SIDCUP: Golfers fire balls at Brown and Darling (From News Shopper)

SIDCUP: Golfers fire balls at Brown and Darling

2:28pm Tuesday 14th April 2009 in Search By Alexis Thompson

GOLFERS can unleash their frustration at the Government by firing balls at the faces of Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling.

Images of Brown and Darling have been painted on 3m boards which have been put up at the World of Golf at Sidcup, a driving range just off the Sidcup By-Pass.

The company World of Golf has put the images up at all four of its driving ranges across the country, including World of Golf at Croydon, New Malden and Glasgow.

They went up on April 1, a day before the G20 Summit.

Steve Brown, general manager at the driving range said: ”It was the idea of our company’s chief executive, Grant Wright.

“He thought in light of the current economic climate and people’s discontent with the Government, it would be a fun and tongue in cheek idea.

“We knew it would be a risk but it’s not to be taken seriously and we haven’t had any problems so far.”

Both images are positioned in full view of the driving range with targets painted on their foreheads for players to hit at them.

Mr Brown says it’s the first time the company have done anything like this before.

He added: “They will be staying up for as long as they can stand getting golf balls fired at them all day.”

Fred Reynolds of Lewis Road Sidcup has been visiting the driving range for 15 years and thinks it’s a bad idea.

The 66-year-old said: “I know the country is going through a bad time and everyone is looking for someone to blame, but this a little too controversial.

“This is one of the best driving ranges in the country, but this makes it look tacky.”

Renee Clark, 30 of Wansunt Road, Bexley said: “This is my first time at the driving range and it’s given me a perfect incentive to try and hit the target.

“Everyone is angry with the Government at the moment.

“But for serious golfers it’s probably irrelevant, it’s just a bit of fun I don’t think people should be taking it too seriously.”