Horses for courses and long faces all round at Wellingborough Golf Club

Members of a prestigious county golf club were surprised this morning when they came face to face with horses that had mistaken the lush greens for a tasty field.

The adage that the grass is always greener rang true when the three beasts were seen trotting over the 15th green of Wellingbrough Golf Club, damaging the perfect putting surface with their hooves.

Staff had to usher the equine invaders onto a secure practice ground at the 160-acre Harrowden Hall site to corral them whilst the owners were located.

David Waite, director and general manager at Wellingborough Golf Club, said: "They have caused some damage to the 15th green but it's nothing we can't fix.

"We have tracked down the owner who is coming to collect them either today or tomorrow."

It is believed that the horses had been roaming in fields between Redhill Grange and Great Harrowden and made their way onto the par 72, 6,721-yard course golf course via a practice green.

Mr Waite added: "It's definitely a case of the grass is greener. We often have deer and badgers but nothing like this. Apologies to anyone whose practice has been disrupted.

"We're having to shut for lockdown so at least the course has a chance to recover."

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: "We received a call at about 10.30am yesterday (Tuesday, November 3), stating that there were three horses roaming loose on the green at Wellingborough Golf Club.

"Enquiries were made locally with owners to see if anyone were missing any horses, which proved negative. As the horses were not posing a risk to members of the public, they were left in the care of the golf club."

For further information about Wellingborough Golf Club click here.