A Stoke-on-Trent golf club is calling on the city council to take action following a wave of anti-social behaviour, which is turning members away. Off-road bikes are repeatedly ripping up parts of Burslem Golf Club.

The club, which has been operating since 1907, is facing a growing problem with electric off-road bikes. The bikes are coming from Salkeld Place using an existing right of way, which is managed by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and accessing club grounds and tearing up the greens.

Part of the problem stems from missing gates to access the right of way, due to this the club installing a temporary scaffolding structure, however they have been ordered to take it down or risk prosecution.

Despite offering to part fund or help to install preventative measures to stop bikes accessing the grounds the club have not heard back from the city council.

David Munro, former club secretary explained: "There's a public footpath which comes from Salkeld Place across our golf course. There were gates on there which were missing for three months and bikes were coming on, it took three months to get the gates back on.

"So we put some scaffolding up to stop bikes being able to come on the course and the council threatened us with prosecution. We've lost quite a few members, it's just demoralising a lot of people."

The club is also very active in the local community and has worked with local schools to get more children involved with golf. They even have an hold regular charity fundraiser which in total last year raised more than £10,000

The club has even had to introduce a new rule to combat the damage to the green. Due to bikes leaving tread marks in the ground and the difficulty in managing to putt the ball if a tyre mark is between the ball and the hole, now golfers are able to move the ball across the damaged section. 

Club manager Phil Hares said: "We've had a historical problem with bikers and damage over the years on the course but this six to 12 months, its reality intensified, especially with electric scooters.

Since Christmas onwards we've had five or six incidents and some quite bad damage and we can't hear the bikes with them being electric now." 

The club estimates that the damage has cost £20,000, money which could have been spent on improving the facilities at the club or enhancing the playing experience. One of the big issues is the time it takes to repair the ground which can take months.

He continued: "It's the money side of it, the labour of our green staff have to spend on it and the cost of repairs with seeding and doing the work on it. We've had people leave this winter citing the state of the course for the reason they're leaving and it's frustrating.

"We are an inner city golf club and we've got quite a nice function room and we do lots of functions for non-golfing people. So it's a good little community hub and it's just frustrating that we're trying to keep it nice and it's been there a long time – we've been there since 1907, it's tricky at times."

Cllr Amjid Wazir, cabinet member for city pride, environment and sustainability, said: "We're actively working on a solution that protects the golf club and its members while respecting the public right of way.

"It's a complex issue with no easy fix, and any approach must keep the path open and accessible to everyone.

"Illegal biking is a menace. We are working with Staffordshire Police to crack down on those who damage green spaces and put the public at risk through the use of off-road motorbikes.

"We are stepping up patrols in problem areas and offenders can – and will – have their bikes seized."

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