Iconic Golf Course That Set Open Record Looks Transformed After UK Heatwave Scorches the Greens

THE UK heatwave has had a devastating impact on one of the nation’s most historic golf courses.

in recent weeks have left fairways around the country barren and clubs without the water needed to revive them.

In the South of England especially, July constituted the driest month on record going back to 1836.

And among the courses feeling the full force of the harsh conditions is Royal St George’s, in Sandwich, Kent.

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Temperatures in the coastal town reached as high as 35 degrees in recent weeks, brutally drying out the links course.

New photos from the Times show the location in a sorry state, with grey fairways and odd patches of colour where the club has tried to keep the greens playable.

The venue was the first to host outside of Scotland, being selected for the honour in 1894.

It has since racked up a tally of 15 Open tournaments, the fourth most of any course, and the most of any English course.

It most recently hosted the iconic event in 2021, with American emerging as the victor.

Royal St George’s is not the only top club feeling the effects of the .

Other venues across the country have been left looking equally barren, with Aldwickbury Park in Harpenden having the colour virtually sucked out of it and replaced with dull grey-brown hues.

London’s Richmond golf club is less uniform, but is mottled with grey patches that continue to take over the fairways.

The story is similar for courses across the country, with some clubs subject to hosepipe limitations for their courses with the exceptions of tees and greens.

Thankfully the dry spell finally appears set to break in the coming weeks, with intermittent rain forecast in the south over the coming fortnight.