GUERILLA golfers have taken over a course which was closed down, the Echo can reveal.

Members of Basildon Golf Club are now unofficially running the course, which shut nearly two weeks ago after cash-strapped Basildon Golf Centre sacked 12 workers.

Basildon Council is apparently aware of the situation and turning a blind eye until the future of the course is finalised.

Paul Nicholas, 50, from Vange Hill Drive, said: “At the weekend there were more players here than normal when the company was running it.

“It is like it used to be before they took over. Everyone is mucking in and donations are helping pay for the petrol for the mowers.

“If we didn’t do this it would be overgrown and go to rack and ruin.”

A whipround generated £16,000 which was used to buy three maintenance vehicles. Members and players have also donated lawnmowers with one man putting in £1,000.

James Dennison, club secretary, said: “We can’t really say a lot at the moment, because what we are doing is not really above board.

“We are effectively trespassing.”

A member, who would not be named, said Basildon Council, which owns the land, was aware of what was going on, but had taken no action. At 3pm yesterday the Echo saw a number of players arrive and hand over £10 donations.

Tony Ball, council leader said: “I have heard, anecdotally, the club is running the course unoffically.”

Basildon Golf Centre – a subsidiary of national golf course operator Jack Barker – closed the course on April 6 after Basildon Council snubbed its latest request for a cash handout.

The council has served notice on Jack Barker to reopen or surerrender its 99-year lease to run the course, which it took on in late 2007.

It planned a £1million revamp using building spoil, but ran into financial difficulties after planning permission was revoked by the Court of Appeal.