THE operator of a flood-hit golf course has revealed that a few holes have now reopened following the flooding which forced its closure.

Jim Douglas, operator of the Stony Holme Golf Course, which runs alongside the River Eden in Carlisle, confirmed that hard work by ground staff mean part of the course has reopened.

Mr Douglas said: “We have managed to get a few of the holes open again.

“Hopefully by the weekend we will have 17 holes open again, the last one being opened early next week.

“The last is always a difficult hole to get the water off.”

Heavy rain battered the course, alongside much of Carlisle, leading to only the greens still visible above the floodwater.

Between 10am on Friday and 9am on Sunday a total of 54.2mm of rain was recorded in Carlisle, which compares to a total monthly average for the North West in August of 100mm.

Staff were forced to close the course on the Saturday following the subsequent flooding.

Work is ongoing to restore the course to its normal standards.

“The guys are out pumping water and cutting grass,” continued Mr Douglas.

“Obviously it put us back a bit but we are optimistic moving forward.”

The course had only reopened at the end of April after six months out of action.

It was closed after its operator Mack Golf ceased trading and entered voluntary administration in October.

The facility, along with Swifts Driving Range, are owned by Carlisle City Council, with an operator running the facilities on the authority’s behalf.

GLL are now the operators of the two facilities.

The clubhouse and bar remain open and remained open throughout the flooding, added Mr Douglas.