PAGELAND, S.C. (WBTV) – An invaluable life lesson is coming out of an ugly situation at White Plains Golf Club in Pageland, where two juveniles are accused of tearing up parts of the course during an early morning joyride on a four-wheeler.<\/p>\n
The club\u2019s owner, Andrew Currie, said he\u2019s not pressing criminal charges. Instead, he\u2019s giving the juveniles a chance to learn firsthand what their actions cost, by bringing them back next week for a day of work on the course.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s always your worst nightmare at a golf course,\u201d Currie said, describing the damage to fairways and bunkers at the recently remodeled club. <\/p>\n
Currie said his first reaction was anger, but that changed after he reviewed surveillance video.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce we got the surveillance video, I saw it was kids and I\u2019ve got teenage kids myself, so I have a little bit of grace there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Rather than take the case down a criminal path, Currie said accountability will still be part of the outcome \u2014 just in a different way.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think accountability is important \u2014 we\u2019re going to do that here,\u201d Currie said. \u201cHaving the kids come out and work the golf course, actually see the effort. So they\u2019re going to dig some ditches, and they\u2019re going to rake and they\u2019re going to move some debris.\u201d<\/p>\n
Currie told WBTV the four-wheeler was driven from the very front of the course all the way to the back, leaving behind thousands of dollars in damage.<\/p>\n
For a sport that prides itself on etiquette, Currie said he hopes this approach leaves a lasting impression.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you\u2019re young, you make stupid mistakes and sometimes people don\u2019t realize the effort and work that goes into a golf course to get it in this condition,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
The club says its grounds crew was able to complete repairs within a day. <\/p>\n