Joyride on Tarpon Springs Golf Course Causes Thousands in Damage

A joyride in a pickup truck caused thousands of dollars in damage at the Tarpon Springs Golf Course, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Police say two men drove a pickup truck onto the city-run course Friday morning, spinning doughnuts in the grass, breaking sprinkler heads, stealing a flag from one of the greens and causing $15,000 to $30,000 in damage, according to the Times.

Lucas Daniel Cowden, 18, of Palm Harbor, and Donald Everitt Ball Jr., 20, of Tarpon Springs, were arrested by Tarpon Springs Police after a witness reported the incident.

Both men told authorities they were on their way home to drink a six-pack of beer found under the front passenger seat when they passed the course and "thought it would be a good idea" to joyride there, the Times reports.

Cowden was charged with felony criminal mischief and misdemeanor counts of petty theft and possession of alcohol by a minor; Ball was charged with acting as an accessory after the fact and underage alcohol possession. Both men were released after posting bail.

Officials at the course said staff and patrons are "working around" the damage, which could take months to repair, according to the Times.

Read more in the Times' story.