Golf club issues exceptional ultimatum to vandals
By Alistair Dunsmuir
A Welsh golf club has issued an extraordinary ultimatum, including inviting them to repair the damage or risk being prosecuted, to joyriders who have caused thousands of pounds-worth of damage to its course.
Four people stole buggies at Rhuddlan Golf Club and then drove them over the course before ditching them in bunkers, causing about £3,000 of damage.
However, there were CCTV cameras in operation at the time and the club believes it has the full face images of the two men and two women who were responsible. Two of them, it says, looked directly into a camera before covering their faces.
The club has therefore issued an ultimatum to the criminals, which even includes the option of paid employment.
Image from Facebook
Rhuddlan says it will post the images publicly, which it believes is likely to lead to the identification of the criminals, by August 24 if it does not hear from them. Those names will then be sent to the police.
If the club does hear from them before then, they have been given two options to prevent the possibility of police involvement.
The first option, which the club says is its preferred one, is for the quartet to work at the club at a minimum wage rate to repair the damage. The second option is that they pay the costs of the damage and the time spent by staff dealing with it.
“Option one is to do manual work at the club, at minimum wage rate until the £3,000 repairs and 26 staff hours are made good, at 80 to 100 hours for each individual. The second option is to repay the £3,000 damage plus 26 staff hours,” said a spokesman.
Club officials estimate the repair bill at around £3,000 made up of £2,000 damage to the buggies, £500 to repair the bunkers, greens and hedgerows on the course and another £500 for new security.
That’s not including the time spent by staff sorting out insurance and contacting the police.
Image from Facebook
A statement on the golf club’s Facebook page said: “Option 1 is our preferred choice as we hope these individuals will then appreciate the value of the hard work that goes into any business. Who knows, it might actually help them change their ways and their futures!
“If they do not hand themselves in to the golf club by the time stated, the full face 4k HD images of the four individuals will be posted on this page and the local community will soon identify them. We have received advice and we are within our rights to do this. Any names then given to us as a result will be forwarded onto the police.”
And in a message directly to the four individuals, a club spokesperson added: “You know we have the CCTV images. Two of you (females) looked directly into the camera, you then panicked, one of you put your hands on your head and then went to tell the other two males who were on or around our 18th green where you dumped the buggies.
Image from Facebook
“You all proceeded to run past five other CCTV cameras on your way to the car park exit after jumping over the clubhouse railings. Two of you (males) thought you were clever hiding your face from the cameras with hoods up but what you don’t realise is you had already been captured on the buggy compound CCTV and your jackets with reflective parts on them are very distinctive and easily identified.
“We hope you now do the right thing.”
The vandals can email the club at secretary@rhuddlangolfclub.co.uk.
By Alistair Dunsmuir
Write a comment
16 Comments
View comments
That’s nothing new. That’s happened at every public facility I’ve ever worked at. Was there alcohol involved?
Arseholes make them pay
Completely agree with the clubs punishment and do let us know what route they took.
I’ve played Rhuddlan golf course many times its a absolute gem. But morons who damage courses need to think before doing.the amount of effort and money it costs to keep courses in perfect condition this sort of vandalism is not exceptable at any course I applaud you for your action in this matter.
Prosecute, publicise and secure your buggies at night.
Played your course early August and thought it was fantastic and the views excellent. I would prosecute to the full letter of the law.
Vandalism is not acceptable in any shape or form.
Shoot them when they turn up
They think it’s funny ,show then in the middle of town for all to see.
Typical vandals who have no respect for their actions. I totally agree with the club to prosecute and name and shame the 4 individuals
Hope they take option 1, when the work is completed, switch the cctv off and give them a slap. Not condoning violence but I bet your members that pay there fee’s, are thinking exactly the same.
Sorry not only UK, lots of this on the continent.
Brilliant idea, let’s hope the culprits make themselves known
They need to put these fellas on a medieval rack, stretch a couple as examples and it will end. Kidding aside, no sand trap, no golfers, no revenue, closed club. This is someone’s livelihood.
Why is this a thing in the UK?
Shoot them when they turn up
I’ve been in this game for 30 years and can honestly say. That’s definitely not thousands of pounds worth of damage. Vandals tend to give up if you just ignore and repair. Try to fight back and they will be motivated do even more damage next time