Scottish club needs help after extreme coastal erosion
Coastal erosion is becoming a problem for more and more golf courses. For the Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club in the Scottish Highlands, at any rate, it means a fight for its survival. The club’s management recently launched an appeal for help after storm Ciaran caused some of the worst damage in the club’s history at the end of October 2023.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. Scottish golf clubs along the east coast of the “Home of Golf” country also suffered damage. And this was not the first storm to leave its mark on Scottish golf courses – and it certainly won’t be the last. For this reason, the club set up a “Coastal Erosion” subcommittee at the end of 2022. The club had also been in discussions with Scottish Water, the local Highland Council and Nature Scotland prior to Storm Ciaran to identify options and funding to protect the golf course from potential storm damage.
“Tragically, our worst fears were realised last October where five to six metres to the left side, in part, were lost, down both the opening two fairways,” said Mike MacDonald, General Manager of Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club.
“It goes without saying, neither the committee nor the club members and our supporters expected the devastating extent of damage that took place during that time. Our sub-committee will strive to seek the much-needed financial support where possible.”
Meanwhile, the club has worked tirelessly to get the club in a condition that allowed it to begin repairing and rebuilding the damage caused by the storm from the end of February and at least attempt to restore the course, whose history dates back to 1793to its former postcard glory.
The cost of this initial work to restore and further protect the first two courses with stone armoring (approximately 110 yards for both tees and the areas around the tees) is estimated at £140,000 plus VAT.
At Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club, the repair work on the course is not only about the many visitors who travel from all over the world to play there, but also about the fact that the course has to be repaired for walkers and local residents access to the left side of the first and second holes. They walk towards the Chanonry Lighthouse to either watch the dolphins, walk their dogs or simply enjoy the stunning scenery that this area offers. Access to the areas between the first and second tees is also a high priority from a golfing perspective, but without financial support to implement the club’s plans, the restoration of the site is currently proving unfeasible.
“It is why the club kindly seeks your financial support if you are in a position to do so,” says club manager Mike MacDonald, who is now hoping for support from the international golf community. “All monies/donations received will be ring-fenced for carrying out the necessary works to restore these areas to how they once were.”
Here is the appeal on the GoFundMe donation page: https://www.gofundme.com
