A WOMAN golfer was left with leg injuries after a dog jumped up on her as she was playing at North Berwick Golf Club.

The shaken golfer suffered scratches to her leg in the incident which happened at around 8.30am on the course last week.

It has led to club secretary Chris Spence appealing to dog owners to keep their pets on the lead when walking on the course.

He said: "This was a distressing incident for the golfer and her female companions who were concerned to be confronted by a loose dog running towards them.

"Unfortunately we have incidents like this all the time, with dog owners not realising, and in some cases not caring, that their dogs should be kept onlead on the golf course at all times.

"All we ask is for them to respect their surroundings golfers and dog owners should be able to work together."

Mr Spence said the incident was just one of a number of issues caused to the club by its stunning location.

He said they were plagued with dog fouling problems, with some people even failing to pick up after pets on the children's golf course.

And he said members of the public frequently strayed onto the greens during play frustrating golfers and putting themselves in danger.

He said: "We are fortunate to be right on the coast and have terrific views but with that comes a problem with public access.

"We've had people come along and picnic on the greens and families building sandcastles in our bunkers.

"We've even had people trying to pitch up camping.

"It is an issue with public access and I know we are not alone. The legislation for safe access stresses people should not walk on the prepared fairways and green, or have their dogs offlead.

"Even the best golfer in the world, Jason Day, cannot always hit the ball in a straight line. We have one to four golfers teeing off every ten minutes on any given day here.

"If a member of the public was hit by a ball as they crossed a fairway they could be very seriously injured."

The club has put up signs reminding people of their responsibility when walk at the course and urging them to be aware of the rules.

Mr Spence said: "We are just asking people to be mindful of safe access, there has to be a happy medium."