Dumbarton Golf Club has been completely submerged by flood waters from Storm Boelo after the River Leven burst its banks, leaving much of the 18-hole course inaccessible.
Members of the historic club were left 'devastated' over the weekend when they discovered the extent of the flooding. An embankment on the river collapsed, and the club fears the full impact may not be known for weeks until the water recedes.
Course Under Water
Shocking aerial images show the extreme extent of the flooding, with only a couple of raised sections appearing above the water line, along with the lines of trees that run alongside each hole.
Storm Boelo brought heavy rain and 80mph winds to Scotland on Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25, with communities across the county still counting the cost of the damage.
Club Takes Action
Dumbarton Golf Club has reduced its opening hours in a bid to save cash, which will be needed to fund the "significant" cost of repair works. The club has also warned members that there will be no "quick fix" for the collapsed embankment that separated the course from the River Leven.
Founded in 1888, Dumbarton Golf Club is one of the oldest in Scotland. A number of neighbouring clubs, including Helensburgh, Cardross and Clydebank, have all stepped up, alongside members of the community, to offer whatever help they can.
Ongoing Situation
In the meantime, the club has been looking to secure extra pumps to help get rid of the flood water as quickly as possible, as well as speaking with West Dunbartonshire Council about repairs to the embankment.
A spokesperson for the club said: "We know that, by now, you will be aware of the devastation from Saturday night, and we wanted to provide you with an update.
"We thank everyone for their offers of help. These are very much appreciated and will be gratefully accepted once we can get the water off the course.
"We are monitoring the water coming in from the collapsed embankment as this will not be a quick fix. We have liaised with West Dunbartonshire Council, and their priority is, rightly, to close the towpath for safety reasons. They will then review the situation with engineers, but there is no guidance on timescales for this.
"Therefore, we are left to try and do what we can to get the water off the course as quickly as possible. This will probably result in extra pumps being required at our cost. We are currently trying to secure these.
"The damage to the course once the water has receded is difficult to imagine right now. Bunkers may all need to be re-sanded, multiple bridges will need to be rebuilt, debris will take time to remove, and there are a number of damaged trees that we cannot get to. This will result in a significant cost as well.
"We have taken the decision to reduce the club’s operating hours to try and save money. This is heartbreaking, given that we have been doing so much in the clubhouse. We would ask members to support the club wherever possible and follow the revised opening hours, which will be sent out regularly.
"We have received offers of help from various nearby golf courses. This has been extremely welcome, and we thank Helensburgh Golf Club, Cardross Golf Club and Clydebank and District Golf Club for reaching out to us at this time.
"This is still very much an ongoing situation, and we will try to update you as we know more. Please bear with us as much as possible."
West Dunbartonshire Council were contacted for comment.
