VANDALS caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to equipment and the course at Minehead and West Somerset Golf Club– and ruined the May Day bank holiday for a number of visiting players.

The Disabled Golfers Association was due to host an event for members from all over the country but had to cancel it after the raid on the pro shop.

Vandals hot-wired six of the eight electric golf buggies, blowing the controls, and ripped out the dashboards during the night of April 19 – a weekend when several events were being held in West Somerset.

They also went joy riding over the course, cutting up greens, snapping flags and causing considerable damage to the course and the buggies’ bodywork.

And they then tried to drive off up Warren Road, but the buggies’ GPS kicked in and left them stranded on the roundabout – after which they took out their rage on a huge digger from the environmental agency that was on the beach.

A huge effort was made by the golf club but it proved impossible to sort everything out in time for the association’s event.

Not only did this cause disappointment and inconvenience to the club and players but it also affected local business – many of the visiting golfers had booked accommodation in Minehead.

“Nothing like this has happened here to this extent before,” said club captain Dorrien Bickerstaff.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact them.

Full report in the Free Press