After 651 Golf Balls Hit Their Property, They Sued the Country Club

Robert59

Robert59

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Now I live in Tennesee. Did live in Michigan.
Massachusetts family awarded $5M

When they bought a home next to a golf course in 2017, Massachusetts couple Erik and Athina Tenczar expected there might be some noise and possibly the occasional ball in their backyard. Instead, they faced a barrage of 651 balls over the next four years, with shots from bad golfers at Indian Pond Country Club shattering windows and making it hazardous for their three young daughters to play outside, according to a lawsuit. "They thought they were buying golf-course-view property and what they ended up buying was a golf-course-in-play property," attorney Robert Galvin tells NBC.

https://www.newser.com/story/319890/family-awarded-5m-after-651-golf-balls-hit-property.html
 

When I was a kid I hit a golf ball that broke our neighbors window. I also threw a golf club through our big kitchen window. I loved to hit pastic golf balls but sometimes I hit the real thing, and we lived in a suburb. Bad boy. :) I also worked at several homes that are on a golf course. There are some houses that get their fair share of dings, but 650 would of been ok...that last one did it. The story reminded me of this video of pro golfers target shooting...and thought THEY could have been hired to get rid of that family. :)

 
I couldn't resist. Sorry. Near my friend's house. Lovely course.

on the golf course.jpg
 

Who would have guessed that buying land next to the 15th hole on a golf course could mean getting hit by errant golf balls?? Somehow it's like buying beach front property, and not expecting waves. I don't know how a jury could award anything. There has to be more to this story. To me, it sounds as though the property was sold as " distant view" of the golf course, when in reality it was directly adjacent.
 
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fuzzybuddy said:
I don't know how a jury could award anything. There has to be more to this story.
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I can greatly assume that 1 count against the Golf club would be failure to abate a nuisance resulting in the tortious deprivation of the quiet use and enjoyment of their property. Maybe Negligence, I can see a few torts.
 
Having seen this debate a few times and knowing golfers that don't seem to care about the direction of ball flight... I always figured the ball I struck being similar to a bullet from a gun I would have fired. When houses were within range of a potential hook or slice from my driver, I would scale down the club. If need be... a short iron, which I almost never sliced or hooked. Also, I tried to avoid courses with holes near tees or near fairways.

Having said all that... I have observed some serious confrontations and have lived in states with open carry, as well as police reportedly being involved. I always managed to play through, as my putting provided enough on-course drama.
 
Paco Dennis said:
When I was a kid I hit a golf ball that broke our neighbors window. I also threw a golf club through our big kitchen window. I loved to hit pastic golf balls but sometimes I hit the real thing, and we lived in a suburb. Bad boy. :) I also worked at several homes that are on a golf course. There are some houses that get their fair share of dings, but 650 would of been ok...that last one did it. The story reminded me of this video of pro golfers target shooting...and thought THEY could have been hired to get rid of that family. :)

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LOL Love it.
 
Harry Le Hermit said:
When houses were within range of a potential hook or slice from my driver, I would scale down the club. If need be... a short iron, which I almost never sliced or hooked. Also, I tried to avoid courses with holes near tees or near fairways.
Click to expand...

Not knowing Zip about golf, that makes perfect sense!

When Trump golfed and someone yelled "Fore", he yelled back "Four more". šŸ˜€
 
As a child, I lived far up a hill from a golf course. Even though there was a large patch of woods, I would find balls in my backyard. My uncle, an avid golfer, would pay me for them! That stimulated the notion of checking the drainage ditches along the course. Bonanza! I did, however, get yelled at a few times by golfers still looking for their balls!
 
In my opinion the golf course management SHOULD have installed a series of 20 foot high nets to prevent balls from landing on the property and house. The fact that they didn't do that for FIVE YEARS, is what cost them the civil trial. A lack of action, results in a large civil judgement. JimB.
 
I don't see why this couple had any money coming to them from the golf course, assuming the golf course was there first, and they knowingly moved into a house (or built a house) next to it. What did they expect?

My daughter and SIL had a similar situation, maybe not that extreme. But the golf course was near enough so that they couldn't sit out on their lovely deck because golf balls occasionally came whizzing right across the deck. It was definitely dangerous. But they knew they were back to back to a golf course when they bought the house. They didn't sue; they just moved. Now their deck is nice and peaceful.
 

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