Lincoln golf fans flock to save flood-hit course

Parts of the course have been flooded since October

Golfers have rallied round to plug a hole in a waterway that has left their course flooded.

Parts of Carholme Golf Club near Lincoln have been underwater since Storm Babet hit the county in October.

Recent rain made the situation worse, with five holes now submerged by water up to 12ft (3.5m) deep.

The volunteers are using 2,800 sandbags to plug the breach after getting permission from the Environment Agency to carry out emergency repairs.

Golfer Nick Smith described it as "like a boating lake".

"It's terrible, it's the worst I've seen," he said.

"Luckily they're managing to get nine holes open, hopefully soon it might be 15, but we're out supporting the club."

Volunteers are helping plug the hole in the waterway bank with thousands of sand bags

Despite some of the course being submerged since October, permission to make repairs had to be sought from the Environment Agency which manages the drainage ditch that runs by the site.

The club's honorary treasurer Andy Spring said that they were given approval just before Christmas, then the arrival of Storm Henk in early January made matters worse with more of the course being covered in water.

Mr Spring said the cost of the damage could be up to £500,000 depending on the state of the grass after the water has been pumped away.

He described the volunteer efforts as "just amazing".

"I can't thank them enough, it's fantastic," he said.

He added: "Some of the guys have been members for more than 50 years, they care deeply about this place."