Golf courses damaged by the storms

yettie1701 · 13-02-2014 11:24PM #1

Have many golf courses been devastated by the storms. I know of one course Borris in Carlow that over 40 trees have fallen in the latest storm. It's a nice 9 hole course that has trees dating back hundreds of years. Very sad that they could be swept away in minutes. Another 9 hole course in Mayo called swalinbar I think has been really badly hit with the weather too. Some of the flooding and rocks washed up on the course has been awful. Just wondering if and what other damage has been done to other courses

PARlance · 13-02-2014 11:30PM

Ya, we have a member of that Mayo course on here and I play it quite often as well. A real shame, it's a gem. The course is called Mulranny btw.

yettie1701 · 13-02-2014 11:39PM

PARlance wrote: »

Ya, we have a member of that Mayo course on here and I play it quite often as well. A real shame, it's a gem. The course is called Mulranny btw.

Yes that's the one. Sorry about that. It must be a real gut wrencher for the staff and members. I hope they can get back to playing again soon. I've read Mulranny is particularly bad.

neckedit · 13-02-2014 11:53PM

http://mulrannygolfclub.com/

Some info and pics of Mulranny......Looks real bad.

Kevinmarkham · 13-02-2014 11:59PM

300 trees gone at Limerick GC. See Brian Keogh's blog

Dromoland Castle has lost a lot of trees but don't know if that's on the course specifically (e.g. the huge pine in the 18th fairway) or the wider estate.

Rosses Point was damaged at the start of the year as well, so last night is compounding the misery. Don't think the chunks of dunes taken have affected the course (yet) but there are pics on Twitter/Facebook.

Any of the western and northern links must have been hit hard. Narin and Portnoo has a couple of holes practically in the sea so they must be affected and they lost a slice out of their 15th hole, above the beach.

Adare has lost some trees, so Adare Manor next door will probably have lost some too.

There will be many more...

PARlance · 14-02-2014 12:05AM

yettie1701 wrote: »

Yes that's the one. Sorry about that. It must be a real gut wrencher for the staff and members. I hope they can get back to playing again soon. I've read Mulranny is particularly bad.

I was gutted and I only play a few rounds a year, can't imagine what it'd be like to lose your local club.
Fingers crossed for them but you heard right unfortunately, it's in a bad state at present.

DuckSlice · 14-02-2014 12:44AM

I was in mulranny last weekend for a look around, it's in a bad way. They have managed to get seven holes open tho so they are on the recovery path. Those sea defences are vital tho and need serious attention.

yettie1701 · 14-02-2014 09:16AM

neckedit wrote: »

http://mulrannygolfclub.com/

Some info and pics of Mulranny......Looks real bad.

Ive just been on mulrannys web site it's unreal to see the damage that's been caused. Nature is so powerful. They are trying to get a save Mulranny campaign off the ground. Any help I'm sure would be appreciated. Maybe let your committee know and they might be able to run an open competition or something to help.

Anatom · 14-02-2014 10:31AM

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

300 trees gone at Limerick GC. See Brian Keogh's blog

Dromoland Castle has lost a lot of trees but don't know if that's on the course specifically (e.g. the huge pine in the 18th fairway) or the wider estate....

I was staying down there for a few days only last week and although the 18th (and many of the other holes) was badly flooded, at that stage the tree was still standing tall. Such a pity if its been damaged this week. It really made an already tough hole much more interesting.

I doubt I'll be playing in the morning, given the forecast for this evening and overnight... At this stage I'll have to download a golf game to get some sort of fix!!!

alxmorgan · 14-02-2014 10:38AM

My own club East Clare took a bit of a battering. Only 18 trees down but...and it pains me to say this....we lost the Scots Pine on 9

Anyone who has played the course will know it well as it stands like a sentry on the index 1 9th making every shot harder. Even though I've cursed that tree so many times I'm gutted !!

stooge · 14-02-2014 10:49AM

Mulranny is a great little course alright (been there once) but you have to wonder about pumping so much more money into a course that is in such a precarious location? Who's to say we dont get an even worse storm next year that decimates their new defences? There were plenty of people giving out about celtic tiger houses being built on flood plains and being subsequently flooded. The same kind of logic should apply here?

SEORG · 14-02-2014 10:53AM

alxmorgan wrote: »

My own club East Clare took a bit of a battering. Only 18 trees down but...and it pains me to say this....we lost the Scots Pine on 9

Anyone who has played the course will know it well as it stands like a sentry on the index 1 9th making every shot harder. Even though I've cursed that tree so many times I'm gutted !!

