South West: Crow culprits stealing balls from course

Players at Minchinhampton Old Course are in a flap after falling victim to a flock of feathered fiends.

Two crows are believed to have stolen around 100 golf balls from the Gloucester course’s 15th and 16th holes.

Wildlife experts have suggested the crows may be taking the balls because they believe them to be eggs, which the birds carry off in their beaks and stash away.

Club secretary Alan Dangerfield said: “Some of the players are a little it miffed.”
‘There are a couple of crows around every day’ “If the player spots the crow doing it they can take another ball out and have a free drop without penalty.”

Players are allowed a free drop of a second ball if they catch the bird in the act, but golfer Bob Miles estimated that around 100 balls have been taken by the crows.

Speaking to the Gloucester Citizen, he added: “I hit a shot off the 15th tee and by the time I got there the ball had gone. I put another down and that went by the time I got to where I had hit it.

“Maybe the club professional has trained them and wants us to buy more balls.”

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