Home of Golf: The Iconic St Andrews Links Is in Danger of Being Wiped Out

St Andrews is popularly known as the Home of Golf because of its rich history and heritage related to the sport. The legendary Golf Course recently hosted the 150th anniversary of the Open Championship. However, considering the vast occurrences in the weather, it is unclear if the Old Course will still be available to host the 175th Open Championship in 2047.

According to a study published in 2021 by Climate Central, a group of eminent scientists and journalists who research the effects of climate change on society, and examined by The Herald, significant portions of Scotland’s coastline may be submerged due to increased annual flooding and sea level rise. This includes St Andrews Links, located in the town of St Andrews, on Scotland’s eastern coastline.

The 10-course Open Championship rotation schedule includes five Scottish courses, including the Old Course at St. Andrews. Two other Scottish courses, Royal Troon and Carnoustie, both of which are on the coast, may also be negatively affected, the report claims.

St Andrews to be underwater soon?

Being tagged as the Home of Golf, it is very unfortunate to hear heartbreaking news like this. Moreover, the reports give a deeper understanding of how the sea level rise could impact the legendary golf course.

Chris Curnin is the director of golf at Montrose. He said,  “As the sea rises and the coast falls away, we’re left with nowhere to go. Climate change is often seen as tomorrow’s problem, but it’s already eating away at our course.”

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The R&A, which oversees golf in the United Kingdom and organizes the Open Championship, has become aware of the potential consequences and launched the Golf Course 2030 program in 2018. The main objective of the proposal is to consider both positive and negative impacts of the changing climate.

The R&A committed $785,000 to several sustainability projects in January 2020 to proactively protect courses against the consequences of climate change. They further mentioned how the climate changes in the upcoming period can be very challenging in maintaining golf courses.

The Open Championship would not feel the same as before without the existence of Old Course. Alongside Augusta National, St Andrews is one of the most prestigious venues, not just in golf but in all sports. We as fans must take all required measures to save the heritage of golf.

Which is your most memorable moment from the iconic Old Course? Comment below!

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