The course will play host to the Open in the summer.

Thousands play at St Andrews every year

Spokeswoman Caroline Nurse said that, although the links trust took the threat of erosion very seriously, it already has 500m of "hard" defences in place.

These defences, formed from wire netting and rocks, provided a solid barrier against erosion.

Ms Nurse said that the defences were constantly monitored by greenkeeping staff and there were plans for a further 400m.

An independent survey has also been commissioned by the trust, Fife Council and the Ministry of Defence into how to protect the eastern coastline from the power of the North Sea.

Defences 'undermined'

Professor Pethick said that the Eden estuary was getting wider as sea levels rose, undercutting the defences which had been placed there over the past three decades.

"It might be heretical, but we will just have to move inland as the sea drives the dunes inland," he said.

"The migration of holes on the courses seems to be the only way forward.

"We can lay down rubble and rock armour but it will not stop erosion.

"It is throwing money into the sea. Course managers will have to change the course architecture to allow flexibility."