The Hesketh Golf Club in Southport has reluctantly removed access to the course for members of the public due to repeated dog fouling and damage to the course.
The Hesketh, which is a private members’ club funded and run by its members, is now asking people to follow all public footpaths and not to cross its grounds.
The club, on Cockle Dick’s Lane in Churchtown, had opened its course throughout lockdown in an act of generosity to allow people to allow social distanced exercise in a safe way in beautiful surroundings.
But recent pleas for people to treat the grounds with respect have sadly gone unheeded.
A Hesketh Golf Club spokesperson said: “Many of you may be aware we recently posted a Public Notice on our social media channels, requesting respect for our facilities by members of the public and their dogs. Within the notice we requested that all dogs were kept on leads, all dog fouling removed and that people and dogs stayed away from our greens and bunkers.
“Unfortunately, despite prominent signage at all of our entrance / exit points we still have people ignoring our polite requests.
“Based on the current situation, along with advice from our insurers, with a heavy heart the Board of Directors have taken the difficult decision to remove access to our course for members of the public.
“In the first two lockdowns, and this, offering our course as a safe and scenic place for people to walk was seen as a real benefit to the local community.
“Up until recently, we believed this could continue through to the end of this current lockdown.
“Unfortunately we have suffered damage to a number of bunkers and an increase in dog fouling that is not cleaned up.
“Protecting the condition of our great course is a priority, therefore from today we are removing public access to the course.”
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