ATV joyriders damaged greens at Reid Golf Course over the weekend and crews at the course said it’s the damage could have cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair.
National Trail Parks and Recreation District workers filed a police report with Springfield police after they found damage to greens at the course and missing hole markers.
“It’s unfortunate because we’re trying to provide a good quality golf course for our community,” said Leann Castillo, National Trail director.
At least two greens had serious visible damage, Castillo said. Tire tracks from some sort of all-terrain vehicle dug up the ground on the fragile grass.
The culprits might not realize how the greens aren’t like just any turf that grows in a yard, she said.
“A golf course is an entirely different situation because of the land that’s involved,” Castillo said.
If the greens had been softer from rain, the damage would have been much worse than it was, she said, and could have cost close to $30,000 to repair.
But the golf course was lucky and the damage is repairable.
It’s not the first time the parks district has had trouble with damage from ATV riders.
Workers will put up fencing around the area where they believe the ATVs came in an effort to keep riders off the course, Castillo said.
All terrain vehicles are illegal to ride on city streets and are prohibited from the parks, according to city laws.
Park district leaders urged neighbors to call police if they see anyone trying to ride an ATV into a park.
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