Greens are damaged more than any other area on the golf course.

Vandalism-Is There Any Answer?by JAMES B. MONCRIEFDirector, Southeastern Region, USGA Green Section

SCHOOL IS OUT. It's 9:30 on asummer evening in late June and,within the hour, Ron and Chris

(ages 14 and 15) will be under the fencewith the ways and means of vandalizingseveral greens at White Lake CountryClub. And they won't be caught! Thou-sands of other Rons and Chrises aroundthe country will be doing their thing onthousands of other golf courses allsummer long. There seems to be no realanswer to this spirit of hostility, willfuldestruction, and defacement of thingsof beauty.

A police study based on British andAmerican experience in 1978 shows that

the term vandalism does not appear inGreat Britain's criminal law, andvandals are usually dealt with by theCriminal Damage Act of 1971. In theUnited States, the term vandalismappears in the laws of only seven states.More commonly, the states' statutesrefer to criminal mischief, maliciousproperty destruction, malicious mis-chief or criminal damage to property.State laws vary widely in their scopeand structure and in relation to finesand punishment.

The FBI Uniform Crime Reportdefines vandalism as willful destructionor defacement of property without con-

sent of the owner. It is found in allsocial and economic levels throughoutthe United States, and there seems tobe no area that is not affected. Vandalismis largely associated with youth andadolescence. It is classified by sixmotives or types:

1. Acquisitive Vandalism: propertydamage to acquire money or goods.

2. Tactical Vandalism: propertydamage done intentionally to advancesome other end.

3. Ideological Vandalism: carried outspecifically to further an ideologicalcause.

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(Above and opposite page) Toprevent vandalsplaying with the fJagsticks, some clubs arebringing in the fJags each night.

4. Vindictive Vandalism: propertydamage to a selective target for revenge.

5. Group Vandalism: property damageto a selective target for revenge on anowner or representative.

6. Graffiti Vandalism: paint, spraypaint cans, or marking pens to expresspersonal identity.

Sometimes school problems areresponsible for vandalism, but in othercases, it may result from restrictedopportunities. Subcultural differencesin values and attitudes may also be atwork. Prolonged adolescent dependenceseriously damages personalities, label-ing, and stereotyping, and serve asanother cause.

Golf courses are prime targets andare being hit harder each year. Invariablythe most affected areas are the greens,fairways, and then tees. If golf cartstorage areas are not well protected,they soon become attractive to thenighttime marauders: Many golf cartsare wrecked each year through vandal-ism, and yet few vandals are seriouslyhurt and even fewer ever caught.

In 1974, a group survey made in amidwestern state was completed by 840Farm Bureau Councils representingmore than 11,000 people living in 84

2 USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

of the state's counties. Vandalismtopped the list of the biggest crimeproblem in their communities, followedby theft, burglary, drugs, traffic, anddrunken driving. Unfortunately, youthswere viewed as the principal groupcommitting these crimes. Three out offour Farm Bureau Councils reported anoticeable increase in crime in theirlocal communities. Alarmingly, a shiftin the type of crime committed was alsonoted and found to be toward drug-related crimes and theft.

There are some basic reasons whychildren become involved in vandalism.Some authorities believe the emotionalneeds of children are a paramountcause. There is the need for love andsecurity and the need for responsibility.Many people think anger, hate, andlack of concern for others are commonreactions to being unloved and rejectedand that these feelings may lead tovandalism. Boredom can result in lackof new experiences that will lead theyouth to excitement and destructivegang activity.If children are denied the opportunity

to develop responsibility, they may notrecognize the rights and property ofothers. Most vandalism is done by

individuals from ages 13 to 17, touchingpractically all society from the city tosuburbia to the country. The only dif-ference in each of these is how it affectsthe condition of the area being vandal-ized.

The damage done by any individualmay be classified as a felony or mis-demeanor, with the cost of repair orreplacement determining which categoryit falls in. When damage amounts tomore than $100, it is a felony, and, whenless than $100, it is a misdemeanor.

Most acts of vandalism go unreportedand unsolved. However, a recent studyof complaints filed against youngoffenders revealed the following infor-mation:

1. Investigative leads lacking sincemost offenses are unwitnessed.

2. Group activity generally pre-dominant.

3. Most apprehended offenders atgolf courses are white males.

4. Cars are often used in the act.5. Multiple acts are usually committed.6. Juvenile offenders develop special

language describing activity.7. Most arrested cannot explain

behavior.

8. Offenses generally committed onweekends .

9. Most acts done between 8 p.m.and 2 a.m.

10. Damages range in the thousandsof dollars.n. Types of property destroyed and

weapons used varied.Judge Olin M. Price, juvenile judge

of Clarke County, Georgia, is a memberof the Board of Directors of the NationalCouncil of Juvenile and Family CourtJudges. He has developed a list ofinteresting statistics that show theextensiveness of malicious destructionof property and other acts by humansand how it affects other people. He hasfound:

ON A NATIONAL LEVEL:• Sixty percent of reported vandalism

occurs at night.• Many persons and places are

vandalized more than once in relativelyshort periods.

• About one in six places or personsis victimized twice during the year.

• Vandalism varies greatly dependingon the locality, socio-economic leveland region.

• Every person in this nation hasviolated some laws many times, andmost violate some law daily. However,most of these violations are thought tobe petty or not serious enough to dealwith. On the other hand, the followingis a Crime Clock of serious offensesoccurring within every hour in thisnation:

1979 19801,114 1,670 Serious crimes

119 230 Violent crimes59 79 Robberies

3,600 4,100 Burglaries600 700 Larcenies120 130 Auto thefts

2 3 Murders6 8 Forcible rapes

69 79 Forcible aggravatedassaults

5,600 6,200 Acts of vandalismto property

ON A LOCAL LEVEL:• Most acts of vandalism are un-

solved due to the nature of the offense -hit-and-run tactics, spur-of-the-momentanger, frustration by otherwise law-abiding people. A great many acts ofvandalism are thought of as pranksand/ or mischief by the offenders. Manyacts of vandalism go unreported due tothe nature of the events, such as abroken window, damaged landscape,painted items, egg throwing at cars,homes, etc.

