Meath community rallies to stop pitch and putt club from falling into sea

Louise Walsh

A community is rallying to stop their 51-year-old pitch and putt club from falling into the sea.

Laytown Pitch and Putt club in Co Meath lost almost two metres of its course due to last week's high tides and strong winds.

Within a few days, locals have raised over €6,000 to replace fencing, torn down by the incoming sea, as well as other measures to try and slow down coastal erosion.

A tee box at the wave-battered 18-hole course will also have to be moved before it falls into the sea.

Club chairperson Mark Fay said that although the erosion was 'heartbreaking' to watch, the club's mood was bolstered by local support.

"I'd say in the last two winters, we have lost over four metres of land, one and a half metres of which was taken by the sea on Thursday. That's land we will never get back," he said.

"We will probably have to move at least one tee box because when you stand on it, you are looking right down into the sea. The next wave and it's gone.

"We are lucky that we have room to shuffle things about. The tide went around the greens which have held up well but there are holes now between them that we need to address."

The club, which lies over two hectares of coastline, has 108 members, a further 40 associate members, and an additional 60 green-fee visitors each week.

Mark estimates that the course has lost 30 metres to coastal erosion since 2012.

"When you look out to sea and see the life buoys, that is where the course used to be.

"The members have spent about €54,000 on the course in the last two years and we are due to hold our first national title here later this year.

"I'm just sickened by it all. It's just a constant battle and it's heartbreaking."