Golf balls and disreputable people.....

Colleen

Colleen

Senior Member
Location
Pennsylvania
Just a rant, please.

Last Friday (yes, it was the 13th!), my husband drove to the mailbox to get our mail. We live in a golf course community and our house is 1 row back from the course and shielded by a house in front of us. Our mailbox is located just up the road by the club house/restaurant area. The golf course is like a big horseshoe and there is a putting green off to the side of the club house.

Anyway, my husband got our mail, got back in the car, put it in gear to drive away, when our car was hit by a golf ball. It left a nice big dent in the right rear quarter panel. Needless to say, my husband thought he'd been shot at because it hit with a big bang. He got out of the car and saw the ball rolling in front of the car so he knew what had happened. The guy (Johnny) that had whacked that ball clear off course came over and apologized and said he would have his friend, Chris (who was standing there also) fix it because Chris had a body shop in town and also worked for the Chevrolet dealer in town as a body/painter.

These 2 guys were probably in their 30's and do not live out here in our community.

Johnny told my husband to call Chris on Friday the 20th (today) and schedule a time for my husband to bring our car in to be fixed. So...my husband called Chris this morning and Chris basically blew him off. He said he'd have to talk to Johnny and he'd get back to my husband.

Ya, right! So...we have a nice fat dent in our new car that's probably going to be there forever! I would like nothing more than to get these two barred from ever playing golf out here again, but that's not going to happen. It's a public course and our POA doesn't give a rip because they want the money.

What is it with disreputable people?? No one seems to care to take responsibility for their actions.
 

That was my exact thought also but I thought maybe I was being too harsh. Unfortunately not everyone is truthful enough to keep their word which is sad and one reason why law inforcement is around .
 

Colleen said:
Just a rant, please.

Last Friday (yes, it was the 13th!), my husband drove to the mailbox to get our mail. We live in a golf course community and our house is 1 row back from the course and shielded by a house in front of us. Our mailbox is located just up the road by the club house/restaurant area. The golf course is like a big horseshoe and there is a putting green off to the side of the club house.

Anyway, my husband got our mail, got back in the car, put it in gear to drive away, when our car was hit by a golf ball. It left a nice big dent in the right rear quarter panel. Needless to say, my husband thought he'd been shot at because it hit with a big bang. He got out of the car and saw the ball rolling in front of the car so he knew what had happened. The guy (Johnny) that had whacked that ball clear off course came over and apologized and said he would have his friend, Chris (who was standing there also) fix it because Chris had a body shop in town and also worked for the Chevrolet dealer in town as a body/painter.

These 2 guys were probably in their 30's and do not live out here in our community.

Johnny told my husband to call Chris on Friday the 20th (today) and schedule a time for my husband to bring our car in to be fixed. So...my husband called Chris this morning and Chris basically blew him off. He said he'd have to talk to Johnny and he'd get back to my husband.

Ya, right! So...we have a nice fat dent in our new car that's probably going to be there forever! I would like nothing more than to get these two barred from ever playing golf out here again, but that's not going to happen. It's a public course and our POA doesn't give a rip because they want the money.

What is it with disreputable people?? No one seems to care to take responsibility for their actions.
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Hind sight's 20/20 I know....but you should have called the police right then & there. If for no other reason than he would have seen the damage....Likely taken names, etc.

Unfortunately we now live in a society where in theses cases we just cannot afford to be the nice guy any longer.

As for your last sentence....No, no one takes responsibility anymore.
 
Our second home overseas is also right above a Golf course, ( but we're too far to be affected) but the houses below us and in the road all around the edge of the course had regular occurrences with golf ball damage to vehicles and Casa windows and even in one instance a golf ball landing on their table while they were eating dinner outside on the terrace. No-one ever took responsibility, but after a few years of fighting with the club and the local Ayuntamiento and agreement was reached that a 25 foot chain link fence be erected.. and although some balls still go flying over, it has stopped the vast majoirty of the damage. It's very unfair , but the argument was always the chicken and the egg scenario...were the homes or the golf course there first.

Meaning don't buy next to a golf course...but if the course came second then all safety measure should be put in place to protect property and people in the surrounding area..
 
Police report??? You've got to be kidding, right?? It would have to be the Sheriff's Dept. and they would have just laughed at us. First of all...it happened on private property. If you would get hit in a grocery store parking lot, it would be up to the people involved to work it out. The only exception would be in bodily injuries. We live about 20 miles from town and the Sheriff's Dept. have more important things to do.

Insurance company?? I asked my husband about that and he said we have a $500 deductible, so.....
 
Hope you got a drivers license number from the guy. Also, you should never have waited a week, despite what they told you. File a claim. Call the police. You may think your deductible will make it not worth it. Wait until you actually price the repair!
 
Colleen, it seems the only hope you have of getting it fixed it talk to Johnny again and get him to back up his promise. Good luck.
 
Colleen said:
Police report??? You've got to be kidding, right?? It would have to be the Sheriff's Dept. and they would have just laughed at us. First of all...it happened on private property. If you would get hit in a grocery store parking lot, it would be up to the people involved to work it out. The only exception would be in bodily injuries. We live about 20 miles from town and the Sheriff's Dept. have more important things to do.

Insurance company?? I asked my husband about that and he said we have a $500 deductible, so.....
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Sounds like you've got it all figured out.

Good luck!
 
There’s my lack of tack showing.
I agree with Seabreeze. Ask the guy to honour his promise.
Asking the police to get involved in something that happened on private property a week ago probably won’t go down too well.
You may end up having to pay for this yourself.
 
I got a dent in my car from a golf ball once too and I wasn't even in a golfing community. I was driving past the course, on a main road. I suspect it is more common than we think.

