Dinosaur buried in golf course

4:50pm Wednesday 20th August 2008

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Construction of Europe’s largest crazy golf course was hit by a prehistoric delay when builders were forced to excavate a dinosaur from the site in New Malden.

The Jurassic-themed course at the World of Golf in Beverley Way was due to open last week, but a small landslide caused by recent bad weather submerged an eight foot mechanical reptile designed to roam the greens.

It then took more than two days to painstakingly remove the dinosaur which had just been shipped in from China and cost nearly £10,000.

“The dinosaur was completely swallowed up,” said Oliver Mahoney, manager of the adventure golf course.

“Because they are quite delicate machines, full of mechanics and electronics, we had to excavate it very carefully.

“The whole head and back was covered and only about two foot of tail was left sticking out the ground.

“It actually cost us quite a lot of time and we couldn’t just take a digger to it. In the end it took a couple of people quite a while to dig the dinosaur out with just a trowel.

“I’m sure I’ll look back at the whole thing fondly but at the time, it was a little bit distressing.”

A spokesman from the World of Golf added: “I’m not sure the builders had an archaeological project in mind when they started the job but they managed to excavate the mechanical dinosaur in the end.”

The 18 hole adventure golf complex, which will feature primeval caves, lush vegetation and even a cascading waterfall, is due to open this weekend.

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