Jay Mitchell lives near hole 13, on the edge of the Morgan Creek Golf Course in Surrey. For the past four years, he says thousands of golf balls have been hit into his yard, striking his house and cars, and even hitting him in the hip.
And he has had enough.
Mitchell says he should not have to pay to repair the damage caused to his home. “We’re getting stuck with a big bill that I don’t really think we should be responsible for,” he says. Some of the golfers have paid the bills for the damage they have caused.
The golf course did come out and talk to Mitchell and planted some trees, but Mitchell he says more still needs to be done.
“According to the golf course attorney, I shouldn’t even let me kids play in my own back yard,” says Mitchell.
Morgan Creek Golf Course is not only a golf course, but also a residential development, and Mitchell says it is not a course for beginners.
He did know when he bought the home, that it is on the edge of the golf course, but says the previous owners told him the home only got hit by golf balls about three times a year. However, that does not appear to be the case.
READ MORE: Life on the edge: Things to consider if you live on a golf course
Some of Mitchell’s neighbours says in the beginning the golf balls were an issue, but the golf course addressed the issue. “We’re very happy what has transpired since the complaints,” says Ramona Fors.
The golf course says they investigate any claims from homeowners about any damage to their home in these situations.
“In some instances we’ll recommend they plant a tree of their property, or a number of trees,” says Nicholas Schmaling, In-House Counsel for the group that owns the Morgan Creek Golf Course. “We, as in this case, planted a significant number of trees, right next to the Tee Box to help alleviate the issue. Of course, when I say ‘the issue’, it’s a subjective matter,” he adds. “And so that creates the difficulty in assessing these situations.”
Schmaling says they have offered to put up nets, but Mitchell does not want that on his property.
“The golfer’s responsibility is to hit the ball straight down the fairway,” says Schmaling, “but accidents do happen.”
It is the also the golfer’s responsibility to pay for any damage.
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