ONE of the world’s oldest golf courses has been damaged by vandals who deliberately tore up one of the greens in a car.
The Royal Musselburgh Golf Club – the fifth oldest in the world – tweeted shocking images of the damage with the words: “Hope you are proud of yourself.”
The images show the green and fairway of the 10th hole reduced to a mass of muddy tyre tracks following the incident on Sunday night.
The club, founded in 1774, originally played over the famous nine-hole links course at Levenhall, Musselburgh.
In 1926 the club moved to the picturesque parkland course at Prestongrange House, Prestonpans, East Lothian.
The caption posted along with the images read: “Whatever idiot did this to the 10th winter green & Fairway last night . I hope you are proud of yourself.”
@BillyFyfe commented: “That is outrageous, sad to see, hope you find the culprits”
?@jncb1966 said: “Don’t we have enough to deal with without this horrific vandalism saddens me to see these mindless acts”
@johnlockyer7 replied: “Really sad to see chaps. On the plus side, you’re turf – outside of damage – looks great for the time of year”
@IanJosephHarri5 tweeted: “Sole destroying, hope the repair work heals quickly #scum”.
The course, which charges £600 a year, was designed famous Open champion and course architect James Braid in 1926.
Braid also famed designed the iconic King’s and Queen’s Course, at Gleneagles, Perthshire in 1919.
The Old Club Cup, which has been awarded at Royal Musselburgh Golf Club since 1774, is the oldest trophy still competitively played for in the world.
The oldest golf club in the world is the nearby The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh, founded in 1735.
Police Scotland said on Tuesday they had not yet received any reports of vandalism at the course.
In response to the vandalism, Golf Club President Craig Mackay urged the police to find those responsible.
Mr Mackay said: “Staff and members of the Royal Musselburgh Golf Club have been left dismayed by the mindless vandalism caused to the course.
“As a self-funding charity this has a significant detrimental effect on us and I can only hope that those responsible are traced and dealt with appropriately by the Criminal Justice System.”
Mr Mackay also praised the staff who look after the fairway, and said they are planning on having the course ready to play on in the coming days.
He said: “Our green keeping staff will be working throughout the coming days to rectify the damage in order that members and guests can continue to enjoy the facilities we provide.
“The Golf club is at the heart of the community in Prestonpans where a significant number of the Clubs members and staff reside and we have received many messages of support from the whole community.”
