The golf courses disappearing into the sea

Scotland's historic golf courses face an imminent threat from climate change, as rising sea levels and severe storms erode the coastal landscape, leaving some courses on the brink of disappearance. Efforts to preserve these cherished sites have led to crowdfunding initiatives aimed at constructing higher coastal defenses.

Among the hardest-hit are the links courses along the east coast, with Montrose Golf Club bearing the brunt of the impact, losing a significant seven meters (23 feet) of coastline to the encroaching sea in just one year.

Reports indicate that a total of 34 coastal golf courses are grappling with the consequences of rising sea levels, and the number of courses at risk continues to grow.

Fortrose Golf Club has taken proactive measures to safeguard its first and second tees, which are positioned perilously close to the gentle waves of the North Sea.

Fortrose and Rosemarkie golf club on the Black Isle, near Inverness, lost huge chunks of fairway when Storm Babet struck in October 2023.
Golf has been played on the peninsula since 1702 but there are fears it might not last another 50 years.

“We’ve lost about six metres (19.7ft) of ground due to the recent storms, which we have never experienced before,” said club chairman Douglas Simpson.
“Things have definitely changed in the last year or so. We’ve never experienced storms like this.

“It’s the rate of erosion, the speed at which it’s happening, that’s so frightening.
“This is a championship golf course, it’s a major attraction. We have members from all across the world and we have to protect it.”

Large boulder walls are under construction to shield the course from potential damage.

Efforts have commenced to safeguard the first and second tees of the Fortrose Golf Club, located precariously close to the shoreline of the North Sea. Recent beachgoers, including dog walkers and dolphin enthusiasts, have had to navigate around construction equipment as substantial boulder walls are erected to shield the course from erosion.

With over £100,000 already invested in recent weeks, there remains a pressing need for additional funding to prevent the complete disappearance of the course. Mr. Simpson expressed concern about the future of the course, emphasizing his desire for future generations, including his children and grandchildren, to have the opportunity to enjoy it. However, he voiced apprehension about the rapid changes facing the area, suggesting that without intervention, significant alterations could occur within the next decade.

Montrose has experienced a rapid loss of several meters of its links course.

In Montrose, home to the world's fifth oldest golf course, the situation mirrors that of other coastal areas. Former club chairman John Adams expresses concern that it's just a matter of time before the dunes supporting the course are eroded away.

Initially, it was expected that the course would lose approximately one to 1.5 meters per year, but the reality has been far more severe, with a loss of seven meters in just one year.
Adams emphasizes the urgency of the situation, highlighting the potential for further loss, which could encroach upon the fairways and even reach the town.

Despite efforts such as relocating the third tee in 2017, the relentless erosion is rapidly reshaping the landscape.
While approximately £500,000 has been allocated for coastal defenses this year, the local council has advised the course to initiate what they term a "managed retreat."

Desperate situation

Investigations conducted in 2021 revealed that 109 golf courses in Scotland are currently grappling with or anticipating the impacts of coastal erosion. Martin Hurst, a researcher from the University of Glasgow, has been closely examining the shifting coastline and its implications for the sport that Scotland famously introduced to the world.

Hurst emphasizes that Scotland's vulnerable coastline is experiencing more erosion than initially observed. He highlights Montrose as a particularly stark example of the severity of the situation. According to his findings, if current projections regarding rising sea levels materialize, Montrose could face erosion of approximately 85 meters (279 feet) by 2050.

This trajectory, he notes, would spell the demise of the golf course, leaving a managed retreat as the only recourse against the encroaching sea. In essence, what seems inevitable is the loss of the golf course—a surrender compelled by the relentless forces of nature.

Fortrose is not just a golf course; it's a championship-level course and a significant draw for tourists.

Concerns then extend to towns like Fortrose and others similar to it.
According to Mr. Hurst, approximately £1.2 billion worth of assets are believed to be at risk along Scotland's coastline. These assets include infrastructure and the local communities residing near the coast. It's imperative to take these threats seriously and strategize on how to adapt, mitigate, and manage them effectively in the future.

In 2020, the international governing body of golf, The R&A, commissioned a report to investigate the impact of climate change on the sport. As part of its Golf Course 2030 action plan, The Coastal Change Action Plan was initiated. Launched in 2018 as an industry-led effort, it aims to assess how the changing climate, resource limitations, and regulations affect the condition and playability of golf courses.

The study also seeks to explore opportunities related to blue carbon, referring to carbon absorbed by the ocean and coastal ecosystems, and the potential for long-term storage in Scotland's shoreline habitats surrounding golf courses. Scientists suggest that safeguarding these environments could help mitigate greenhouse gases, thereby curbing their contribution to global warming.

The results of the report are expected to be released sometime this year.
Scientists believe protecting these environments could reduce greenhouse gases that would otherwise contribute to global warming.
The findings of the report are due sometime this year.