Last updated at 13:52, Monday, 02 July 2012

VANDALS have wrecked three greens at a historic county championship golf course, leaving hundreds of pounds worth of damage in their trail.

More than 80 golfers were due to compete in the Hampton Cup yesterday, but Furness Golf Club was forced to call off the competition after discovering 30 holes had been dug out on the course.

Members of the Walney club, which celebrates its 140th anniversary this year, are fuming at the damage – some divots are as deep as two feet in places.

The club has vowed it will not let the culprits spoil their upcoming events, and the anniversary celebration in July.

Work started yesterday to repair the damaged spots, which were discovered at 7am yesterday. Temporary greens were due to be made at the fourth and seventh holes, while the sixth green was expected to be moved temporarily.

Club captain, Gary Radcliffe, 47, of Walney, said: “It’s sickening.

“It looks like someone has done this with a garden fork and spade. They’ve ruined three greens, it will be the rest of the season before we get this right. We want people to come forward with information if they know anything or saw anything.”

Match chairman, Darren King, 43, of Walney, added: “It’s given Walney a bad name. It’s mindless and idotic behaviour, Alick (MacKay, head greenkeeper) has said it’s expected to cost four figures and three to six months to put right.

“We are open and we will have our competitions and 140th anniversary celebration as normal. We will work around this.”

The club, which is the sixth oldest in the country and boasts what have been described as Cumbria’s best greens, recently staged a county championship. Club secretary, Roy Turner, of Walney, said: “What makes it most frustrating is that Alick has worked so hard and has done a fantastic job. We can’t understand who we have alienated to warrant this damage. We have adult and junior members and visitors. All they (the vandals) are doing is punishing their friends and neighbours.”

Member Allan Miles, 56, of Barrow, said: “It’s butchery. Someone has come on here and spoilt it for everyone.”

Anyone with information about the damage is asked to call Barrow police on 101.

First published at 13:05, Monday, 02 July 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk