Worries for future for 'last publicly owned' Sandwell golf course after yobs carve up putting greens

A Black Country publicly owned golf course with more than 120 years of history is in danger of being lost forever after being targeted by vandals on motorbikes.

Dartmouth Golf Club at The Vale in West Bromwich is unable to begin the start of its summer season or charge players for a round of golf and has been forced to make members to put on makeshift greens.

Golf club staff and members were left heartbroken when they saw months of hard work ruined overnight when bikers went berserk on the course, including churning up the grass on the greens.

The first attack was in February, then there was a repeat incident in March and an example of wanton vandalism on Wednesday night, which will cost tens of thousands of pounds to repair.

To add insult to injury, the yobs even took the time to cut the razor wire protecting the course and wrapped it around a flag pole on one of the greens they ruined.

Club Vice Captain Dan Elwell told the Express & Star: "This is just mindless vandalism. They were doing donuts on the greens. There are divots and six-inch grooves in the greens. Over the last three months, we have been subject to three acts of vandalism.

He added: "The latest occurred last Wednesday evening. We have contacted the police on each occasion, who have just given us a crime reference number for each occurrence, but got no actual help in preventing re-occurrence.

"The fact that they wrapped razor wire around the flag feels like they are mocking us.”

The club has contacted West Bromwich MP Sarah Coombes about the vandalism, and Sandwell Council Anti-Social Behaviour Unit are also investigating the attacks on the course.

Mr Elwell added: "The land that the course sits on is owned by Sandwell Council.

“In our opinion, the responsibility for security of the site sits with Sandwell council, but as of yet we’ve not had any joy in securing some sort of permanent measure to stop vandals entering the course.

"The costs each time the greens need to be repaired are into the tens of thousands and can take months to fully recover.

“We are losing money because we cannot charge golfers to use the course as it is at the moment, and our season starts soon."

The club has created makeshift greens with holes so players can complete the hole by putting their balls.

The Lewisham Restaurant is on the golf club, and the management has the responsibility of maintaining the course, and each attack costs the owners money.

On Friday, Miss Coombes MP, senior officers from Sandwell Council's anti-social behaviour team, representatives and West Midlands Police are meeting at the golf club to discuss preventing criminal damage at the property.

Mr Elwell said: "We are hoping to get public support for permanent structures to be installed to prevent access to the course because we cannot go on like this."