NZ Open golf course damaged in duck cull protest

Three golf greens at the Gulf Harbour Country Club have been vandalised on the eve of the New Zealand Open.

Gulf Harbour spokesman Peter Wall said in a statement that holes had been dug in three greens overnight.

Radio Sport reported today that the word 'murderers' had been sprayed onto the 11th, 12th and 13th greens.

Wall said all the damage had been repaired in time for today's Pro-Am tournament. The New Zealand Open tournament starts tomorrow.

Wall said he did not know who was responsible but had been in contact with local environmentalists after a tame duck was inadvertently shot in last week's authorised cull of paradise ducks that caused significant damage to the course.

"They assure us that they were definitely not involved. In fact they were very disappointed to hear about the damage, and told me they were satisfied with our amicable settlement last week," Wall said.

The club contacted the police who are investigating, and they will increase security throughout the rest of the tournament.


Tournament director Gus Seebeck told Radio Sport that besides holes being dug, petrol had also been drizzled across some of the greens.


He did not say what had been written.


"It's disappointing but nothing we can't fix, " Seebeck said.


"The first group in the pro-am teed off at 7am at the 10th and they were able to play the 11th soon afterwards."


Seebeck confirmed greenkeeping staff were still repairing the damage and the country club wanted to lay a trespassing complaint with the police.


Seebeck said it was likely the attack was linked to last week's duck culling, although there was no evidence to support it.


Last week about 18 of 30 paradise ducks at the course were culled, the birds were grass-eaters who destroyed expensive putting greens


During the cull a pet duck named Daphne was mistakenly killed, which Wall said at the time the club deeply regretted.


The club, hosting the $1.5 million event, would donate $2000 to long-time conservation group Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi as a gesture of goodwill, he said.


- NZPA