RUSHMERE Golf Club today said it is fighting a losing battle against mindless vandalism.The club has spoken of their frustration following damage to five of their greens earlier this week.

RUSHMERE Golf Club today said it is fighting a losing battle against mindless vandalism.

The club has spoken of their frustration following damage to five of their greens earlier this week.

The course, which is located just off Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, was badly vandalised with 18 rakes and five flags broken. It is estimated that the cost of the damage is more than £250.

Club secretary and manager, Tony Harris, 57 said: "Every week the greens are subject to some kind of damage, whether it be digging up the greens or breaking the flags and rakes.

"Friday and Saturday nights is when most of the damage takes place and it is now common practice on a Monday morning for the groundsmen to bring me a list of repairs that are needed.

"We try and maintain the quality of the greens and then we get people who are inherit on wrecking it.

Patrick Swinn, 44, the head green keeper who is responsible for repairing the damaged greens, said: "We try and make it nice for our golfers and the damage is more of an inconvenience than anything else. It is just a lack of respect on the part of some people.

"We have to repair the greens so frequently now."

Only a month ago a motorbike was driven across one of the greens and a last summer a car was driven on to the course and then set on fire.

It seems that the 150-acre golf course is a popular meeting point for youngsters.

The club said that groups of teenagers regularly hang about the course drinking and leaving their empty beer cans and bottles on the course.

"The worrying fact is that we have found evidence that the common is being used for drug taking.

"We found a number of used needles and this could be extremely dangerous for our golfers and other people who use the common," said Mr Harris.

The club estimate that the cost of dealing with the vandalism each year amounts to thousands of pounds.

"It's not only the money it is the inconvenience as well. We have had to close some of the holes because the damage has been so bad.

Police are appealing for witnesses who may have seen anybody acting suspiciously on or near Rushmere Golf course between Monday, January 14, and Wednesday, January 16.

Anyone with information is asked to call Woodbridge police on 01473 383460.