A vandal with a grudge is being blamed for a pickaxe attack on a golf course.

Ground staff at Hill Barn Golf Course, on the Downs overlooking Worthing, found two greens had been targeted.

Police are now investigating the incident, which took chunks out of the 8th and 9th holes, leaving course owner, Richard Haygarth, with a bill for several thousand pounds.

Mr Haygarth, who purchased the course from Worthing Borough Council for £2 million last January, said: "I am pretty sure it is not kids. It is someone who is upset for some reason."

When he took over, My Haygarth almost immediately restricted access to the course to dog-walkers, warning somebody could be hit by a golf ball and seriously injured.

Some were upset by the ruling but there is no suggestion a dog owner was responsible for the damage.

The vandal made sure he damaged greens away from security cameras, which Mr Haygarth installed to monitor the clubhouse, shop, storage facilities and car park.

He said: "It won't affect the golf course significantly but it is the sort of thing we don't like to have happen.

"We have called the police and given them a statement but I am not confident anything will turn up.

"The person who did this picked out a dozen or so holes, which is quite bizarre. It will cost a couple of thousand pounds to repair. We have done a temporary repair and will be doing proper repairs next week.

"In the meantime, it's definitely business as usual."

Since taking over Hill Barn, Mr Haygarth, who also owns Chichester Golf Club, has spent £400,000 upgrading facilities, including the installation of a new irrigation system, the purchase of maintenance equipment and refurbishment of the clubhouse.

He also plans to put in new paving and doors at the clubhouse, revamp the ladies' locker room and restore bunkers to their original pre-war condition when Hill Barn was regarded as one of the finest courses in Britain.

Mr Haygarth said: "Business is excellent. People have started to see the improvements to the overall presentation of the course and seem to appreciate what we are doing."