I agree with you Colleen, police wouldn't be interested, but it's disappointing when people make promises they obviously have no intention of keeping. In my case, I never knew who hit the ball so I just lived with it. Thankfully it wasn't a new car, not like yours, that would add to the aggravation so rant away, I get it, I really do. :)
 
treeguy64 said:
Speaking of: I never understood the snob appeal of living on a golf course. I think you would have to be nuts!
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It has nothing to do with "snob appeal", whatever that is. Just because it isn't your taste doesn't mean it isn't what others want to do.
 
OK...so much for any sympathy from most of you :( Forget I even said anything. Why did you feel it was necessary to beat ME up???

BTW...in case anyone is interested....and I shouldn't even bother to let you know....the guy did call late tonight and we took our car to him. We should have it back Sunday. Hopefully, he will do a good job. He has a landscaping business also and was not available today. I cried wolf too soon.
 
Hoot N Annie said:
OP does not live on a golf course. Was picking up mail at community mail box.
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'Last Friday (yes, it was the 13th!), my husband drove to the mailbox to get our mail. We live in a golf course community and our house is 1 row back from the course and shielded by a house in front of us. Our mailbox is located just up the road by the club house/restaurant area. The golf course is like a big horseshoe and there is a putting green off to the side of the club house.'



I've golfed a goodly portion of my adult life
these proximities are within range of an errant ball


It's akin to living on the business end of a shooting range

breaking windows, denting cars, hitting casual walkers....who's at fault is an age old argument, both sides moot at best
 
Colleen said:
OK...so much for any sympathy from most of you :( Forget I even said anything. Why did you feel it was necessary to beat ME up???

BTW...in case anyone is interested....and I shouldn't even bother to let you know....the guy did call late tonight and we took our car to him. We should have it back Sunday. Hopefully, he will do a good job. He has a landscaping business also and was not available today. I cried wolf too soon.
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I didn’t realize it was sympathy you were looking for.
Gosh, Colleen, that was a terrible situation to be in.
I’m so glad you weren’t injured.

I thought it was advice you were looking for and it seems you got some great advice.

I don’t see anybody beating you up here but yes you cried wolf and we all reacted.


As usual, you are most welcome Colleen.
 
Colleen said:
OK...so much for any sympathy from most of you :( Forget I even said anything. Why did you feel it was necessary to beat ME up???
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My first reaction to Johnny, who hit your car with the golf ball by mistake, was that he's the kind of guy who restores our faith in humanity. He searched for you, confessed his mistake, apologized, and offered to make it right. He could easily have turned his back and not ever been found out.

My first reaction to member responses was "How kind for them to take their time to support you". The members here were on your side and nothing but supportive, sympathetic, empathetic, and trying to be helpful.

My first reaction to the mechanic was that he wanted to talk to Johnny first. Then you said, "Yeah right!" But the mechanic didn't know you. He was right...it only makes sense. If I were a mechanic and some stranger drove in and said "Your friend dented my car and said you'd fix it for me for free" (I can almost hear the mechanic saying 'yeah right!'), I'd want to talk to that friend first too....just to confirm. It's just smart business.

Peace :love_heart:
 
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Colleen said:
OK...so much for any sympathy from most of you :( Forget I even said anything. Why did you feel it was necessary to beat ME up???

BTW...in case anyone is interested....and I shouldn't even bother to let you know....the guy did call late tonight and we took our car to him. We should have it back Sunday. Hopefully, he will do a good job. He has a landscaping business also and was not available today. I cried wolf too soon.
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That is such wonderful news.
 
Hoot N Annie said:
It has nothing to do with "snob appeal", whatever that is. Just because it isn't your taste doesn't mean it isn't what others want to do.
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There is something nice about living on a golf course. Lots of open space behind you so any view you have will not be obstructed. And golf courses are always well maintained. On the other hand you have people walking through your back yard all day.
 
A little story (sorry)

When kicked up the executive ladder, I hadn’t realized that involved golfing, most every day.
We’d hit the executive courses in the afternoon
One in particular
Summerfield, Tigard Oregon
Didn’t even need a tee time, they knew we we’re coming
It was almost a full grown course

Fifth hole
Tempting
Drivable
If I recall, is was less than 300 yds to the green
A pond protected it
One fine afternoon I was feeling my oats
Cranked up my swing past normal
Swung thru my socks
Snap hook
Folk’s places along the course, near the tee, had their big screens guarding their homes from errant drives
My ball became a heat seeking missile
Hooked around that screen and zeroed in on the center of a huge bay window overlooking the hole
I watched...wincing

BONK!

It just bounced off!

That was some window

The gods of the 19th hole were looking out for me
 
Hoot N Annie said:
It has nothing to do with "snob appeal", whatever that is. Just because it isn't your taste doesn't mean it isn't what others want to do.
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You might want to do a Google search for "snob appeal." If you're not a native English speaker, or from this planet, originally, my apologies.
 
Gary O' said:
'Last Friday (yes, it was the 13th!), my husband drove to the mailbox to get our mail. We live in a golf course community and our house is 1 row back from the course and shielded by a house in front of us. Our mailbox is located just up the road by the club house/restaurant area. The golf course is like a big horseshoe and there is a putting green off to the side of the club house.'



I've golfed a goodly portion of my adult life
these proximities are within range of an errant ball


It's akin to living on the business end of a shooting range

breaking windows, denting cars, hitting casual walkers....who's at fault is an age old argument, both sides moot at best
Click to expand...

So we are in agreement that the OP does NOT live on the golf course. Being one row back is NOT on the golf course. "Living in a golf course community" is not the same as living on the golf course. But you knew that, right? They were getting their mail. Jeebus. And I do believe, that in general, golfers are responsible for their errant ball.
 

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