Used to be a member there, awful shame that tree is gone....has been the scene of many round maker or round breaker for me in the past.

yettie1701 · 14-02-2014 01:06PM

Just found out my own course Gowran in kilkenny is closed because of fallen trees. I'm nearly afraid to find out which ones. Such a pity.

J6P · 14-02-2014 01:28PM

stooge wrote: »

Mulranny is a great little course alright (been there once) but you have to wonder about pumping so much more money into a course that is in such a precarious location? Who's to say we dont get an even worse storm next year that decimates their new defences? There were plenty of people giving out about celtic tiger houses being built on flood plains and being subsequently flooded. The same kind of logic should apply here?

Hard to disagree with this in fairness. It would be crazy to throw money at something that may only last a couple of years.

TrapperChamonix · 14-02-2014 01:41PM

etxp wrote: »

I was in mulranny last weekend for a look around, it's in a bad way. They have managed to get seven holes open tho so they are on the recovery path. Those sea defences are vital tho and need serious attention.

Not sure you saw this, but worth bringing to the attention of the club

Designer Tom Doak willing to help Mulranny

http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2014/2/11/designer-tom-doak-willing-to-help-mulranny

Kevinmarkham · 14-02-2014 01:47PM

TrapperChamonix wrote: »

Not sure you saw this, but worth bringing to the attention of the club

Designer Tom Doak willing to help Mulranny

http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2014/2/11/designer-tom-doak-willing-to-help-mulranny

Saw that last night. Big vote of confidence.

Just heard that 150 trees are down at Kilkenny GC

PARlance · 14-02-2014 01:47PM

J6P wrote: »

Hard to disagree with this in fairness. It would be crazy to throw money at something that may only last a couple of years.

Good article here about the Mulranny situation:

http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2014/2/4/sos-mulranny-mayo-links-facing-obliteration-after-flooding

The club is a small and honest to goodness club, no frills, always kept membership low and never got carried away.
In a way, that may have come back to bite them, as the €100,000 needed to repair it is probably close to (or a big chunk of) the turnover for the year.
Had they got a little greedy in terms of upping Greens Fees etc during the good times, they may be better positioned to pay for it.

It would be a sad twist of faith if it went under.
In a period were golf courses are going to close due as a result of the madness that went on with the Tiger... the one course that probably stayed away from the madness more than any other in the Country, may be one of the closures...

I hope not, but to put the heart aside for a moment, it is a big risk to invest that kind of money.

I hope Mayo Co Co step up to the plate here, Mulranny is a small place with a Hotel, Beech, Golf Course and a few pubs/shops.
From what I can see it's becoming more and more popular as a wedding/holiday spot in recent years. Tourism seems to be on the up there and you get the sense that the place is growing... quite unusual for such for rural place to be doing so in these times.
I hope the Co Co can justify the investment in order to protect something that adds a lot to the area.

TrapperChamonix · 14-02-2014 02:10PM

Kevinmarkham wrote: »

Saw that last night. Big vote of confidence.

Just heard that 150 trees are down at Kilkenny GC

I think the added difficulty for Mulranny, is the most recent storm has devastated so many more courses. 150 trees in KGC, 300 in Limerick.
I have never played Mulranny, but it sounds a great course harking back to the origins of the game (cattle & sheep grazing on fairway etc). Unfortunately it will be difficult for Mulranny to get support from other courses when so many courses are counting the cost of their own misfortune.

I feel really sorry for all those (golfers and non golfers) affected by these storms.

m r c · 14-02-2014 02:16PM

Not fixing Mulranny shouldn't even be considered. I've only played it once but for those that haven't played it it's very hard to imagine how such a small "nobody" course could be such a natural beaut. It genuinely has holes that wouldn't be out of place in Royal Portrush or Royal County Down.

If they ask for financial help I would contribute something without giving it a second thought.

I'm not implying I've give enough to fix it alone btw just that there would be enough like me out there to help IMHO.

I'm passing later today I'll stop for a look to see the damage first hand.

charlieIRL · 14-02-2014 03:07PM

I think we should organise a trip up there for a game when they get the course fixed up - i'll gladly donate the 4 ball voucher i won in exchange for a donation to the club.

