« World Golf Rankings vs. BCSCell Phones on the course ruin what golf is all about »

21 comments

  1. § said on :
    It is very unfortunate when a journalist writing for a golf publication is so ignorantly mistaken. Brandon Tucker's article on "Help! Someone Hit My House" is sadly innacurate. It is most definetly the golfers responsibilty when he hits something or someone. Obviously not everyone knows this but a writer for a golf column should. I agree that many course side homeowners are ignorant to thier risks and what to expect from golfers. It is undeniably the golfers responsibility of what his actions do when banging their balls all over the place. If you don't like the risks or challenge of a course with homes close to the fairway, then go play in a cornfield where you belong. But if you hit my house, then you're damn sure going to pay for the damage (hence, the difference of being INbounds or OUT of bounds, you dumbass).
  2. § Anonymous said on :
    It is the typical ignorance and greedy attitude of the 1st comment that is why we have so many lawyers and lawsuits. It is always someone else's fault. If you don't want the risk of a golf ball in your house, go live next to a park! A golf course is built for golf not bird watching. Your temper-tantrum of a comment shows off your true ignorance and errogance! Do as most people need to do; grow up and take responsibility for your actions. If you move into tornado alley and your house gets destroyed are you going to sue mother nature? Don't live on a course if you are not willing to deal with what you knew BEFORE you moved in! The recreational golfer is not the dumbass, you are my friend.
  3. § said on :
    There are guidelines on how far away housing lots should be from the centerline of a golf hole. If this is followed, then the odds of an accident just follow the good old natural law of simple bad luck. Nobody's fault.
  4. § said on :
    "It is the golfer's responsibility when he hits something or someone" is a ridiculous statement that implies you golfers can actually hit a target when you want to. If that were the case, you'd all be shooting par.
  5. § Anonymous said on :
    I live on a course, albeit our homes are constructed so that it is very rare for one to be hit. My house is on the right side 280 yards from the blue tees and 80 yards from the center of the FW. I've had only a couple of balls in the yard in the year I've lived there.

    Now, based on quite a bit of research I've, the fact is that in some states the golfer is responsible for damage. It can also depend on whether the home or the course was on the books as in development first. Where I live, the golfer is not responsible although I would offer to pay the deductible out of my pocket because I feel like it is the correct thing to do.

    As I have told other homeowners in our community though, "You live on a golf course. Your house will get hit with a ball. Get over it."
  6. § the hack said on :
    Was this a major issue before the juiced balls, titanium drivers, graphite heads, and all the other recent technological impreovements which allow even the worst "hack" to hit with power and wreak devastation upon the poor golf course dwellers?
    Maybe the PGA can jump on the steriod bandwagon (lots of publicity) and have mandatory drug testing prior to teeing off.
  7. § snowqueenmaria said on :
    If you hit my house with a golfball, I hope you will knock on my door and pay.
    Show me the money...
  8. § ihatewhinnybitches said on :
    Does she complain about her hubby's golf "balls" hitting her
    the house too??
  9. § move_the_tee_box_position said on :
    I live on a private course and must say it's rare when a member hits the house... but when the club holds functions.. LOOK OUT! I blame the club for their ignorant placement of the tee box / stance. Move one of the tee box stand guides foward or back so the potential projectile will not be armed and ready to explode.
  10. § Visitor said on :
    My son was taken golfing by his girlfriends father as a thank you for some work he had done. While golfing my son hit and broke a window of one of the million plus $ homes surounding the course. The owner came out, my son appologized. The owner told him he was responsible for the replacement of the $500 dollar window that has been broken 5 times so far this year. If you can afford to buy or build a million dollar home why to you need to do it on a goldf course? My son will no longer be able to play considering that he can't afford to replace $500 windows. Some may say he shouldn't be golfing then, but how does one learn?!?!?
  11. § Joe Email said on :
    how about plexiglass windows after the first time it gets knocked out?
  12. § Tina Email said on :
    How about when a golf course moves in right next to you? I have a ten acre lot which a golf course decided to plant its course right next to. I have about 50 feet from the side of my house that adjoins hole 6. as well as another hole is in the front. My kids cannot even play in the yard as golf balls come flying into it. I have found 38 balls in just one weekend coming into my yard. Who's responsibility is it when my children are hurt by disrespectful golfers who act such as this?
  13. § Ryan Email said on :
    I think that the answer to the question "Who is responsible?" is pretty clear:

    Situation #1. If a golf course is built AFTER a house, then it should be the GOLF COURSE'S responsibility (as long as the home owner did not have notice that the golf course was going to be built). Tina, you should call an attorney (there should be a trial lawyer's association in your state) and have him or her contact the golf course as soon as possible. Not only should the owner of the course pay for any damage, but the course should also pay for erecting any fences or nets to protect your house and your children. The course should also be responsible for any property value loss caused by an ugly net in your back yard (but this could be offset if your property is worth more because of the golf course).

