Tucked away on the Lincolnshire coast in Skegness, Seacroft Golf Club is a treasure just waiting for you to discover. A traditional links, that was founded in 1895, its turf and location means it usually plays fast and firm.

The fast draining soil also allows for virtually year-round golf using both tees and greens throughout the winter months.


Book to play on the NCG Top 100s Tour at Seacroft.
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There can't be many places in the world that have turned down Dr Alister Mackenzie when it comes to golf course design. Seacroft is one of those...

It was originally a 9-hole layout and slightly closer to Skegness when it first opened in 1895 with an exhibition match between reigning Open Champion JH Taylor and club professional GK Wilson. Five years later, more land was acquired to the south,  and which now forms the current club and course. Willie Fernie, the 1883 Open Champion, was commissioned to design the 18-hole layout.

Incredibly in a modern context, the club rejected a proposal from Dr Alister Mackenzie to utilise the new piece of land. The directors were apparently not impressed with his proposal. In 2017, Seacroft brought in architect Clyde Johnson to remodel the course, return some of the historic features, and make the course more playable.

Over the years, the links have played host to notable competitions and national championships. The English County Finals, English Ladies County Finals and English Ladies Close Golf Championships have all been played at Seacroft.

Seacroft is also famous for being the home club of Helen Dobson. She had an incredible amateur career, winning the English Women's Amateur Championship, British Ladies Amateur and Ladies' British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship, all in 1989. Dobson then went on to win twice in her professional career, winning once on both the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour.

Seacroft plays just shy of 6,500 yards from the tips. The challenge gets underway with a 409 yard par-4, with a pair of bunkers in the middle of the fairway. The 2nd is shorter, but with a narrower landing zone for your drive. A long and thin two-tiered green awaits, with a hill helping balls come down from the left side. The drive on 3 is blind, so aim slightly left of the marker post to reach the correct part of the fairway. It’s only 341 yards, but there is plenty of trouble around both the fairway and the green.

The first par-3 on the property follows, with a slightly raised green. Bunkers either side will penalise a wayward approach. The 5th sees you drive to the right of a raised mound which runs down the left, while the right is guarded by a perimeter fence and out of bounds. Just three bunkers sit on the 439 yard par-4, with one short left of the green. The 6th then plays the other way from an elevated tee. A short par-4 that is a birdie opportunity, be careful not to end up in one of the nine bunkers on this hole. 

The 7th plays as a long par-4 which dog-legs from left to right before the 8th and 9th see the road follow them up the right hand side. The former, known as Sand Pit, has a huge fairway bunker you must miss, while the closing hole on the outward nine is a strong par-5. A big drive means the green is reachable in two, though the approach is blind. Anything right of the green will hit the road and out of bounds. Both birdie and double bogey are in play.

The back nine starts with a par-3, at 153 yards, from an elevated tee to a raised green guarded by two bunkers. The 11th is the longest hole on the course at 538 yards. Out of bounds plagues the right hand side, with a single fairway bunker down the left. Two bunkers in the middle of fairway can catch lay-ups, while a further couple of bunkers protect a long, thin, green. 

The 12th is the longest par 3 on the course, at 210 yards, with bunkers short left and right. The green is slightly elevated, and it is one of the tougher holes on the back nine. 13 is the second par-5 on the inward stretch, and a very quirky one. The fairway is split into two with a couple of bunkers and a row of rough before the hole doglegs and plays up to a small green. Anything long and right falls down a steep slope and becomes a tricky up and down.

The third par-3 on the back follows, with a big green guarded by four bunkers, before 15 is a comfortable par-4. Trouble lines the fairway but a solid drive should allow for par.

The closing stretch at Seacroft begins with 16, a driveable 313 yard par-4. Though reachable for the big hitters, anything right of the green is in danger with thick rough, gorse, heather, and bunkers surrounding it. A long iron or hybrid short of the big fairway bunker is the right play. 17 is a straight forward par-4 in which you can see all the trouble in front. The closing hole at Seacroft, called Home, is a slight dogleg right. A drive right of the fairway could spell danger and a big score to finish.

Seacroft Golf Club is located on the Lincolnshire coast on the east of England, just over an hour east from the city of Lincoln in the town of Skegness. 

The A16, A52, A158 and A1028 all lead to Skegness from different directions, but the nearest major international airport is East Midlands Airport, which is more than a two hour drive away.

The green fees at Seacroft differ slightly from midweek to weekend. To play the Lincolnshire course throughout the week in the summer will cost £60, whereas the weekend is slightly more expensive at £70. You can also get a day rate, which allows you to play the course as many times as you would like, for an extra £20 on top of both fees. 

The Seacroft pro shop is stocked with all the latest equipment, with Director of Golf Robin Lawie having been at the club since 1988, when he started as the professional.

Coaching is given by Nick Raybould and also by Stewart Brewer using V1 Video Analysis. Individual lessons and group lessons are available, as well as playing lessons. Golfers of all abilities are welcome, with lessons and coaching plans tailored to suit each individual’s needs from beginners to experienced players.


Book to play on the NCG Top 100s Tour at Seacroft.
Visit Seacroft's website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100 Great Britain & Ireland list.