DUBBO Golf Club is taking a big stick approach to vandalism after every window of a car on display at the complex was smashed and large holes the size of general manager Andrew Wiggins’ fists hacked into greens.
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Bad deeds in the dead of night prompted Mr Wiggins to issue warnings to trespassers on behalf of members.
Yesterday the general manager revealed the club and nearby businesses had formed a type of “Neighbourhood Watch” to alert each other to the presence of potential troublemakers, mostly on the move.
Mr Wiggins said the golf club would also be calling police “every time something happens” and backing them to the hilt in getting offenders to court.
“The club’s had enough and if the police catch you, we’re going to help them prosecute you,” he said.
The car, made available by Golden West Holden as a prize, was the target of vandals last Saturday night.
Three nights later the 27th and 10th greens copped a walloping.
Mr Wiggins thinks golf balls were peltered at the vehicle’s windows in a “sheer act of vandalism”.
Damage to the greens, one of them covered with glass from broken beer bottles, may have been at the hands of vandals wielding a golf club.
“We think they’ve probably gone in and dug a golf club into the green and taken practice swings creating divots,” the general manager said.
“They’ve also moved tee markers and thrown them around.”
Mr Wiggins said “kids playing” was one thing but damaging the greens was another.
“This time of year we really can’t afford to have a green out of play,” he said.
The general manager expects the club will spend “several thousand dollars” in getting the greens back to their previous condition.
“We’re trading successfully once again but it’s just another cost,” Mr Wiggins said.
Vandalism at the club appears to be on the rise, according to the general manager who reports of golf carts being stolen and car break-ins this year.
“There’s always something going on out here because we’re so open, that’s our problem,” Mr Wiggins said.
“We’d just ask our neighbours to be more vigilant and not to hesitate to call the police if they see something.
“We are networking with businesses.
“We’re ringing each other if a group of individuals is walking through one of the car parks.”
Mr Wiggins said police responded promptly to the club’s call for help, but the vandalism would “only get worse coming into summer and school holidays”.
“People don’t seem to have any respect anymore, respect for people’s property,” he said.
“We provide this facility for people to use and enjoy, not for someone to come through and smash it up.”
