02/06/2025 19:02
A HOMEOWNER had to shell out $70,000 for repairs after her house was hit by flying projectiles, leaving her scared to go outside.
Jewel Montgomery said flying golf balls have shattered her garage door and windows of her home in Marietta, Georgia, for years.
“I came out with my baby in the garage, and glass was all over my car,” she told local CBS affiliate WANF-TV.
“If they hit my daughter, I’m not going to tolerate it.”
Another neighbor, Ronnie Pope, told the outlet that a ball hit the bill of his hat.
Montgomery and Pope have lived across from one of Marietta Country Club’s par-4 holes for nearly 25 years and were aware of the nearby golf course, but “didn't have a clue of what was going to be happening after,” said Pope.
“I'm scared to go out in my yard,” said Montgomery.
The residents said the county club’s insurer paid for the first broken window over a decade ago, but since then, they’ve had to fork over the cash to pay for damages.
Montgomery said she’s paid over $70,000 out of pocket to replace several windows in fear of her home insurance premiums going up for filing claims.
“The biggie was the picture frame window and my office windows again,” she said.
“I called and called; I sent a certified letter, and then I got a voice message on December 20, 2024, saying they're not responsible.
In Georgia law, there is something called “the assumption of risk doctrine,” according to Ronnie Miles, senior director of advocacy with the National Golf Course Owners Association.
This means if a person knowingly buys a home near a golf course, they are understanding that there are risks involved.
This has apparently been a rising issue across the country, said Miles.
“We get a lot more golfers today than we had five years ago, before Covid, and many of these golfers … are hitting the ball with a little less accuracy,” he told the outlet.
Miles told homeowners to reference land records, also called easements, to figure out what legal rights are attached to the land around a golf course.
What to do if you live near a golf course
If you live near a golf course and you're often dealing with stray balls hitting your home, here's house you can protect your property:
- Look into land records: Check deeds or easements that could affect your rights.
- Track all incidents: Keep a record of any incidents and take photos of property damage.
- Seek legal aid: If the golf balls have caused injury.
- Contact the club: Reach out to the nearby country club to see if any changes can be made to the netting or tee box.
“There's an easement that goes around the perimeter so many feet out from the property line of the golf course,” he told the outlet.
“So balls can penetrate and travel into that area.”
WANF-TV found documents containing Marietta Country Club’s easement from 1989, protecting it from ball-related liability within 30 feet of the property.
However, Montgomery and Pope’s homes are more than 60 feet away, and while she’s spoken to lawyers about the issue, Montgomery says her case will only be taken if there are injuries.
“They need to pay now,” she said.
“They need to move the tee box. They need to put up a net and not have the balls coming over here in this neighborhood because we don't live on the golf course.”
The U.S. Sun has reached out to the Marietta Country Club for comment
