerness.
Build a southwest Scotland golf trip
We book the tee times, pair Southerness with the best of Dumfries and Galloway or the Ayrshire coast and arrange the lodging around the golf. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Southerness questions
Who designed Southerness and when did it open?
Southerness was laid out by Philip Mackenzie Ross and opened in 1947, the first new championship links built in Scotland after the Second World War.
What is the par and length of Southerness?
Southerness is a par 69 of about 6,566 yards of natural links land on the Solway coast.
Can visitors play Southerness?
Yes. Southerness welcomes visitors on weekdays and at limited weekend times; book through the golf club in advance.
How much does it cost to play Southerness?
Visitor green fees were about £50 midweek and £60 at weekends per round in 2026, modest for links of this quality. Always confirm current rates before booking.
Related
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Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.