FixdePitchmark · 14-02-2014 03:50PM

I think if they set up a green fee fund , that in theory is a support scheme, people would pay 20 euro for a round to help Mulranny. (or more)
In reality these vouchers would be a contribution - with an option to play golf - 1 round at a later date.
In reality most of these vouchers will not be used - and if they are , people going up to the club will generate more income
I'd buy a few,

I would like to add - that as a member of a club that will be and is exposed to the rising tide levels (2.5 mm/year)
Any future investment should consider highest theoretical water level. We have to accept that whilst this event was unusual.
Any project should have - cost versus statistical protection - will protect for 1 in 10 year event , will protect for 1 in 20 year event, will protect for 1 in 50 year event - etc.

As hard as this is to accept - there is a practicable break even point - the next high tide event is Saturday 1st February.

Sorry that may seem understanding and heartless at the same time - but if people are putting money into something , there should be a level of understanding of possible outcome.

m r c · 14-02-2014 06:50PM

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I think if they set up a green fee fund , that in theory is a support scheme, people would pay 20 euro for a round to help Mulranny. (or more)
In reality these vouchers would be a contribution - with an option to play golf - 1 round at a later date.
In reality most of these vouchers will not be used - and if they are , people going up to the club will generate more income
I'd buy a few,

I would like to add - that as a member of a club that will be and is exposed to the rising tide levels (2.5 mm/year)
Any future investment should consider highest theoretical water level. We have to accept that whilst this event was unusual.
Any project should have - cost versus statistical protection - will protect for 1 in 10 year event , will protect for 1 in 20 year event, will protect for 1 in 50 year event - etc.

As hard as this is to accept - there is a practicable break even point - the next high tide event is Saturday 1st February.

Sorry that may seem understanding and heartless at the same time - but if people are putting money into something , there should be a level of understanding of possible outcome.

That said isn't there a big concrete flood defence thing most of the way down the left side of the 18th in pebble beach, where there is a will there is a way. I like your green fee idea too a great thing to do if they needed to close for a while to carry out repairs. I'd love to see them get support from the grass roots members of the GUI/ILGUI.

Keano · 14-02-2014 08:28PM

My home course, Shannon, will be closed for a week. No damage to the greens but lots of big trees down so will be a big clean up

princess poppy · 14-02-2014 08:51PM

yettie1701 wrote: »

Ive just been on mulrannys web site it's unreal to see the damage that's been caused. Nature is so powerful. They are trying to get a save Mulranny campaign off the ground. Any help I'm sure would be appreciated. Maybe let your committee know and they might be able to run an open competition or something to help.

Just wondering if these new features will be marked with red or yellow stakes

DuckSlice · 14-02-2014 10:29PM

Nice too see a lot of support for Mulranny GC. It is a lovely course and not easy by any means with the wind that is almost always there. They really need to build for the future as was said earlier. If we get another spell if weather like we have had in ten years when the water level is higher it would just obliterate the course. But only solution to that would be some sort of wall or banking. I think 100,000 is probably an over estimate I couldn't see it costing that much but I'm no expert.

A lot of courses hit badly with the winds over the last few days too. Hope this bloody weather eases soon.

chalkie 501 · 14-02-2014 10:38PM

Was told today that Killarney G.C. lost 196 trees

charlieIRL · 15-02-2014 01:36AM

Wow, some amount of trees down / damage reported so far, not what courses need right now. Best of luck to all.

paulos53 · 15-02-2014 10:52AM

Just read that around 270 trees have come down in Fermoy

inthehole1 · 15-02-2014 11:26AM

Anatom wrote: »

I was staying down there for a few days only last week and although the 18th (and many of the other holes) was badly flooded, at that stage the tree was still standing tall. Such a pity if its been damaged this week. It really made an already tough hole much more interesting.

I doubt I'll be playing in the morning, given the forecast for this evening and overnight... At this stage I'll have to download a golf game to get some sort of fix!!!

was up around dromoland this morning.lots of trees down alright.thankfully the tree on 18th is still standing altho next time im stuck behind it I will prob be wishing it had fallen.would really have taken from hole if it had gone.

Uncle Ben · 15-02-2014 09:32PM

inthehole1 wrote: »

was up around dromoland this morning.lots of trees down alright.thankfully the tree on 18th is still standing altho next time im stuck behind it I will prob be wishing it had fallen.would really have taken from course if it had gone.

Any chance that tree on the 18 in Ballinrobe went also!!

kiers47 · 15-02-2014 09:51PM

100+ trees down in dundrum. Was talking to a member and he said members were asked to help with the clean up.
Supposed to be very bad. I hope the trees in the middle of the fairway on the 10th and 14th survived.
Gonna head over tomorrow for a look.
Tipperary GC made it out relatively unscaved with a few trees down here and there but nothing big as far as I know.

Golf courses damaged by the storms

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