I've been wanting to get to Seascale, a rather isolated but well-regarded links on the Cumbrian coast, for ages. I've not seen many pix so thought it worth posting a few snaps.
My knowledge of the design history is a bit vague. C&W say the original 9 was done by Willie Campbell, with a second nine added by George 'Royal Lytham' Lowe. The holes most likely to be add-ons - the furthest inland, the current 1st and 2nd, and the furthest out from the clubhouse, the current 11th and 12th, are the poorest on the course.
The first interesting hole is the third, with the dog-leg around an OB 'cop' reminiscent of the traditional opener at Hoylake. Against the wind it was a good hit to the end of the wall but in different conditions cutting the corner must be tempting.
Like at Hoylake, the green is right up against the OB but Seascale's version benefits from much more contour in the terrain. The bunkers in the picture below appear too far left to catch all but a bad mis-hit but in fact are only just left of the ideal line for a running approach, feeding down the slope.
Ninth is a fascinating hole, requiring a good hit along the upper fairway to set up an attempt with a long club at the green the day I played. In a different wind, you could probably make the carry to the lower fairway but you can't 'sort of' go for it, as the slope down to the lower fairway is covered with rough. A little reminiscent of 8 and 17 at Dornoch but particularly 7 at Pleasington (check their website) as both the reward of attaining the lower fairway and the risk of failing to do so are greater at the Seascale hole and its Lancastrian cousin.
Like the third, short tenth another that could almost be a late 19C template hole. Short holes with a diagonal carry over burn (2 at Prestwick, 5 at Lundin) will have been familiar to original designer so no surprise 10 at Seascale reminiscent of those.
Another diagonal carry at 13:
Strong finish starts with short par 5 14th:
Tee shot at 300 yard 15th back over 14th green:
Could be driven in right conditions but that might not be a smart play:
Super long par 4 16th, bending left around the hill:
Blind second towards red marker post behind green:
...that's where the green is:
Hill you drive over on 17th is higher and more intimidating than it appears on this picture. Another style of hole that appears popular with early designers - forced carry over huge hill. Famous examples at Prestwick, RCD, S&A, less famous at Halifax, Appleby etc.
As a reward,the approach is straighforward:
18 takes you back into town (literally if you block it):
Big green with a lot going on:
I was glad I went to Seascale and will go back again but can see why Silloth gets the bulk of what attention is devoted to Cumbrian links. The good holes at Seascale would stand up there but Silloth has strength in depth.