WOODFORD GRN: Golf course ruined by motorbike yobs (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WOODFORD GRN: Golf course ruined by motorbike yobs

8:30am Thursday 29th January 2009 in

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A GOLF course has been ruined after its pristine grounds were torn up by motorbikes in the dead of night.

Staff at Woodford Green Golf Club, on Sunset Avenue, say a youth or youths have been using their course as a racing track at least three times in the last two weeks, rendering the neatly-kept greens “unplayable” for their members.

Head groundskeeper Stuart Runciman said he was worried the yobs could strike again, and is appealing for any witnesses to come forward to catch those responsible.

“The ground is virtually unplayable now,” he said.

“It’s really nasty, absolutely dreadful. The first time it happened was about 11 days ago. The ground was frozen so it didn’t do much damage but now the weather’s changing it’s causing some serious damage.

“Someone nearby said they heard a motorbike at around two o’clock in the morning, which of course you can do little about.

“We’ve been asking people around to keep their eyes open, we can’t let them do this again.

“Over the years we have had the odd trouble, but nothing like this. About six years ago we even had a quad bike churning up the course.”

It is not the first time youths have targeted Woodford Green’s sporting institutions.

Last year the Guardian reported multiple attacks on Woodford Rugby Club, including one time when bullets were fired at its clubhouse windows.

Police said they suspected the shots had come from an air rifle.

On another occasion in June, youths also drove a burning car through the club’s grounds, before abandoning it on a pitch.

And management at Woodford cricket club said they were almost on the brink of shutting down last summer, because of repeated pitch invasions by youngsters during their games.