Members left ‘devastated’ after vandals destroy popular golf course
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The golf community has rallied after delinquents were caught causing ‘thousands of pounds’ worth of damage at the Essex club
The repair work has begun after vandals destroyed several holes at a popular UK golf course.
Thorndon Park in Brentwood, generally considered the best course in Essex and regularly ranked inside the top 100 in England, was targeted by hooligans on Sunday.
They used quad bikes to cause what general manager Iain Evans called “mindless damage” to a number of greens, fairways, and tee boxes.
“We are all obviously devastated,” he told BBC News. “A lot of hard work goes into preparing the golf course for members to enjoy.”
He added: “The initial thoughts were a little bit of anger and then just astonishment that someone can cause that much damage to what is effectively a natural environment is just awful.
“Maintaining the surface and caring for fine turf is an art. We employ greenkeepers and now they’ve got the unenviable task of trying to recover those areas, trying to make them fit for play.”
The club’s website website says the course is open, but six holes – three to seven, as well as the 16th – are out of action.
Thorndon Park’s greenkeeping team posted the extent of the damage across their social media channels.
“Devastated doesn’t even cover it,” they wrote, before adding that there is a “special place in hell reserved for them”.
The club has since been inundated with support, including Ashley Mullin of popular social media account The Golf Supply, who pledged to raise £5,000 via a GoFundMe appeal.
“They have absolutely obliterated the golf course for no reason,” he said in a short video on Instagram.
The greenkeepers later posted that the recovery work had begun with help from volunteers associated with the club. “Team work makes the dream work,” they wrote.
As for how much it will cost to repair, Mr Evans said it’s “too early” to say, but conservative estimates are creeping up to six figures.
If anyone has any information, they are urged to contact Essex Police.
About the author
Alex has been in the golf industry since 2007 and has helped shape a number of publications in that time. He joined Today’s Golfer in January 2025 to lead the brand’s news division.
He is a keen golfer who claims to play off 12 and enjoys traveling the world to try new courses. His three favorites are Royal North Devon, the Old Course at St Andrews, and Royal Portrush – with special mentions for Okehampton and Bude & North Cornwall, where he first fell in love with the game.
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Thorndon Park Golf Club was damaged by vandals on Sunday
