Poulton Park Golf Club in Warrington has been left “absolutely gutted” after vandals drove off-road motorbikes across its fairways and greens.
Staff found tyre marks across the playing surfaces and turf ripped up. The incident has been reported to Cheshire Police, and the club has passed on CCTV footage.
“We were absolutely gutted to come into work on Saturday morning to this,” the club said. “Everyone puts so much hard work and time into making Poulton Park the best it can possibly be, and to have it ruined by some individuals who think it is acceptable or funny to do this on the course is truly heartbreaking.
“CCTV footage has been sent to the police, which is aware of the incident, so fingers crossed that we can catch the individuals who did this.”
The club has appealed for anyone with information to call it directly on 01925 825220, and has asked members and the wider community to share its appeal.
Poulton Park is a nine-hole parkland course with 18 tees, founded in 1978 and set among narrow, tree-lined fairways to the east of Warrington.
New powers may help
The incident comes months after a change in the law that gives forces a freer hand with this kind of offending.
Under Section 8 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026, which received Royal Assent on 29 April, police no longer have to issue a warning before seizing a vehicle being used in a manner causing alarm, distress or annoyance under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002.
The previous requirement to warn a rider first was widely criticised for allowing offenders simply to ride away and return later. The change applies directly to off-road bike misuse on private land.
Damage of this kind is disproportionately expensive relative to the effort involved in causing it. Rutting on a green can require hollow coring, topdressing and overseeding, with the surface out of true for weeks — and repair work in August, with the course in full use and growth beginning to slow, is more difficult than the same damage in spring.
Clubs facing repeat incursions are generally advised to record every incident with a crime reference number, however minor, since forces allocate patrol resource on the basis of reported volume rather than severity.