Golfers in north Cumbria have teed off once again – five months after their course was badly damaged by Storm Desmond.

Both Eden Golf Club’s clubhouse near Carlisle and the marquee – a popular venue for weddings and social events – bore the brunt of the storm.

But perhaps more unusually, in the aftermath, staff were startled to discover an in-calf dairy cow munching grass on the 17th green.

The Friesian heifer had entered the River Eden at South Dyke Farm, near Great Salkeld, and was carried for 18 miles before re-emerging at the course, in Crosby-on-Eden.

Gordon Tweedie, who saw 45 of his cows disappear from sight in the rising floodwater, said: “She’s doing okay now. She had one calf after it happened.”

To commemorate the event, the club decided to hold a tournament – the Crazy Cow Stakes – which also coincided with the men’s captain’s drive-in.

Although the format differs from club to club, it traditionally consists of the men’s captain and lady captain driving-in on the Sunday after the AGM in which they are elected to their roles. 

Members are then invited to guess the combined distance of the two captain’s drives and having paid a nominal entry fee, win a percentage of the money with the rest donated to the captain’s charities.

The tournament was won by a team of Chris Reay, Tony Gash, Carl Richardson and David Barker.

Guest of honour on the first tee was a life-sized statue of a Friesian cow, donated by Stobart boss Andrew Tinkler, a neighbour of the club.


Julie Wannop Julie Wannop, the club’s managing director, said: “The ‘Miracle Cow’ has gone down in folklore here at Eden, and its exploits came to symbolise Cumbria’s never-say-die attitude following the floods.

“Having bounced back from the devastation ourselves, we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the fact that we’re open for business again.

“It’s been a frantic few months, but everyone has pulled together and the response from the members has been overwhelmingly positive to the work that has been carried out.”

Meanwhile Keswick Golf Club, which was also hit by the storms, has received £4,375 from Sport England to help repair the damage.

It was one of 13 across the north of England to share £50,000 from its Emergency Flood Relief Fund

Abbie Lench, England Golf’s Head of Club Support, said: “We’re pleased that so many clubs were able to access the emergency fund, it has been gratefully received.

“Sport England has produced some additional guidance around flood planning and flood prevention and clubs which would like to find out more can email info@englandgolf.org