Millenium Flood

Padeswood and Buckley Golf Club

Millennium Flood

In late October / early November 2000 North Wales was, in common with many parts of the country, hit by several days of torrential rain.

Parts of the town of Mold were under several feet of water and the inshore lifeboat was in use outside the Bridge Inn. Houses in the village of Pontblyddyn downstream from the course were flooded.

Inevitably the river Alyn burst it's banks alongside the course causing extensive flooding.

As a result several holes were out of use for some weeks. Some of the lower lying parts of the course had to be pumped dry once the river had gone down. The 17th Fairway was in parts under 10 - 20 feet of water.

Some of the fairways had been ripped up by the force of the water and the seniors section played a big part in the re-turfing that needed to be carried out.

Following this flooding, the Club Council took the decision to carry out extensive drainage work including the building of lakes and dykes to enable the course to drain naturally should this 'once in 20 years' event re-occur.

Much of the work was carried out by the Greens staff and committee members. It involved the excavation of a large lake between the 5th and 11th Fairways and a smaller lake between the 6th and 8th Fairways. Both these lakes were interconnected by dykes to the existing water course alongside the 9th Fairway.

An underground pipe of about 200yds in length was laid from the small lake towards the 8th Tee and into the existing dyke in front of the 7th / 15th greens. This dyke leads back into the natural watercourse. In addition the 5th and 8th Greens were re-built.

The foresight of the Council bore fruit when 'the once in 20 years event' occurred again in the summer floods of 2007. Despite there being significant flooding across the course, the drainage system did its job and the course was clear, and in play in 2 -3 days.

Below there is a slideshow of some of the flooding and the works that were carried out. (Photos courtesy of Keith Ratcliffe and Gordon Clough)

Padeswood and Buckley Golf Club

75th Anniversary Year 1933 - 2008