Mar28 bopmbfoundoncourse
Published: Last updated:
A Second World War bomb has been found at one of Scotland’s most famous courses.
The discovery was made by Bruce McLaren, the head greenkeeper at Blairgowrie Golf Club, as clearance work was being undertaken on the Wee Course.
Ron McLaren, the head of golf operations at Blairgowrie, said: “Bruce was working just off the ninth green on the Wee Course clearing broom and bushes when he discovered the unexploded Second World War bomb.
“As that part of the course is fairly close to houses, Bruce was keen to move the bomb to safe ground. Luckily, Bruce is a part-time firefighter, so he knew what to do. He simply put the bomb into a bucket of sand and took it into the depths of the course.”
The Bomb Squad was immediately called and detonated the device with a controlled explosion.
Blairgowrie will host one of seven semi-finals of this year’s International Pairs competition, which is run in association with VisitScotland, as club players battle it out for coveted places in the 36-hole UK final at Carnoustie.
And officials at the Perthshire club are confident that Pairs qualifiers will only face more orthodox challenges when they take on the Lansdowne course when the semi-final is held in October.
“We’ve never come across anything like this at Blairgowrie before, and we have no idea how the bomb got there,” said Mr McLaren, “but we can safely say to International Pairs competitors that we don’t expect to find any more out on the golf course!”
Blairgowrie hosts its International Pairs semi-final on October 14-15.
The International Pairs has been backed by VisitScotland for the last five years – and the national Scottish tourist body has committed to be the tournament’s main sponsor until at least 2008.
To enter the International Pairs, or to register a club, please call 0870 0330633 or 01730 711900, or e-mail info@internationalpairs.com. Or visit the Pairs’ website at www.internationalpairs.com
