Late-night Golf Cart Joyride Leaves Evanston Course Damaged

,Evanston, August 22, 2025

News Summary

In an incident resembling a reckless college prank, two golf carts belonging to a local university were stolen and driven recklessly across an Evanston golf course. This joyride resulted in significant damage to the greens, particularly between the 10th and 13th holes, leading to thousands of dollars in estimated repair costs. Local police departments are currently investigating the matter. The rise in reckless behavior prompts concerns about safety and policy enforcement on golf courses.

Evanston: Late-night Golf Cart Joyride Leaves Course Damaged and Police Asking Questions

In a scene that sounded like a college prank gone wildly out of control, two university-owned golf carts were stolen late Saturday night and left a trail of destruction across an Evanston golf course. Club greens that usually see careful chip shots and putts instead found ruts and flips between the 10th and 13th holes, leading to thousands of dollars in damage and an active police probe.

What went down when the course went from calm to chaotic

The carts belonged to a nearby university and were taken from the Foster Walker Hall parking area at 1900 Orrington Avenue during the late-night hours. One cart was discovered abandoned and overturned near the intersection of Garrison Avenue and Isabella Street around 5 a.m., missing a wheel and clearly having been driven hard across turf and hazards. The second cart turned up later that same day on Sherman Avenue in the 2300 block.

Earlier in the night — roughly four hours before that 5 a.m. report — police in a neighboring suburb received a tip about ATVs on the same golf course. Officers looked into it at the time and did not find anything, but the later discoveries made it clear the course had already been used as a late-night playground.

Damage and the fallout

The worst of the damage was concentrated between the 10th and 13th holes. Fairways and greens are built to be walked and played on, not raced across on powered vehicles. The result is torn turf, compressed soil, and ruts that can take weeks — or longer — to repair properly. Course managers estimate the cost in the thousands, and the work will likely include turf repair, leveling, and potentially reseeding.

This incident also rekindles memories for local golfers of earlier times when cart mayhem happened during more carefree events. Those past episodes forced course managers to tighten rules and be stricter about who gets to drive carts and when. After this latest episode, those policies will probably come back under the microscope.

Who is investigating and are there any suspects?

Both Evanston and Wilmette police departments are looking into what happened. As of now, no suspects have been charged and the investigation remains active. Authorities are piecing together timelines and following leads about where the carts were after they were taken.

Why golfers and neighbors should care

Aside from the obvious financial hit to the course, incidents like this affect play for regular members and visitors. Closed holes, patched-up turf, and higher repair costs can mean a less enjoyable season for golfers and extra expenses for course operators. For neighbors, flipped carts and late-night activity are safety concerns as well.

Practical takeaways for players and locals

• Keep an eye on course access points late at night and report suspicious vehicle activity to authorities.
• Course managers should review security measures for equipment storage and keys.
• Golfers can expect tighter cart rules and possibly increased oversight at club facilities.

What to watch for next

The case could advance if witnesses come forward or surveillance footage of the area is found. For now, the story remains a cautionary one: a late-night thrill ride turned into real damage and an inconvenient mess for the golf community.

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For golfers watching this story unfold, it’s a reminder that the game can be derailed by reckless behavior far from the clubhouse. The greenkeepers and course staff will be working to undo the damage — but it will take time, and in the meantime the course may feel the sting of a night that went off the rails.

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Additional Resources

• CBS News: Golf Course Vandalized
• Wikipedia: Home
• WCIA: Mattoon City Council Golf Cart Ordinance
• Google Search: Golf Cart Ordinance
• Shaw Local: Elburn Golf Cart Policy
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Golf Carts
• NBC Chicago: Golf Carts on the Street
• WAND TV: Golf Carts in Mattoon

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