    Situation #2. If a golf course is built BEFORE a house, then it should be the HOME OWNER'S responsibility. The owner clearly assumed this risk when the house was purchased. The owner is able to make changes on their property to minimize damage (planting trees, erecting nets or fences, or putting protective coverings over windows), which the player has no control over. The owner should have a home owner's insurance policy that will cover damage and, depending on the location of the house, a good window repairman.

    Situation #3. If the golfer hit a house on purpose or was clearly negligent in some way, then the PLAYER should be responsible. I can't imagine that there would be many situations like this and even fewer that could be proved in a court. If a golfer was trying to hit a house, then the player should be responsible. If a golfer did something negligent, then the player should also be responsible. What would be a negligent golf act? For example, I would think that it should be considered negligent if a ball lands out of bounds and the player hits the ball even though the house is directly in the golf ball’s intended trajectory. I don’t think that a court would ever find that a golfer was negligent as long as he or she was playing within the rules of the game of golf, even if the player was a terrible golfer.
  14. § Ally said on :
    My family lives on a golf course and while the home has been hit numerous times, that's not our problem. It is the golfers who drive their carts onto our property to retrieve an "out-of-bounds" ball or drive the cart into our yard. Out of bounds is just that. Numerous of our sprinklers have been broken due to thei "poor" shots.
  15. § Kelly Campbell Email said on :
    I completely agree with the first person. If I break someone's window or damage their house it is my responsibility to pay for it. Saying that the homeonwer should pay for damage to their property because of someone else's bad shot is ridiculous. That is like saying if a car crashes through your home-you shouldn't have picked that lot for your house. If every one would just man (or woman) up and take responsibility for their actions then we would not be having this discussion. Living on a golf course you can expect to have some stray balls, but you also should expect someone to pay for damage caused by them. If I build my house ON the golf course then I pay for the damage. You hit your ball into my house (not part of the golf course) - YOU PAY!!!!!!
  16. § Jen Hess Email said on :
    I agree that if you purchase a home on a golf course you should expect to have a golf ball in your yard or hit your house if you are in the line of fire (so to speak). However, I purchased a house that is across the street from a course. Granted, it is an established course and my home was built years after the course was made but there is a busy main street that separates us. Should I still expect to find golf balls in my yard or hitting my home? My children cannot use our yard to play and visitors have been hit by balls. Calling the club's house has done nothing. What should my next step be? I only asked for the club to put up nets to prevent further damage or injury, but they claimed that their members do not pay to view nets. I don't believe they pay to view my house that has been riddled with holes!
  17. § Louis Email said on :
    I too live on a house that's not on a golf course but across the street from one. When I purchased the house I didn't think many golf balls would hit our house based on trusting the design of the golf course. I was wrong. We get hit up to 5 times in a day based on the number of balls we collect in our yard. I wish we would have been warned of all the damage done to our house from golf balls before we purchased it. Isn't this something that needs to be disclosed before selling a house? I am getting ready to sell the house and find a safer place for my family.
  18. § LC Email said on :
    Guys, this isn't a brain teaser. If you hit & damage
    someone's property with a ball (golf ball, baseball, cannon ball, etc) for whatever reason, it's your fault. If you're hitting someone's window who lives 250 yards away, and 130 degrees off the intended trajectory, you would be well advised to find another hobby for yourself. Or, be prepared to pay for the destruction you cause.
  19. § Passerby Email said on :
    I would like to see actual written case law that states who is and isn't responsible for shanked balls. I was driving by a course on the California coast (on my way to wedding) and a ball smacked into my car, breaking the fiber glass top of the head light. I didn't have time to stop and confront the golfer as the wedding was going to start in 30 minutes. I later called the course/club manager who was extremely polite and professional, and informed him of the incident. He told me that legally the golfer is responsible but he was going to mail a claim form to my house 200 miles away.

    I am just looking for more clarification on the whole concept of liability of bad shots/mishaps.

    Thanks all....
  20. § AuntDeb Email said on :
    If you have two cars out on the road, one car hits the other...is the driver of the car that got hit responsible for incurring the cost of the damage because it was silly enough to be out on the road with the other car? Certainly not. Drivers of cars OR golf balls are responsible for staying in their own lane. If one strays from their lane and causes damage the one who strays is financially responsible for the damage. It's just that simple.
  21. § golf lawyer Email said on :
    There is plenty of case law dealing with sports and torts that will support the fact that a golfer who damages property or person as a result of his or her shot is liable for the damage. Assumption of the risk rarely applies to a homeowner who purchased the property, although it does apply to spectators and other participants. At the end of the day, there is no difference in someone dinging another persons car in a parking lot, the person who did the damage is ultimately responsible and cannot argue that the other person assumed the risk by parking in a shopping mall parking lot. People need to take responsibility for their actions. The reason it is a called a hazard rather than an obstacle is that it is a "hazard" and should be avoided. However, today's wannabe tiger golfer arrogantly think that they are better than they really are and aim over hazards or houses rather than around. The game of golf is about control and responsible shooting. To argue anything else is childish and moronic.

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