Rough shape: Herd of javelinas damages Arizona golf course

SEDONA, Ariz. — This golf course truly has some deep roughs.

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A herd of javelinas has been romping through an Arizona golf course, ripping up chunks of turf in the fairways, Golf Digest reported.

Em Casey, the superintendent at Seven Canyons Golf Club in Sedona, posted a video of the carnage caused by the javelinas, which are also known as collared peccary. They are medium-sized animals that are similar in appearance to wild boars, according to the Arizona-Senora Desert Museum website.

“What should be one of the most beautiful golf courses in the country is being destroyed by herds of javelina,” Casey wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “If anyone has a contact in AZ state govt that can help us find a solution please pass it along.”

The golf course, ranked No. 24 in Arizona by Golf Digest, has been wrecked by the javelinas for several weeks. Herds continue to root through fairways in an apparent search for food, Golf Monthly reported.

Javelinas look cute and cuddly, but they are voracious eaters and stubbornly defend their territory, according to the Arizona-Senora Desert Museum website. They travel in packs between five and 15.

They can be found in the deserts of southwest Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and in Mexico, Central America and South America, the museum website notes.

Javelinas stand about 2 feet tall and are 3 to 4 feet in length. They can weigh between 35 to 55 pounds.

The animals are herbivores, which means that a golf course, with its perfectly manicured grass, is a prime target.

Trapping the javelinas might be a good solution, but under Arizona law they are classified as a “big game species.”

That makes it illegal to trap, injure or kill the animals unless certain rigorous restrictions are met, Golf Digest reported.

So for now, Casey is hoping the javelinas decide to head for greener pastures -- preferably, away from Seven Canyons’ greens and fairways.