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STANSBURY PARK — Stansbury Park Golf Course sustained over $5,000 in damage after an ATV or side-by-side vehicle tore through the grounds, leaving deep tire tracks and destruction behind.
Doug Brown, the course's business manager, described the incident as the worst damage he has ever seen at the golf course. "It definitely wasn't a golf cart. It was a pretty aggressive machine with just the damage that was done," he said.
The vandalism, discovered early in the morning on May 14, caused significant harm to the No. 12 green — one that had been refinished just a few years ago — as well as damage near hole No. 3.
Repairs expected to be costly
Currently, the course is working to restore the damaged green, filling tire tracks with sand and assessing the extent of repairs needed. However, Brown anticipates that several patches will need to be cut out and replaced — a lengthy and expensive process.
Brown explained the history of challenges with the course's greens, citing irrigation failures a few years ago that led to a costly restoration. "The total cost to restore the four greens in the past amounted to $150,000, and this newly damaged green was among those recently refinished," he said.
Community outrage and calls for assistance
The damage has sparked widespread frustration among regular golfers and even members of the larger Salt Lake golf community. Brown noted that many golf professionals have reached out, expressing their disappointment.
"We've had a lot of people that love the course that play here frequently, and we've had a lot of people reach out to us, phone calls from different golf professionals just really upset with it, so it's kind of hit home," Brown said.
Unfortunately, surveillance cameras at the course did not capture footage of the vehicle responsible for the destruction. Now, the golf course is turning to the public for help in identifying the suspect.
Neighbors who may have seen a motorized vehicle entering or leaving the golf course on the night of May 13 or early morning of May 14 are encouraged to contact the Tooele County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities offer $1,000 reward
Due to the extent of the damage, the case qualifies as a second-degree felony, prompting law enforcement to take serious action. A $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to prosecution.
Brown urged anyone with knowledge of the incident to come forward. "Somebody out there knows who did it. We just need someone to talk," Brown said.
Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact the Tooele County Sheriff's Office at 435-882-5600.
