A KwaZulu-Natal golf course is offering a R5Â 000 reward leading to the arrest of the culprits who stole grass from the club’s 15th green, a news report said.
Confirming the theft, Empangeni Golf Club greenkeeper Andre Rautenbach said that the grass had been dug out from the putting green on the 15th hole.
He said there was a R5Â 000 reward and that he had a lead on the stolen grass, but would not divulge further information.
The Zululand Observer reported that the theft had been noticed early on Wednesday morning last week.
”Whoever stole this grass was looking for a nice instant lawn. We have worked hard to get the course into the shape it is now,” he said.
KwaZulu-Natal Golf Union secretary Alan Devitt said it was the first time that he had heard of the grass being stolen from a green.
”I am very surprised. I have heard of youngsters doing wheelies [in their cars] on the greens to impress the young ladies, but not this,” he said.
Rautenbach said it would take at least another month before the green was back to its original condition. — Sapa