A Dundee driving range halfway through an expensive refurbishment has been completely destroyed during Storm Arwen.
Ballumbie Castle Golf Course is facing a £200,000 repair bill after one of the most powerful storms in Scotland for years.
The popular facility was bombarded with the worst of the winds on Friday night, due to its exposed position on the perimeter of the city.
Such was the strength of the gales, which reached almost 90mph in some areas, the wooden structure quickly collapsed, even snapping metal support poles.
The driving range was midway through a £125,000 upgrade with all of this work now lost.
Storm Arwen damage ‘unbelievable’
The club’s manager Allan Bange said a neighbour called him worried the range was at risk amid the devastating storm.
He rushed to the site where he saw the building straining against the gusts while metal sheets were breaking off, flying through the air.
Allan, who says the driving range has not been badly damaged in previous storms since it opened over 20 years ago, but little could be done to prevent its demise.
Allan said: “We’re absolutely devastated.
“We were halfway through a refurb and now it’s been completely destroyed.
“I could not believe it when I saw it on Friday night.
“It’s looking like a total rebuild but it’s not going to be a quick solution, that’s for sure.
“I have no idea how the storm caused it to collapse like this. Despite the forecast, I didn’t think for a second anything like this would happen.”
The club is hoping to recoup the costs through insurance, though this will likely take some time.
The loss of the driving range will be costly in the short term too as it helps sustain the club’s finances over the winter.
Course closed until further notice
The course itself has also been left badly damaged with numerous trees uprooted.
Allan says he was shocked to see members of the public filming the chaos at the height of the storm and has warned people to stay away from the course for the time being.
“The course is closed until further notice,” he said.
“I would urge people to stay away.
“We don’t want anyone getting injured because it’s unsafe just now.”
He was keen to stress the situation should not affect the club’s plans to revamp the wider course.
Houses are being built on part of the course with cash fromdeveloper, Stewart Milne Homes, being used to fund a redesign so it can remain an 18-hole venue.
A move to further expand the housing development was rejected earlier this year.
An excavator will arrive this week to make a start on creating three new holes to replace those that are on the land used for housing.
