Married couple Terry and Terry Freeman share more than a name; for years, they’ve loved playing golf together at the Lake Arlington Golf Course and that’s why they were tee’d off after learning multiple holes were recently damaged by vandals.
“It’s just showing no respect for the people who play here and pay money to support our golf courses,” said Terry Freeman.
Arlington police said sometime late Feb. 8 or early Feb. 9, vandals drove their vehicle onto the course for a joy ride; but joy isn’t what golfers and the city are feeling looking at the aftermath.
“They knocked down a fence, drove through two gates and then came out on the golf course,” said Mark Claburn, course superintendent for the City of Arlington. “They started driving on the fairways, the tees and then they ended up on the 16th green. That first day, we really just threw our hands up because it was so extensive. We weren’t sure what to do.”
Claburn said it will cost more than $10,000 to repair all the damage. That’s money that will now be pulled from all of the course's budgets that could have been used for something else. And because city golf course operations aren’t funded by taxpayer dollars, that cost unfairly falls on the golfers who use the courses.
“That is an impact on our business for the entire year,” said Claburn.
The course has since patched up the mess and set up a temporary putting green on 16 until they can get new sod to replace it.
In the meantime, golfers like the Freemans hope someone comes forward with information so that whoever is responsible ends up with a different set of irons.
“It makes no sense whatsoever,” said the other Terry Freeman.
Arlington police said they are following up on some leads, but still want tips from the public. If you have any information, you are urged to call them immediately.
