Fore! Plane performs shock emergency landing at Scottish golf course
By Matt Chivers
A plane had to perform an emergency landing at Linlithgow Golf Club after experiencing engine trouble
The rare eagle and the lesser-spotted albatross are usually the only birds associated with golf courses.
The big silver ones that carry holidaymakers across the globe rarely make appearances, until a remarkable day in Scotland last week.
A small plane was forced to perform an emergency landing near the 9th hole at Linlithgow Golf Club in West Lothian.
NCG asked the club about the surprise landing: “The whole thing is a bit of a UFO mystery!”
The club spoke to six people on the tee sheet around the time of the landing, but only one of them saw it flying low overhead.
It wasn’t long before the plane took off again from the 12th hole. No one was injured in the process of the emergency landing.
The club spoke to six people on the tee sheet around the time of the landing, but only one of them saw it flying low overhead.
It wasn’t long before the plane took off again from the 12th hole. No one was injured in the process of the emergency landing.
A Linlithgow spokesperson said: “As far as I understand the pilot had stalled, some sort of engine trouble. He landed right on the course, that’s never happened before.
“But he was turned around and took off again safely within ten minutes. It was a red bull, 2-seater kit plane. Likely came from Polmont airstrip.
“He had a bouncy landing as it’s not a flat course here. But there was no damage done. All is well that ends well.”
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
