THE CAPTAIN of a Bradford golf club has expressed his outrage after a year of horse trouble on the course.

Gary Russell, captain at South Bradford Golf Club in Odsal, is fed up of the damage that is being caused by a number of horses, which "graze unauthorised" on neighbouring council land.

The horses are situated in a field, just off Pearson Road, which backs onto the golf club car park.

There is a gate which the council padlocks, but these are frequently cut off, according to Mr Russell.

He said: "It's council land, it's got a big sign on saying it's prohibited to keep horses here and that they will be impounded.

"The horses have been there all year.

"The gate opens onto our car park, with no padlock, because a lot of people access it - such as the council for water checks."

The horses have escaped from the field and caused damage to the course four or five times in the last 12 months, says Mr Russell.

Most recently, on Friday, December 20, they decimated two of the club's greens.

Mr Russell explains how when it happened in the summer, the ground was solid so damage on the course was limited.

But, with the surfaces becoming softer in the winter, the escaped animals caused havoc.

Mr Russell said: "We all went down the side of our course, checking the fencing.

"We looked for potential areas where they've got in from.

"We made some repairs and also spoke to the council and the people who own the horses too.

"We came out the next day and spent a bit of effort in repairing our greens.

"They're still not great because they were dug up by the horses."

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: "We are aware of the issue of unauthorised horse grazing on the Council's land and, whilst we have impounded animals, carried out fencing works and changed locks, the problem persists.

"We are considering the feasibility of other measures to prevent unauthorised grazing."

Mr Russell feels the club is simply being passed from pillar to post and that the issue is of low priority for the Council.

He said: "We were told, it's a lot of money to impound the horses, that the council doesn't have the money to put CCTV up, and it just gets left.

"We stand to lose a lot of money and members if the golf course is not in good condition.

"I've had the Council saying they're looking into it, but that's all they do say.

"They need to do something about it.

"If horses are not meant to be on that land, they need to get them off that land.

The captain also worries about what could happen next and has concerns for the wellbeing of the animals.

"There's potential damage to our vehicles.

"There's potential danger to people, because there's a public pathway through the golf course and when the horses are loose they are charging around.

"If they get out and turn right, instead of left, they'll be down the lane to Odsal Top.

"I also feel very sorry for the horses, because the land is a mess.

"There's methane gas coming out of it and it's a mudbath.

"Those horses must be looking out of the field onto our golf course and thinking it's the promised land."