Bike vandals in bid to ruin golf course
GREENS DAMAGED – BUT DEFIANT CLUB REOPENS
GROUND staff at a popular golf course have been left with a huge repair job, after trespassing youths tore through on motorbikes.
Green keepers at Bradley Park Golf Course arrived yesterday morning to find extensive damage throughout the 18-hole public course.
But, despite a number of greens suffering deep ruts, the course opened yesterday.
Writing on their Facebook page, they said: “Unfortunately, we had some mindless vandalism on the golf course. Four youths on motorbikes were seen leaving the course into the steep lands area and then onto Bradley Road.
“They will be from the local area; if anyone is aware of this group, could you please get in touch so that we can update the police. The greens team are already at work trying to repair the damage ...”
The vandalism comes after the wettest February on record, with more than three times the usual rainfall, leaving any grassed areas particularly prone to damage. The damage sparked anger from members and fans of the course on its official Facebook page. One said: “So maddening, they have no respect for anyone or anything.” Another added: “Outright vandalism. I hope they get caught and the bikes are taken from them.
“Never mind 150 hours of community service, give them 1,000 hours and they might learn a lesson.”
The future of Bradley Park Golf Course as a full 18-hole course remains unclear.
Supporters were devastated in 2018 when a planning inspector rubberstamped Kirklees Council’s plans to sacrifice much of the course to hundreds of new homes.
But nothing has been heard of the plan since proposals for a new Cooper Bridge relief road were delayed last year.