KLM Open starts on a bad note as the greens of the course severely vandalised overnight – Golf news
Opening round of the latest episode of KLM Open was delayed early in the morning as the course staff found many of the greens vandalised by someone overnight. The otherwise scenic Hilversumsche Golf Club in Netherlands woke up to an ugly face on Thursday,
September 8, causing a delay of 45 minutes before the staff worked relentlessly to repair the damage caused by unknown assailants.
KLM Championship director, Daan Slooter said, “Early this morning we ascertained damage to four of the greens here at Hilversumsche. At this moment we do not know who caused the damage. All has been restored and the tournament will resume. For this evening
and the rest of the tournament we have increased security substantially.”
Carefully manicured putting areas at the fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth greens were badly dug up possibly using a shovel and the overnight rain also rendered things difficult for the course staff to repair the damage.
This will be the 92nd edition of the event which has for the first time in its history, lured in the top ranking players in the world. World Number Two, Lee Westwood, Number Three, Martin Kaymer and Number Four, Rory McIlroy will be part of the
field at the championship. Kaymer is also the defending champion of the title he won last year.
The opening day kicked off on a bad note while the course management is doing everything possible at the moment to control the collateral damage in media and with the sponsors.
Slooter lamented the damage to the course just at the start of the tournament and spoke of all the hard work the management has done to keep the course in top form, despite of an unfavourable weather. He not only commended the efforts of the staff that worked
relentlessly on the course, but also those who were still engaged in restoring the damaged greens as he spoke.
Under the normal rules of the European Tour, play is still possible on the greens and the putting surfaces will be considered as ‘Ground under Repair’, a commonly known golf rule under such circumstances.
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