A FURIOUS golf course manager has vowed to catch mindless vandals who wrecked a green on the grounds.

In the latest incident at Worcester's Perdiswell Park Golf Course in Bilford Road, vandals snapped a flag on one of the greens and wrecked the turf on the 10th hole.

Manager and PGA golf professional Mark Woodward said the problem had been ongoing ever since he joined the club in 1992 but seemed to have got worse recently.

Only a couple of weeks ago thieves stole a wooden bench from the course and he said snapped flags were a regular occurrence.

The latest incident is believed to have happened some time between 8.30pm on Friday and 7.30am on Saturday, when grounds staff discovered the damage along with a discarded beer bottle.

Mr Woodward said part of the problem was people used the 18-hole course as a short cut. Management has now had to put a temporary green on the course where the damage was caused.

Mr Woodward estimated it would possibly cost hundreds of pounds to put right and it would hit their trade as people would be put off playing there.

He was unsure as to how long it would take to repair.

He said: "It's just got to the point where it's getting ridiculous now. It's soul-destroying because it takes so long to get grounds up to that standard.

"Ultimately, when something like that happens it's a big kick in the teeth."

The club is now working closely with the police and organisations in the area in a bid to prevent any further incidents happening.

Mr Woodward said he was also planning to contact the local schools to see if they could offer any information or help.

He added: "We're not going to let this beat us and I would stress that anyone found doing any damage will be prosecuted to the highest degree."

Club president Ronald Milbourne also hit out at the vandals, saying they had spoiled the enjoyment of many locals who used the course and would face disruption while it was repaired.

He added: "What would your thoughts be if your favourite pastime was suddenly ruined by a bunch of strangers in the middle of the night?"

Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact them on 08457 444888 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 quoting reference 177S/140106.