THREE youths broke into the equipment room of an eastern suburbs golf course, stole three golf buggies and then drove "erratically" across the 17th and 18th holes early yesterday morning, police said.

But officers said Redfern teenager Jermaine Coppini told them after the incident his brother had picked him up from home in the buggy and driven him to the course, a court heard.

The 19-year-old is facing five charges, including two counts of malicious damage, break enter and steal, and take and drive a conveyance.

In a statement tendered to Central Local Court yesterday, police alleged the youths "did intentionally or recklessly damage or destroy property, to wit, grass," before Coppini's co-offenders fled the scene.

Police said the trio at first attempted to break into the course's pro shop at Moore Park Golf Course but were thwarted by a metal roller door.

They then turned their attention to an adjoining equipment room, successfully forcing entry. Coppini had started one of the carts and driven it though the damaged door and onto the golf course, the police statement said.

Two other offenders had also driven onto the 17th and 18th holes, the statement said.

Officers from Surry Hills local area command arrived at Moore Park shortly after 1am where they heard men laughing and yelling. Coppini was said to be "driving straight toward police" when the police officers identified themselves and arrested him.

Later, he allegedly told police that his brother had driven over to his Bourke Street home in one of the carts and brought him back to the course.

Police said that this would be "near improbable due to the fact that south of the course is surrounded by a seven-foot high mesh fence" and the fact that it would have required driving along main roads with two or three lanes each way.

"At no stage was [there] a report of a person operating a golf cart within the near vicinity."

Coppini was denied bail after telling Central Local Court that he intended leaving NSW if it was granted.