Jack Hudson

SANDY Creek Golf Club hopes it can recover after vandals poisoned five greens in an attack that may cost it $500,000.

The club’s course operations manager Steve Maddaford said he was furious at the “significant” damage, but – after initial grave concerns – remained optimistic the grass could recover.

The club believes the greens were poisoned in the middle of the night on Thursday, August 5.

On Tuesday, golfers were still using the affected greens. But if the poison spreads, the club will have to temporarily close.

“Fortunately, at this point in time, the damage is basically as we found it,” Mr Maddaford said.

“There has been further discoloration with the big grass dying.

“The damage is significant; pretty much half the green if we put it all together. They’ve obviously gained access from Williamstown Road and walked onto the golf course and just sort of limited the damage to this part.”

With five greens being hit, if the worst-case scenario occurs and the poison spreads, it could cost the club, which had unveiled plans to build a hotel on the site in 2019, up to $100,000 for each affected green.

“If we get to Friday, and it’s like this, this would be the best case scenario and should be able to nurse them back to health over the course of the growing season,” Mr Maddaford said.

“The worst-case scenario is it spreads to the whole grain and kills everything.

“So if all of this is brown and dying, and no green left, then we’re looking at a major green replacement.”

Mr Maddaford said temporary closure was “something we would prefer to avoid”.

“At the present time, its not really affecting the playability of the greens,” he said.

“They’re still open, they’re still puttable.

“But if the worst-case scenario eventuates, we have to close the green, set up a temporary green, which is never fun.

“If we have to go down that road, then that could seriously impact green-fee players and our income streams.

“It could (risk the club’s existence). I think any golf club is basically reliant on a strong membership base.

“For those clubs which do have public access rely heavily on that grain fee income and visitor income, and more importantly, probably the reputation as well.

“One person plays here, and there’s five greens out of play, pretty soon, two people are gonna know, and then four, and then eight, and then it’s exponential.

“Then your reputation’s damaged.

“It takes a long time to build a decent reputation and just a few moments to crush it.

“It has the potential to have serious impact on the club.

“We’re hoping the best case scenario obviously and at this stage, the indications are that it may actually be the case.”

Gawler CIB attended the club on Saturday morning and had taken a statement from Mr Maddaford before returning to assess the damage.

Mr Maddaford also praised the local and extended community for their support.

“I put a post on Facebook and I tried to include a bit of levity in it,” he said.

“Just providing the vandals with a bit of an update on what they did and there’s been a lot of anger.

“The community is just ropeable.

“The feedback has been really positive, stay strong, you’ll get there.

“If you need help, just reach out, we’ll give it to you.”

If anyone has any information on the poisoning, contact SAPOL or Sandy Creek Golf Club.