A golf cart joy ride caused extensive damage to the Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., golf course that could cost up to $10,000. In Oakland, Calif., burglars stole a city-owned pickup truck to rob the Montclair Golf Course.
Club properties in Florida and California are on cleanup duty after criminal activity caused damage to their facilities.
An apparent golf cart joy ride has caused extensive damage to two greens on the golf course at the Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., the Jacksonville-based WTEV 47 reported.
Police are still searching for the vandals responsible, WTEV reported.
“It’s very disappointing,” said Greg Lecker, director of golf.
The greens are currently being renovated for the first time in nearly 25 years. The damage has now caused a setback for that project. Lecker said maintenance crews first noticed what looked like golf cart tracks all over two greens last week, WTEV reported.
According to the police report, a golf cart “spun donuts” causing the damage. Photos taken by workers show the extent of the damage—huge circles of tracks in the grass, destroying it., WTEV reported
“It’s in the process of growing in; we just sprigged it and seeded it,” said Lecker. The vandals left the development with a hefty bill. “It’s going to probably exceed close to $10,000,” Lecker added.
The money to fix it isn’t the only problem. Lecker said renovations were supposed to wrap up soon, WTEV reported.
“Our planned opening is late October, maybe early November, and with what’s happened here last week, it’s probably going to back us up maybe a week or two,” said Lecker.
Sawgrass sent out notices to all homeowners asking for them to keep an eye on any activity on the course after dark. In the meantime, Lecker has a message for the vandals, WTEV reported.
“They should really think about finding different ways to have fun,” said Lecker.
Suspects will face a charge of criminal mischief; and if convicted, they possibly will have to pay restitution. Most of the damage has already been repaired, WTEV reported.
Across the country in Oakland, Calif., burglars stole a city pickup truck and smashed into the front entrance of the Montclair Golf Course clubhouse early Wednesday and then stole tens of thousands of dollars worth of clubs, bags and clothing from the pro shop, the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News reported.
The thieves returned later in the truck and tried to take the ATM but were unsuccessful. The burglary at the golf course was reported at about 5:40 a.m., the News reported.
Video recovered by police investigators showed the white Ford pickup truck, assigned to the Public Works Agency Parks and Building Division, smashing into the front entrance and three suspects running inside and loading the truck with merchandise, the News reported.
Employees at the Joaquin Miller maintenance facility in the park by the same name found the truck stolen when they arrived to work about 7 a.m. Wednesday, the News reported.
The truck was found at about 8:40 a.m. parked in another location. The nine-hole course remained open Wednesday, and the owner of the pro shop declined to comment, the News reported.
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