Vandalised golf green back in play in one week

By Alistair November 27, 2017 11:49 Updated

A greenkeeping team brought a green back into play in less than one week after it was attacked by vandals recently.

The seventh green at Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club was targeted in what club officials are calling a ‘mindless attack’. It’s thought the vandals used a golf club to gouge out several divots in the turf.

A nearby fence was also trashed.

While the damage caused was significant, the greenkeeping team announced the green was repaired within two days and was back in play in less than a week. A temporary green was used for just six days.

Deputy head greenkeeper Steven Carmichael, 38, said: “It was completely mindless damage and very frustrating for us and the club as it was time-consuming for us to rectify.

“We’ve been getting damage on other areas of the course with flags and rakes from bunkers going missing. We had kids build a bonfire on the course and we repaired that as well. It’s been an ongoing issue for us this season but it’s been quite bad recently.”

He added: “It appears to be a golf club that’s been used to hack divots into the ground. We don’t know who or why someone has done it but it’s very disappointing.

“The green is near the road so it would have taken less than five minutes to do all of this damage.”

Police are asking for anyone with information to contact them.

Constable Dale McEwan said immediately after the attack: “This has been a sustained attack on the green.

“The green is adjacent to the Castle Douglas road in Dumfries and we are asking anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in this area to get in touch through the 101 number if they can help.”