New data highlights golf courses in UK most at risk from climate change
The UK links golf courses most under threat of disappearing due to climate change, according to new data.
New data uncovered by betting odds experts AceOdds reveals the links golf courses around the UK that are at risk of disappearing due to climate change.
Recently, many golf courses around the country have hit the news due to losing large chunks of their fairways during storms.
According to Statista, the UK’s sea level is expected to rise by up to 50 cm by the year 2100, and rising sea levels bring with them the increased threat of coastal flooding and a higher risk of erosion.
Up to 28% of coastline in England and Wales and 19% of coastline in Scotland is at risk of erosion, according to the organisation UK Climate Risk.
AceOdds wanted to find out which courses were most at risk in England, Wales and Scotland, so they dug into the data and can now reveal the links golf courses most at risk of disappearing due to climate change.
New data highlights the golf courses in the UK most at risk from climate change
Course | Country | Postcode | Average Elevation | Erosion risk | Flood risk- surface | Flood risk- river/sea |
Arbroath Golf Club | Scotland | DD11 2PE | 24 metres | 75% | High | High |
Leven Golfing Society | Scotland | KY8 4HS | 35 metres | 75% | High | High |
Tain Golf Club | Scotland | IV19 1JE | 46 metres | 40% | High | High |
Moray Golf Club | Scotland | IV31 6QS | 3 metres | 75% | Medium | High |
Nairn Golf Club | Scotland | IV12 4HB | 18 metres | 50% | Medium | High |
Royal Dornoch Golf Club | Scotland | IV25 3LZ | 19 metres | 75% | Medium | High |
Monifieth Golf Links | Scotland | DD5 4AW | 29 metres | 75% | High | Medium |
Formby Golf Club | England | L37 1LQ | 5 metres | 50% | High | Very Low |
West Lancashire Golf Club | England | L23 8SZ | 9 metres | 40% | High | Very Low |
Royal West Norfolk Golf Club | England | PE31 8AX | 26 metres | 30% | Very Low | Medium |
The data reveals that golfers in Arbroath, Leven and Tain in Scotland could see their course disappear the quickest in the country.
Arbroath Golf Club has a high-risk level of flooding from both surface water and river/sea water, sitting only 24 metres above sea level on average.
Leven Golfing Society is also categorised as high-risk from both types of flood water, and both courses have a 75% erosion risk over the next 75 years.
Tain Golf Club, which sits 46 metres above sea level, is also at high risk of flooding from surface and river/sea water but has a 40% erosion risk until 2100.
In England, Formby Golf Club is the course most at risk from climate change. It sits just 5 metres above sea level and has a high risk of flooding from surface water, with a 50% likelihood of experiencing coastal erosion in the next 75 years.
Moray Golf Club is the course which sits the nearest to sea level, with a medium risk level of flooding from surface water and a high risk of flooding from river/seawater.
Methodology: AceOdds used official government data from the English and Scottish governments to identify which courses were most at risk of coastal erosion and which were most at risk of flooding from surface, river and seawater.
What do you make of the above data? How worried about climate change are you? Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.