• In Clarke County, Georgia, sevenvandalism cases were tried in JuvenileCourt in 1977 and 11 during 1980. Therewere probably several thousand acts ofvandalism during this time, but only avery small percentage ever are caughtor go to court.• If you don't deal with juries,

courts, or security forces often, youcan't believe you are living in or near somuch misdoing. We have to be remindedby the 11 o'clock news: "Do you knowwhere your kids are right now?"

Vandalism is costing golf clu bsmillions of dollars each year, and muchof this is counted in forced securitymeasures. Each morning, the golf courseand all buildings are routinely andthoroughly checked by many super-intendents for possible damage doneby vandals resulting from spur-of-the-moment anger, planned approach todestroy something belonging to otherpeople, disgruntled ex-employees, andeven golfers themselves. Many mainte-nance buildings and clubhouses havehad detective warning devices installedto discourage entrance .. However, toomany golf courses are still wide opento vandals - no fences, no ditches, noberms to exclude intrusion.

Fences are usually the first attemptto keep night invasion from the golfcourse. Fences will not keep all trafficout, but they discourage many would-be vandals. High four-wheel-drivevehicles and motorcycles find entrythrough the main road and/ or serviceroad, and once in, they are difficult tocontain. Old telephone poles or logsplaced in areas and secured in some wayare excellent in discouraging suchintruders. Posts or poles can be buriedin the soil with or without concrete to

Prevention - here the best cure.

stop on-course traffic. Sharp nails,broken glass or sharp metal in boards,however, should not be used, becausethe club could be liable for a lawsuit.One of the best protectors around agolf course is a drainage ditch or moatfilled witp water so only swimmers orboats ca~ enter the property.

More security gates are being con-structed each year, and some newhousing develop men ts have builtsecurity gates before the golf course orclubhouse is constructed or is ready foruse. In large cities, protection of golfersrequires more and more security. Oneclu b in South Florida,. during heavyplay in 1981, had four security menpatrolling the 18-hole course on smallmotorcycles, two on the first nine andtwo on the second. There was alsosecurity at the front with a parkingattendant. TV cameras are now beingplaced in strategic locations aroundsome properties and in the clubhouseto improve security. They provide widecoverage and require fewer guards.

From time to time I have receivedtelephone calls from clubs that havecaught vandals in the act, but, for onereason or another, do not wish to go tocourt. What to do? Oftentimes the

apprehended one is a child of a clubmember, and avoidance of publicity isdesired. I have discussed this problemwith many superintendents, profes-sionals, managers, and club officialsover the past 25 years. The best courseof action seems to be one of cooperationon the part of all concerned, with parentsand child agreeing to pay for all damages.

The most recent success story I haveheard occurred in Florida, where teen-age boys were caught robbing soft-drinkmachines and causing other damagesome years ago. Two of the boys andtheir parents were very cooperative,with the boys paying for the damageby working on the golf course. The boyssoon became interested in the game andtook lessons from the professional.Happily, in 1981, they received scholar-ships to play on their college golf team.Thanks to M. G. Orender, of DiamondHill Country Club, near Tampa,Florida, these two young men are nowwell on life's way. Unfortunately, theirex-friend has proven to be a repeaterin unlawful acts.

In another case, a club I visited inNaples, Florida, had a restroom beingrepeatedly vandalized. The super-intendent found a hole cut in the fence

(Above) Thousands of dol/ars in damageeach year to stolen golf carts.

(Below) Now you see him - now you don't.

near a lake and a housing area near thecourse. Silent detectors were installedin the restroom and tied into the sheriffsdepartment switchboard. Late oneafternoon, about sundown, the signalwent off. Unfortunately, by the timethe superintendent got to the restroom,no one could be found. Nevertheless, anapproximate time was established forthe vandalism and the next stage wasset. The hole was left in the fence and,on the following afternoon, the super-intendent played with each foursomestarting on the tee before the hole wherethe fence was cut. He played two holeswith each foursome, then circled backout of sight and kept repeating until twoyoungsters were seen near the hole inthe fence. Two boys, II and 12 yearsold, came through the hole with theirBB guns. The superintendent went overand asked the boys what they weredoing.

"We are just hunting birds.""I'm sorry, but we can't do that on

our beautiful course, can we?" theywere told.

He treated them nicely, as only asuperintendent with two small boyshimself would do. As their conversation

continued, one of the boys finally said,"It's too bad someone has damagedyour restroom." This was the key state-ment that aided Superintendent ClintSmallridge at Royal Poinciana GolfClub in Naples, Florida, and the sheriffto get a confession, for how would theboys know about the restrooms? Theboys' families are paying for thedamages.

Stories of vandalism go on and on.Certainly the numbers are already highand we can expect even higher ones inthe future as populations increasearound our golf courses. Vandalism is apart of life and a part of our cost ofoperation. For our own mental health,we should be willing to accept that fact.Nevertheless, we should also prepareourselves and our courses as best wecan to reduce and contain this growingproblem. It's worth the effort. If youneed assistance, contact the NationalJuvenile Clearinghouse Operator withinthe National Criminal Justice ReferenceService (JCJRS). A toll-free number(800-638-8736) makes the JuvenileJustice Services readily available tothose who are interested or alreadyworking with youths.

JULY/AUGUST 1982 5