A PAIR of pesky crows are harassing golfers by swooping down on the course and stealing their golf balls.

The mischievous pair have turned the 12th and 17th fairways at Blyth Golf Club, Northumberland, into bogey holes for early-morning players who, for once, dread getting a birdie.

Club members have been left feeling under-par, and some teed-off players have demanded that the club acts to rid the fairways of the feathered pests.

Manager Jim Wright said yesterday: "It is mostly happening early in the morning, when the first players are out on the course.

"When they are driving down to these particular greens, the crows are swooping down and picking up the balls.

"A couple of people came to the office and said, 'What are you going to do about the crows?' but what can I do about it - organise a shooting party? I don't think so."

Whether or not the antics are just a game to the crows is a contentious point back in the clubhouse, with many club members believing that the misguided birds are confused by the small white objects.

Mr Wright said: "These crows think the balls are eggs. They keep swooping down, picking them up, flying into the air and dropping them. They then start pecking at them."

For the die-hard golfers at the club, it is simply too painful to watch.

Jack Goodall, from Blyth, had his scorecard ruined when the thieving pair flew off with his ball four times in one round.