Large patches of grass at the Lampasas, Texas property have been uprooted behind several tee boxes, and four separate areas of the grounds were damaged by the hogs, though they did not get on the green itself. The property has set a trap in case the hogs return.
The Hancock Park Golf Course in Lampasas, Texas saw some unexpected guests last week, as a number of wild hogs paid several visits to the grounds during the course of six days, the Temple (Texas) Daily Telegram reported.
“They got into the back of the tee box on Hole 3, and they got into the fairway, and they just pulled it up,” said Golf Course Manager Van Berry.
Starting Sunday night, large patches of grass had been uprooted behind several tee boxes on the course. Four separate areas of the grounds were damaged by the hogs, according to Berry, who said he was thankful the hogs did not get on the green itself, the Telegram reported.
“If they had gotten onto the green, it would have been several thousand dollars’ worth of damage,” he said. “Right now, my guys have just repaired the damage, and we just have to wait for the grass to grow back.”
The hog trouble began September 24 when it was reported that the golf course’s neighbor, Grace Fellowship Church, was having hog trouble of their own. “I knew it was just a matter of time before they made their way to us,” he said.
Sure enough, the hogs came that night and every following night that week except for Wednesday. In case the hogs decide to return, the golf course set up a trap, the Telegram reported.
The golf course is still playable, and Berry said he hopes the hogs stay away. “I heard the church managed to catch about four of them either Friday night or Saturday morning, so hopefully that was all of them,” he said.
Texas’ growing hog population causes millions of dollars’ worth of damage to crops every year. Texas has an estimated 2 million feral hogs, according to an Associated Press report. Their high breeding rate and lack of natural predators have helped their population explode, the Telegram reported.
Earlier this year, Texas lawmakers approved the hunting of feral hogs and coyotes from hot air balloons. The state already allows the shooting of feral hogs from helicopters, but that is expensive and has not been successful because the aircraft often scare the animals away. Hot air balloons are quieter and offer a more stable shooting platform, the Telegram reported.
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