Golf Club Takes Drastic Action to Combat Vandalism

Golf courses throughout the UK have been forced to confront the challenges of the climate and rising energy and utility costs in recent years, but the scourge of vandalism has sadly been another hurdle that all too many venues have fought to overcome.

Each week, it seems like another tale of senseless damage to a course has been reported, with the likes of Holywell Golf Club, Meyrick Park, Knighton Heath Golf Club, Enville, Belfairs Golf Course and Lickey Hills among the places targeted by vandals in recent times.

There were fears that Gotts Park Golf Club in Leeds would be forced to close entirely after being repeatedly affected by vandals riding quad bikes across its greens, while Burslem Golf Club in Stoke-on-Trent experienced similar damage last year.

Earlier this summer, the fabulous Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club in Ayrshire was attacked just days before the Open Championship was staged at nearby Royal Troon. This came as particularly hurtful as the club was expecting significant visitor traffic due to the showpiece event just up the road.

It's a problem that doesn't seem to be going away - and no part of the country is immune to these incidents - but what can golf clubs do to protect themselves?

What One Golf Club Has Done to Combat Vandalism

Returning to Leeds, after suffering repeated acts of vandalism, Howley Hall Golf Club has taken dramatic and expensive measures to fend off vandals and to ensure that its facility remains in the best possible shape for both its members and visitors to enjoy.

You may be aware that Ryan Rastall, Golfshake's Equipment Expert, is the Head Professional at the club, and he has described in detail to us the constant attacks they have experienced and the measures now taken to address the problem.

Incidents accelerated dramatically during the past two years, which has seen bikes, scooters, and even cars and trucks driving over the fairways and greens, making a mess of the golf course.

Such was the extent of the vandalism, Ryan explains: "We had all of our buggies stolen, burned out, destroyed."

Investigations found that these vandals were travelling long distances from across the city to reach the course, with the total damage costing around £50,000 with the destruction of greens and the loss of the buggy fleet. Therefore, something had to be done, as Ryan explains.

"We now have an automatic gate at the entrance to the golf course and it has a time where it dead-locks and you can only use a code to get in and out. During the rest of the day, the gate will open up when you drive towards it, but you can't get out without a code, which is only given to the members and visitors and is changed fairly often. We've also spent a lot of money on a perimeter fence on one side of the golf course because it backs onto some common land and farmland where the vehicles were getting onto the golf course and causing some havoc, and that has come at quite a cost."

It was a last resort option and a regrettable but necessary decision for the club, but the cost of these measures (around £90,000) was funded by imposing a compulsory levy of £100 on members, with a possible contribution of £200 being voluntary.

Despite this signifcant work, effectively fortifying the golf club, there was even an instance when a four-by-four and pick-up truck came at night, placing chains onto the fence to drag one of the panels out to get access to the course. This meant that even more security additions were required.

"We've had to put some more security on the other side of the fence as well, so we've created some uneven ground so it's difficult to drive over, some boulders have been put into the entrance of the common land and field, a good three or four tons worth, to stop vehicles getting on. That's the extent that we've had to go to because it's just been ridiculous the amount of vandalism and problems that we've had."

It's fair to say that not all clubs would have the means to emulate Howley Hall, but such has been the extent of the constant damage, there was no alternative to introducing these expensive measures.

Vandalism continues to be a major issue for courses across the United Kingdom, with many venues sure to be having similar conversations about what they can do to protect themselves and to preserve their beloved playing surfaces from the actions of these callous individuals who have no respect for property or the lives of others.