Image copyright © Ricardo Figueiredo
Two golfers at the world’s second-oldest course – Noah’s Ark Country Club in Wighton, Cheshire – have been left injured by a pig on the course.
The porker was shot after it launched itself at some tee boxes.
A man with the club said the animal “went hog wild”. He claimed it had “pinned people down” and had almost caused a hole to be bored into the fairway in “indirect” way.
This is believed to be the first time a pig has caused so much damage at the 175-year-old club.
Image copyright © Ricardo Figueiredo Image caption Noah’s Ark Country Club played host to more than a century of golfing history
Ross Fogarty and his friend were at the course on Friday when the pig began destroying their balls and went “bonkers” from behind a tree.
The player shot the animal three times in an attempt to scare it off, before bringing back the carcass to feed the dog.
Mr Fogarty said he believed “it was extremely reckless to even have an animal on a golf course”.
“You would think that something like that would only be allowed at a ram and draught horse riding course.”
He said the pig damaged a number of greens as it tried to launch itself in from the trees.
Image copyright PASCAL S. CENGALE Image caption Noah’s Ark Country Club closed for the first time in its history to make repairs to the greens
A second golfer, Stuart Lewis, had his ball taken away by the animal as it tried to charge the tee.
He said he was “told by my partner that two of her friends’ balls had been pinched by the pig”.
In a statement, the golf club said: “Inadvertently, as the course closed for the weekend, there was some damage caused to the greens in some of the greens areas.”
They went on to say: “To ensure the grounds are protected against any further attack, the club has called in the Cheshire Wildlife Trust, who are in the process of removing the animal and cleaning up the damage.
“The club will remain closed for the rest of the summer, to repair all areas of the course which have been affected.”
What’s happened at Noah’s Ark before?
Luxury horse riding lodge club and golf club opened in August 1875 as Noah’s Ark Country Club.
For almost a century it played host to more than a century of golfing history, attracting members from all over the world.
A second course, known as Noah’s Ark Country Club Golf Club, was built on the course, and became a home for horses-riding enthusiasts and golfers.
Image copyright Ross Fogarty Image caption A second golf course, known as Noah’s Ark Country Club Golf Club, was built on the course, and became a home for horses-riding enthusiasts and golfers
Despite sharing the same name, the two courses, with their different names, are now completely independent.
Noah’s Ark Country Club closed down in 2014, and closed for the first time in its history to make repairs to the greens.
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