The recent floods on New Year’s Day caused huge damage in all areas of the River Mersey in Stockport and south Manchester including homes, businesses and sports facilities.
It is believed that the River Mersey reached its highest levels ever and caused severe and devastating floods particularly affecting golf clubs in the south Manchester area.
Suffering the worst effects were Northenden and Withington Golf Clubs with enormous damage to their courses and other facilities causing them to be shut for many weeks and facing significant costs to fund with the repairs.
They were both grateful to other golf clubs in the region for help by offering special playing arrangements for their members and any other help they could provide.
Northenden director Roland Harris outlined the problems which his club and Withington are trying to deal with: “The course – considerable debris on most holes, greens being cleared but this is taking considerable time (almost half a day to clear half of one green).
“We are looking to use limited help from volunteers once full risk assessments have been carried out.
“The Course Staffs’ Accommodation- the office, changing and showering area suffered considerable damage, the machinery storage area was badly flooded causing much damage to mowers, tractors, sprayers etc- early indications are that although some machinery may be able to be repaired other equipment will need to be replaced at a significant cost.
“The clubhouse and associated outbuildings- The whole of the ground floor was flooded to a height of seven to eight feet and the bar, locker rooms, office and main storage areas are completely wrecked and the costs will again be very significant.
“Lockers will need to be stripped back and re-plastered (or equivalent), the trolley sheds were similarly affected rendering members equipment severely damaged/irreparable.
“Northenden has experienced major difficulties in the past (not flooding the last time we had flooding from the River Mersey was in 1965) and we have recovered and progressed but the latest event presents our greatest challenge!”
Withington, is on the official flood relief plain but the height of the floods caused great damage to the course and the lower levels of the clubhouse and it will take a long time to restore the course again at a considerable cost.
There have been plenty of members volunteering to help clear debris etc for several days and the club is very grateful for their support.
The club also hosted a helicopter from the Environment Agency which spent two days dropping off loads of sand from the club car park to help repair the breaches in the banks of the River Mersey.
Cheshire Golf Association is looking to its member clubs to help Withington and Northenden in any way that they can in very difficult times and if they can provide any assistance to get in touch with both clubs.
Copy & images: Geoff Garnett
If you feel able to help any of the clubs affected by the floods, please do get in touch with the relevant club manager / secretary
