Growing pains Golf club green ruined by vandal driver
THE manager of a struggling golf club on the outskirts of Cheltenham has spoken of his frustration after a car was driven on the course. Tyre tracks were found across Cleeve
Hill Golf Club green on Saturday at 8am, as if the driver had performed doughnut manoeuvres.
With the club hit by financial woes, general manager Joe Vaughan, 34, said this would be a further blow to the club which will be closing on March 31, 2021, due to its “financial unviability”.
The club has been forced to shut until December 2 as part of lockdown restrictions.
Mr Vaughan said the damage will cost thousands of pounds to repair and the fear is the grass will not grow back again in time for reopening.
The grass affected is on the par three 10th green in the turn away from the clubhouse.
Mr Vaughan said: “We’ve got a month to try to get the green playable.
“There’s not a lot invested after the year we’ve had – and even if we had unlimited resources, we’re going into the winter where you’re not going to get the growth in the grass.
“If you’re able to put soil, top-dress
ing and seed down, it would take an enormous amount of time to grow back anyway.
“It couldn’t have come at a worse time to be honest, it’s so frustrating.”
Mr Vaughan has not yet assessed the damage to the green, although he is projecting a cost of between £3,000 and £5,000 damage.
He went on to say that once the assessment had been made, the club will be submitting a report to Gloucestershire police.
Last week, it was announced that Cleeve Hill Golf Club could be saved from closure if a new licensee can step in and secure its long-term future.