Golfers’ fury after bikers driving on course hurl abuse

Club facing repair bill for ripped up greens

Furious golfers have hit out at vandals who tore up part of a course while players were teeing off.

Bosses at Canterbury Golf Club say nuisance bikers have caused thousands of pounds worth of damage in a series of incidents and fear the situation could turn violent.

The club’s chairman, Steve Eeles, says in the latest attacks, the motorcyclists drove onto the club’s course twice in the space of two days.

“Last Friday afternoon a couple of motorbikes came along the public footpath that crosses our 7th and 9th holes and proceeded to deliberately drive across the 8th and 9th greens,” he said. “Fortunately our general manager and course manager were on site and managed to get out on the course to prevent any further damage.”

The bikers then fled, leaving a scar in a green on the course, which had to be cut out and

replaced with new grass. But far worse was to come the following day, when two bikes were ridden onto the fairway on the 18th hole while golfers were still out playing the course. When confronted by the players, the riders are said to have become abusive before pulling doughnuts on some of the greens and tees.

It caused yet more expensive damage to the course, which is in a conservation area and designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. “Saturday’s incident was much more serious as the motorbike riders had a total disregard for golfers’ safety,” added Mr Eeles. “They have caused thousands, if not tens of thousands of pounds of damage and have left members, staff and local golfers feeling threatened. “Despite reporting at least five such incidents to the police in the last two to three months, nothing appears to have been done.”

General manager Roger Hyder said he was worried future incidents may result in violence between golfers and the bikers. “Our overriding concern is that members will take matters into their own hands in protecting themselves and what they feel is their property should they feel threatened,” he explained. “Obviously we discourage any such action from our members and visiting golfers, but in the heat of the moment you do worry.”

Police says they are aware of the incidents and are working to identify suspects while advising people to call 999 if a crime is in progress or reporting issues on the Kent Police website.

Picture: Canterbury Golf Club Greenkeepers had to re-lay parts of the course after bikers drove across the course at Canterbury Golf Club leaving them damaged, inset, as members played

Chairman Steve Eeles says not enough support has been