Experts predict that the game of golf could become a casualty in the war being waged by climate change.

With wetter winters and coastal erosion on the rise, experts fear that the sport could experience future disruption due to increased golf course closures.

Weather extremes, exacerbated by climate change, have caused an increase in issues such as damaged and diseased grass and greens and unplayable holes, according to a report backed by golf governing body, the R&A.

For instance, the effect is seen in places like the greater Glasgow area that experienced a 20 percent decline in playing time on golf courses in 2016-2017 compared with 2006-2007 play times.

Likewise, one in six Scottish golf courses is located on the coast where they are likely to experience erosion due to rising sea levels from melting glaciers and oceans expanding as they warm.

Steve Isaac, director of golf course management at the R&A, said, "There is no question it is becoming a huge factor. I believe golf is more impacted by climate change than any other sport aside from skiing.

"We are feeling it now with increases in unplayable holes, winter course closures and disruption to professional tournaments. And the future threats are very real."

Professor Piers Forster, director of the Priestley International Centre for Climate at the University of Leeds, added that Britain has experienced six of the seven wettest years on record since 2000, including record-breaking wet winters in both 2014 and 2015.

"That, combined with rising sea levels and increased storm surges, means that climate change is already affecting the historic game of golf in its birthplace," he said.

"Without cutting the carbon emissions driving climate change, sea levels will rise by over a metre and extremely wet winters will become the norm," he warned.