My first visit to DCC since the April floods disastrously impacted the golf course and left most of it under water, metres deep in places. Seven weeks later, and following more torrential rain in May, there are still 14 holes out of play. Members are playing a short course comprising Nos 1-2-17-18. These holes look perfect, as if nothing had happened, yet walking further on to the third tee the submerged fairways come into view. All you can see is a succession of “shallow lakes” in the low lying areas. Strange to walk such a deserted course on a weekend. Not another person to be seen other than a security guard. The greens on these holes are unaffected, although they are ironically in need of water because the irrigation pumps need replacing. They have to be hand watered. Some more holes will reopen soon as the water is pumped off the fairways, yet there is extensive damage to others which will preclude DCC operating an 18-hole course for some time to come.
