NORTHPORT, N.Y. (CBS2NewYork) — The hunt is on for whomever used a sharp, blunt object to dig dozens of holes and slice chunks of sod on a distinguished Suffolk County golf course. Crab Meadow Golf Course is considered one of the finest public golf courses on Long Island, featuring majestic views of the sound and, until now, pristine putting greens, CBS2’s Jennifer McLogan reported Thursday. “I mean they used an ax or some spade and just ripped up the whole greens,” said Ove Dyling, a golfer from East Northport. “It was just horrible.” In all, four greens were vandalized by someone with a pick ax or shovel, ripping away huge chunks of manicured sod and taking a blunt object to the complex and costly surface and shape. Damage is estimated at $124,000. “Doesn’t make any sense at all,” said Dennis Gallagher, a golfer from Greenlawn. “What could anybody have a grudge against a golf course?” It appears to have been premeditated, McLogan reported. The vandal or vandals struck after hours on July 31 near fencing to the preserve. “They knew that area is not well-lit, there’s no electricity, there weren’t cameras,” said Huntington Town Supervisor Chad Lupinacci. “So I think the person wasn’t just randomly picking an area, but probably knew the layout of the golf course.” The crime couldn’t have come at a worse time for the summer golfing season, disrupting August tournaments and family events. “It was so viciously done,” one woman said. “It wasn’t kids fooling around.” “It’s a concern that it’s going to take so long to fix,” said another. Repairs are underway. A local sod farm is already delivering soil and sand. “The subsurface now we have to dig down 10 inches, build it up with sand, put drainage into the green, and then we’ll be laying the sod. So it becomes very costly to do,” said Patrick Murgolo, superintendent of Crab Meadow Golf Course. For now, the course is offering 10 percent off greens fees. Because on the four affected holes, golfers will be putting on makeshift greens at the end of the fairway. The reward for nabbing the culprit is up to $10,000. It is being provided by an anonymous golfer and Suffolk police. Repairs will take until at least September.<doc-sep>Rewards totaling $10,000 are being offered for information leading to the arrests of vandals who caused an estimated $124,000 in damage to Crab Meadow Golf Course in Northport. Town Supervisor Chad Lupinacci said during a Thursday news conference at the course that the vandalism — dozens of holes and scrapings across four greens — occurred between 9 p.m July 30 and 2 a.m. July 31 in an unlit area with no electricity or cameras. The damage at the public course, at 220 Waterside Road, appears to be more than just a prank, Lupinacci said. "We're speculating here, but it appears to have been caused by a blunt object — a shovel, a pick, an ax," Lupinacci said. "It wasn't some rowdy teenagers having fun at night. This was actually premeditated ... and it looked like it was using large intrusive instruments." Of the four greens damaged, one was repaired by town employees but the others sustained major damage, he said. Three temporary greens have been established for golfers to use until the damage is repaired, which is expected to be within three weeks. Lupinacci said the cost will be covered by insurance, after a $50,000 deductible, and money from the Parks and Recreation Capital Improvement Reserve Fund. Get the Suffolk news this week newsletter! The biggest news, politics and crime stories in Suffolk County, in your inbox every Friday at noon. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy. The act of damaging the course was "vicious," he said, but will not derail a summer of golfing for enthusiasts at one of the town's "crown jewels." The $5,000 Town reward has been privately donated, Lupinacci said. Suffolk County Police are also offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest Town officials have approved a 10 percent discount off all greens fees, excluding the demand-based pricing implemented earlier this year, until repairs are completed. Carole Sellerberg, a retired teacher from the Northport-East Northport school district who goes to the course at least once a week, said witnessing the damage was upsetting. "My heart was broken when I saw squares dug out from the greens," she said. "That people did that purposely and willfuly to destroy, so inappropriate." Lupinacci said security measures at the course are being changed. .<doc-sep>
NORTHPORT, Suffolk County (WABC) -- Police are searching for the person or people responsible for causing more than $100,000 in damage to a golf course in Suffolk County.A Crab Meadow Golf Course employee discovered the damage to the greens after it happened overnight between July 30 and July 31.Town of Huntington officials believe it was done deliberately with a pick or an ax. They think the person knows the course because the four greens that were damaged are not well-lit at night.The golf course does have gates that lock at night, but there is a nature preserve nearby, and that's how officials believe the person got in.The damage amounts to $124,000, but there is a $50,000 deductible through the town's insurance. Officials are using reserve funds from the Parks and Recreation budget to pay for the repairs.Repair work on three of the damaged greens is underway. One of the greens only sustained minor damage so it was repaired quickly. "It's very sad that people would go after something that's owned by the residents and destroy it in such a vicious way, and the damage that it did, you know, it took our four holes," Chad Lupinacci, Town of Huntington Supervisor, said.There is a $10,000 reward being offered for information leading to an arrest of the person responsible for the damage. Half of the reward money is from the Suffolk County Police and the other half is from an anonymous donor -- a person who uses the golf course regularly and is horrified that this happened.The town is offering golfers a 10 percent discount off green fees while the repair work is underway.Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, texting "SCPD" and your message to "CRIMES" (274637) or by email at www.tipsubmit.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.----------