Credit: Creative Commons

A Little Birdie Told Me: Old Course Could Disappear due to Climate Change

Niamh unpacks climate change’s inevitable effect on St Andrews’ Old Course.

St Andrews proudly has the title of the ‘Home of Golf’, holding the Old Course, the oldest and most famous golf course in the world. The Old Course has hosted The Open 29 times, more than any other golf course and has accounted for 4 out of the 7 highest attendances in the event’s history, setting the record six times since 1960.

The crowds didn’t fail to disappoint this year, setting a new attendance record as 290,000 spectators came to watch the 150th Open. The event has been estimated to generate £200 million for the Scottish economy, with £100 million coming from ticket sales alone. Whether you love it or hate it, you can’t argue that the golf industry breathes life (and tremendous amounts of money) into Scotland and its economy, but its future is looking bleak. A 2021 report by Climate Central claimed that the town of St Andrews, and the Old Course, could be devastated by rising sea levels and climate change within the next few decades.

Forget the floods of tourists, St Andrews might be underwater by 2050.

Credit: Niamh Molloy

For years we have been warned about the impact that climate change will have on all our lives, but it has always seemed like a distant future. Across the world, countries are ravaged by floods, forest fires and dangerously hot temperatures. It seems St Andrews could be next. In 2021, Climate Central released a report showing the projected impact of climate change on Scotland. Due to increased rainfall and rising sea levels, large areas of the country are expected to be flooded by 2050, and even more by 2100.

Some of the areas predicted to be hit in the next twenty-three years are Glasgow Airport, the Kelpies, and the Old Course— just some of the most important areas of the country for tourism. In 2019, a report by the Climate Coalition stated that, “Only a small increase in sea-level rise would imperil all of the world’s links courses before the end of the century”. It won’t take much more damage from us to our environment for it to deal a significant amount of damage back to us.

Credit: Creative Commons

Not only will this have a devasting cultural impact and take an emotional toll as it destroys key tourist and cultural landmarks and destinations, but it will also be extremely expensive. By 2050, it is estimated that £400 million worth of infrastructure and property across Scotland’s coastline will be at risk due to erosion of the coast and rising sea levels; this includes St Andrews’ famous golf courses and University of St Andrews buildings.

The potential destruction of one of the leading tertiary education facilities in the world for teaching and research is not something you can put a price on. And what about the residents of this town, the students, and alumni? Are we just expected to watch as this beautiful town that holds so many friendships, memories, and opportunities is flooded and destroyed?

Credit: Niamh Molloy

This isn’t a hopeless battle, or a fate set in stone; there are things one can do to reverse this change and protect the golf courses, beloved town, and planet. Research projects like the ones being undertaken by the School of Geography and Sustainable Development here at the University of St Andrews and the R&A Golf Course 2030 Project are crucial to help show the effects of climate change on golf courses and other open spaces, as well as providing solutions for a way of life where the grass is greener and stays green instead of being flooded and ruined.

It’s clear that climate change is not just an inevitable problem in the future and it’s an issue now—one we can counteract with raised awareness and collective action. The picturesque coastlines are one of the things that put St Andrews on the map; we can’t let rising sea levels because of our selfish destruction of the planet be the thing that wipes it off.

Comments

comments

153 thoughts on “A Little Birdie Told Me: Old Course Could Disappear due to Climate Change

  1. I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an edginess over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again since exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this increase.

  2. Undeniably imagine that that you said. Your favorite reason appeared to be at the net the simplest thing to keep in mind of. I say to you, I definitely get annoyed even as other people consider issues that they just don’t recognise about. You controlled to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the entire thing without having side-effects , folks could take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thank you

  3. You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be really something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and extremely broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!

  4. I was very pleased to find this web-site.I wanted to thanks for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.

  5. Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it is truly informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  6. Pingback: Lincoln Georgis
  7. Pingback: Beverly Bultron
  8. Pingback: MILFCity
  9. Pingback: zinc sunscreen
  10. Pingback: valentine pillow
  11. Pingback: Click Here
  12. Pingback: Click Here
  13. Pingback: Click Here
  14. Pingback: Click Here
  15. Pingback: Click Here
  16. Pingback: Click Here
  17. Pingback: Click Here
  18. Pingback: Click Here
  19. Pingback: Click Here
  20. Pingback: Click Here
  21. Pingback: Click Here
  22. Pingback: Click Here
  23. Pingback: Click Here
  24. Pingback: Click Here
  25. Pingback: spaceros
  26. Pingback: Click Here
  27. Pingback: Click Here
  28. Pingback: Click Here
  29. Pingback: Click Here
  30. Pingback: Click Here
  31. Pingback: Click Here
  32. It is indeed my belief that mesothelioma is usually the most lethal cancer. It has unusual features. The more I really look at it the more I am certain it does not react like a true solid cells cancer. If perhaps mesothelioma is really a rogue viral infection, in that case there is the chance for developing a vaccine along with offering vaccination to asbestos open people who are open to high risk regarding developing upcoming asbestos related malignancies. Thanks for discussing your ideas on this important health issue.

  33. Pingback: Click Here
  34. Pingback: Click Here
  35. Pingback: Click Here
  36. Pingback: Click Here
  37. Pingback: Click Here
  38. Pingback: Click Here
  39. Pingback: Click Here
  40. Pingback: Click Here
  41. Pingback: Click Here
  42. Pingback: Click Here
  43. Pingback: Click Here
  44. Pingback: Click Here
  45. Pingback: Click Here
  46. Pingback: Click Here
  47. Pingback: Click Here
  48. Pingback: Click Here
  49. Pingback: Click Here
  50. Pingback: Click Here
  51. Pingback: Click Here
  52. Pingback: Click Here
  53. Pingback: Click Here
  54. Pingback: Click Here
  55. Pingback: Click Here
  56. Pingback: Click Here
  57. Pingback: Click Here
  58. Pingback: Click Here
  59. Pingback: Click Here
  60. Pingback: Click Here
  61. Pingback: Click Here
  62. Pingback: Click Here
  63. Pingback: Click Here
  64. Pingback: Click Here
  65. Pingback: Click Here
  66. Pingback: Click Here
  67. Pingback: Click Here
  68. Pingback: domain-portfolio
  69. Pingback: Google reviews
  70. Pingback: 2023 Books
  71. Pingback: obituaries
  72. Pingback: dying
  73. Pingback: IRA Empire
  74. Pingback: fue carer unit
  75. Pingback: Centrifuges
  76. Pingback: Vacuum pumps
  77. Pingback: Clinical dentistry
  78. Pingback: Dental specialties
  79. Pingback: engineering majors
  80. Pingback: Dr. Moataz Youssef

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

THE STAND