A golf club has sparked outrage after letting a marksman shoot foxes on the course as part of a legal cull.

A leaked email of minutes from a Dartford Golf Club meeting revealed the decision to employ someone to target fox families with a shotgun in order to “prepare our bunkers to a satisfactory standard”.

General manager Matthew Streets today confirmed the contents of the email were true and that a cull of the creatures had already been carried out.

Mr Streets did not know how many foxes were slaughtered, but said it was done due to the “general damage and trails of excrement” they left behind.

The number of foxes killed was also unknown by Mr Streets.

The email, leaked from an anonymous member of the golf club, said: “At a recent greens meeting, a decision was taken to allow Nigel Costen access to the course to shoot the foxes.

“Nigel is a member of BASC (British Association of Shooting and Conservation), holds the relevant shot gun licence and we have had sight of his insurance etc.

“No special permission is needed for the calibre of shotgun he is using, and the local constabulary have been informed of our intention.

“All carcasses will be removed from site.”

The message also stated that Mr Costen will shoot mainly at night and that he will be totally compliant with all laws and regulations.

The news was originally shared on Facebook by The Fox Project, a charity dedicated to the Red Fox, which has caused a social media storm – attracting 898 likes and 394 comments.

Sue Jones posted: “I think it’s disgusting that ‘grown’ men can resort to this kind of tactical behaviour to solve minor damage to their golf course.

“Golf [is] only a game, a pass time, and I think it’s despicable that they are planning this kind of action. Don’t take yourselves so seriously, you golfers, leave the wildlife alone.”

Patricia Jones added: “This is totally unacceptable, what real harm can a few foxes do to a golf green? Leave the foxes and the rest of nature alone. Everything has the right to live.”

According to the website of The British Association for Shooting and Conservation, there are no specific legal restrictions on the night shooting of foxes and any authorised person may legally carry out this form of fox control.