A SCOTTISH golf course has been rescued after a huge flood left it unusable.
The King James VI Golf Club, located on Moncrieffe Island in Perth, flooded in 2023 after Storm Babet and has been rescued following an 18-month, £75,000 rebuilding plan.
It was initially left under three feet of water after the storm tore a 120ft hole in the island’s flood defences and, although the water was drained, the club feared closure due to the extent of the damage and several other Scottish courses shutting down recently.
Club captain Scott Fenton said: “Before this happened we had managed to more than double our visitor numbers – we had lots of people who wanted to come and play such a unique and historic golf course and as a club we were really on the up.
"Obviously with the issues we had visitor income dropped right off and it made it really difficult for the club.”
Only nine holes were playable after the flood and repair time was increased due to the island’s location, with supplies only able to reach the club during low tides between April and September.
Opened in 1897 and designed by architect Old Tom Morris, it’s believed to be the only self-contained inland island golf course in the world and staff feared the reinstatement of the original layout would be “impossible”.
Fenton called the efforts of club members who assisted in repairs “Herculean”, saying: “They were out clearing the holes by hand, even when they kept getting flooded over and over until the flood defences could be rebuilt.
"Every time we asked they would come and clear debris and then a high tide would come in and we'd be back to square one. It was nothing short of soul destroying but they stuck to the task and for that we are eternally grateful.”
King James VI Golf Course is now operating all 18 holes and is in “great condition” for the upcoming summer season.
