Old Colwyn Golf Club Steps Up to Support Community Water Crisis
Old Colwyn Golf Club ran a hosepipe from their water storage for local residents to fill up for non-drinking use, while water supplies were halted by a broken pipe that took days to repair.
Hundreds of residents took advantage of the free offer of help, an initiative led by club chair Arwel Williams, with volunteers’ organiser Nicci Owen ensuring the system ran smoothly.
The effort followed a burst water pipe in Dolgarrog, which cut off water supplies to 40,000 residents in the Colwyn Bay and Conwy area. While bottled water was available, there was a shortage of water for flushing toilets and other household uses.
“We have 20,000 litres of water in our storage tank on the golf course, and the local residents were struggling for sanitary water,” explained Williams.
“We supplied 5,000 litres of water to more than 300 people over the two days to help out for sanitary purposes.
“The greenkeeper ran a 200-metre pipe to reach the road, and Nicci Owen organised a group of 10 volunteers from the club to help on a rota system through the days when the supply was cut off.
“We are a volunteer-based golf club and very much a community club. For instance, we offer free golf lessons to all the juniors in the area, and anybody under the age of 12 can play our course for free.
“So, this was just an extension of that approach. As soon as we heard the county was without water, we knew we could help.
“Our water is for use on the course over the summer, so it is not treated drinking water, but it could still help people flush their toilets and so on.”
Community appreciation for Old Colwyn Golf Club
Colwyn Ward County Borough Councillor Cheryl Carlisle expressed gratitude for the club’s efforts.
“I just wanted to thank Old Colwyn Golf Club for the contribution they made to our community, providing their stored water for the rest of the village to use,” she said.
“It was hugely helpful for people to be able to collect the water. The burst water main meant there was no water for a few days—40,000 people were affected, including 3,500 in the Old Colwyn area.
“It was a real crisis, and the community spirit was amazing.”
Old Colwyn Golf Club’s water storage ensures the course remains in good condition over the summer. They have also received a Sport Wales grant to improve drainage, preventing overspill into nearby housing during heavy rain.
Sustainability and future planning
“Old Colwyn sum up what a community golf club means—they are very much at the heart of their community,” said Wales Golf Head of Facilities and Sustainability, Dilwyn Griffiths.
“It was a great effort for them to help out, but that is the sort of club they are.
“The contribution they make to junior golf in the area is impressive and a good example of the approach they take.
“Golf clubs organising their water collection in storage tanks is good practice for all sorts of reasons related to sustainability and the environment, but had the happy side effect of being able to help out in this case.”
With rainfall in North Wales continuing to be high, the club is pleased that their water stocks are being replenished, ensuring they will not run short of water to maintain the course in the summer.
