Not a lot of people know this: but I used to be the boss of a golf course 10 km up river, Golf Club Schloss Weitenburg.
It was a beautiful course to work on, set in the Neckar valley, following the river as it weaved it’s way through the countryside, paradise. Unfortunatly, every time the heavens opened up the course would flood. Some times only 1 or 2 holes but most of the time 9 or 10 would become one and part of the river.
If we knew flooding was imminent the drill was to collect all the flags, benches, driving range balls and anything that was not bolted down before the river took them. We then had to set up a massive pump with armoured hoses to protect the club house. It was a right pain in the ass that usually happened at 3 o’clock in the morning and before a major tournament.
The Club motto was ” ..the golf club by the River”. It should have been ” the golf club under the River”
On really bad floods the town of Bad Niedernau would be totally cut off and the small village of Sulzau – where the GC was situated, would be sharing their breakfast with the ducks. I always complained the reason was because of the small hydroelectric power station located the other side of this bridge.
Crane Over Troubled Waters
So in 2001-2 they built a new dam (which they are repairing here), complete with an automatic water control system and since then there has been no flooding of any note. And guess when I left the golf club: 2002. The guy who took over from me didn’t understand the meaning of the word flood. But then, regular viewers of my blog will know; luck isn’t exactly my middle name. Have a nice day!
The Floods
Not a lot of people know this: but I used to be the boss of a golf course 10 km up river, Golf Club Schloss Weitenburg.
It was a beautiful course to work on, set in the Neckar valley, following the river as it weaved it’s way through the countryside, paradise. Unfortunatly, every time the heavens opened up the course would flood. Some times only 1 or 2 holes but most of the time 9 or 10 would become one and part of the river.
If we knew flooding was imminent the drill was to collect all the flags, benches, driving range balls and anything that was not bolted down before the river took them. We then had to set up a massive pump with armoured hoses to protect the club house. It was a right pain in the ass that usually happened at 3 o’clock in the morning and before a major tournament.
The Club motto was ” ..the golf club by the River”. It should have been ” the golf club under the River”
On really bad floods the town of Bad Niedernau would be totally cut off and the small village of Sulzau – where the GC was situated, would be sharing their breakfast with the ducks. I always complained the reason was because of the small hydroelectric power station located the other side of this bridge.
Crane Over Troubled Waters
So in 2001-2 they built a new dam (which they are repairing here), complete with an automatic water control system and since then there has been no flooding of any note. And guess when I left the golf club: 2002. The guy who took over from me didn’t understand the meaning of the word flood. But then, regular viewers of my blog will know; luck isn’t exactly my middle name. Have a nice day!
~ by ducatirider on October 18, 2007.
Posted in Photo Commentaries