Top Scottish golf course issues plea after vandals attack

A prestigious Scottish golf course has issued an urgent plea after it was attacked by vandals this week.

Elgin Golf Club, which is widely regarded as one of the finest inland courses in the North of Scotland, shared the disheartening news on Facebook today.

Four holes of the championship host venue were targetted, with electric vehicles believed to have ripped up greens, fairways and bunkers.

“I was hoping to supply the members with a post of updating the course and what has been done over the past few weeks,” a post read.

“But unfortunately, over the past three nights, we have had vandalism on holes 9, 10, 11 and 14 from someone entering the golf course on what we think is an e-bike.

“We are posting this with the hope that members or the public walking their dogs, or anyone passing the golf course seeing anything, will report it to ourselves or the police so that we can catch the people vandalising the golf course.”

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It’s just the latest golf course in Scotland to have been vandalised in recent times.

Downfield, located in Dundee, was set upon by quad-bike driving thugs last month, while the historic Prestwick St Nicholas, in South Ayrshire, was cut up in July.

“So disappointing to arrive at work this morning to this,” Gareth Hardy, the head PGA professional, wrote.

“Really have no idea what goes through people’s heads to do this. The week before The Open where we are expecting lots of visitors here at Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club.”

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Meanwhile, members at Thames Ditton and Esher Golf Club in Surrey, a venue established in 1892, were left disturbed after a Nazi symbol was carved onto a green last week.

That came only weeks after the newly erected Old Tom Morris statue in St Andrews was vandalised for a second time.

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.