What $40,000 In Damage Actually Costs A Course
A late-July night at an Ohio course ended in felony charges, seven wrecked golf carts, and a green that cost over $26,000 to repair.
Late on July 29, someone pulled seven golf carts out of storage at Cranberry Hills Golf Course in Champion, Ohio, drove them out onto the course, and wrecked them — along with the fourth hole's green.
By the time the bill came in, the damage broke down to roughly $26,100 on the green alone and another $15,750 for the carts — north of $40,000 total, and that's before counting the lost tee times while the hole was unplayable. Five adults now face first-degree felony vandalism charges, with two juveniles also facing charges. According to the course's owner, it was the third incident in a matter of weeks.
It's easy to see a number like that and think "insurance will cover it" and move on. What it actually means, on the ground: a superintendent rebuilding a green from scratch, on a timeline nobody chose, while still running the rest of the course. The number is the least interesting part of the story.
Source: Tribune Chronicle
