LISTEN: Sunshine Tour to go ahead at Wild Coast Sun
The Sunshine Tour says the Sun Wild Coast Sun Challenge will go ahead as planned, despite some holes on the Wild Coast Sun Golf Course being vandalised at the weekend.
The tour's Selwyn Nathan says the motives behind the vandalism, and who is behind it, are still unknown.
Several greens were dug up with spades.
Nathan says teams worked late into the night to ensure the course was repaired in time.
"Teams on the ground at the Wild Coast climbed into yesterday until late last night making the necessary repairs and getting the course playable," he said.
"We're going out to play. There is a lot of money to play for and there is a lot of opportunity out there for the professions. Gold is what they came here to play for, and that it what they're going to do."
The main event runs from the 22nd to the 24th of August. A total prize fund of R800,000 is up for grabs.
Nathan says golfers will play it as it lies.
Several greens were dug up with spades.
Nathan says teams worked late into the night to ensure the course was repaired in time.
"Teams on the ground at the Wild Coast climbed into yesterday until late last night making the necessary repairs and getting the course playable," he said.
"We're going out to play. There is a lot of money to play for and there is a lot of opportunity out there for the professions. Gold is what they came here to play for, and that it what they're going to do."
The main event runs from the 22nd to the 24th of August. A total prize fund of R800,000 is up for grabs.
Nathan says golfers will play it as it lies.
Sunshine Tour golfer, Michael Hollick shared photos of some of the damaged greens on his Twitter account.
Local community dig up the greens at the Wild Coast Sun last night! We were meant to be playing a @Sunshine_Tour event this week! Local community has just affected about R400 000 being spent in the area in fees to caddies, Clubhouse staff and tourism.... pic.twitter.com/bRF1XRKVFq
— michael hollick (@mikehollick) August 19, 2018
The Sun International Group says six holes on the course, between the 12th and 17th greens, were damaged.
"Our greenkeeper is currently working to repair the damage and we would like to thank all the other local greenkeepers, golf professionals and concerned residents who arrived to help us. We are still receiving calls with offers to help," said the group in response to an Emailed media query.
Sun International says there were no witnesses to the incident and the motive is still unknown.
"We would prefer not to speculate at this stage."
"Our greenkeeper is currently working to repair the damage and we would like to thank all the other local greenkeepers, golf professionals and concerned residents who arrived to help us. We are still receiving calls with offers to help," said the group in response to an Emailed media query.
Sun International says there were no witnesses to the incident and the motive is still unknown.
"We would prefer not to speculate at this stage."
Police attended the scene after the damage was discovered.