Broken Window

[JTMalley]

I am playing in Florida. I had quite a power shot. It when high with my usual slice and got caught in a window gust. Went through a window... Made a hole that looked like someone threw a bowling ball through it.


Now comes the part we all like to debate... putting karma aside, who pays for it? No one was home and the golf course guy said looked like a snow bird who just didnt make it down this year... Should have had the shutters up or hurricane glass!!!

That was it. No request for payment or anything.

In Florida, if I busted a window of a home on a course, do I have to pay or will insurance/ course pay?

[Golf Yokel]

If the home is on the course, like our Plantations... then I would like to think the course/complex should pony-up the funds.

On the other hand, we have a course named The Links at Auduban, which across the street is lined with houses on one side. The houses aren't owned by the course owners, and I've seen errant balls head toward the houses (though I've never seen any damage). In this case, if the golfer had a conscience, they would work something out to split the costs. If the golfer didn't have one, then of course it would fall on the home-owner.

90% of the time I see houses around a course though, the houses and course are owned by the same agency, so I voted for the course should pay for it.

[sonicblue]

It's a completely reasonable consequence of owning a house on a golf course that balls are going to hit your house. It's the responsibility of the homeowner and their insurance. If one were to maliciously tee one up and aim at or over houses, that's different. Assuming one took reasonably appropriate measures for their skill level to avoid it, then it falls under accident. If I truly aimed away and just had an awful shot that hit a house, or the house was so close that only a marginally poor shot ended up hitting the house, I would not pony up for anything.

C/N: You built the house there, you took the risk.

[TourSpoon]

  sonicblue said:

It's a completely reasonable consequence of owning a house on a golf course that balls are going to hit your house. It's the responsibility of the homeowner and their insurance. If one were to maliciously tee one up and aim at or over houses, that's different. Assuming one took reasonably appropriate measures for their skill level to avoid it, then it falls under accident. If I truly aimed away and just had an awful shot that hit a house, or the house was so close that only a marginally poor shot ended up hitting the house, I would not pony up for anything.

My question...Did you ask for the ball back?

[JTMalley]

I wanted to get the ball back! It was a nice Titleist I had found on the hole before. Someone in my 4some wanted to go up to the house to see if there was any damage besided just the window!

Some people make some good cash on the lost balls. One person had a Bench on there yard with a sign that said 3 bucks for a bag of 3 balls or 9 for a Doz. They were mixed. Not a bad way to build up a broken window fund!!!

Besides the window, It was a a great distance shot and had it not been a push shot and went straight I would have had awesome roll and distance. They may have lost a window, but I got robbed of what could have been my longest distance shot of the round.

[lamebums]

If the homeowner decided to live on a golf course within range of golf balls, he's taking the risk. I'm sure he's made the money back by selling all the balls that's landed in his yard over the years (or he's used them himself).

[TourSpoon]

Who is responsible? You are! Sure he lives on a golf course, on a golf hole, but he didn't swing the club that sent an errant shot off the course into his window, you did. That makes you responsible. Responsible people do the right thing by either leaving a note (like if you were in a parking lot with your car) or by inquiring with golf course personnel which you did. You behaved appropriately.

[NM Golf]

I actually know the answer to this one, its the golfer who is liable for any and all damage he causes during a round. I know this from working at a golf course. Yes, the home was built on a golf course that doesn't mean they are taking on the expectation that someone will smash their window with a ball anymore than someone whose car gets hit should expect that to happen because they drove by a golf course.

[Raidermatt]

Since the question is who SHOULD be responsible, I answered the homeowner. I realize that's not the legally correct answer, but there are many cases of the law not being strong with common sense, and this is one of them.

Errant shots are a reasonable thing to expect on a golf course. Just like wild pitches, foul balls and broken bats at baseball games. The fan accepts this risk when he buys a ticket, and the same should be true of a homeowner who buys a house on a golf course.

[Redwood_75]

At my home course we have insurance, and therefore the course pays for any damage caused during a round.

I thought I was going to need to use my insurance on Saturday. Tried a flop shot just off the front of the green, and there is a row of houses over the back of the green...totally balded the ball and it shot forward at speed, and very low. Fortunately it bounced off the front of the house, and didn't hit a window.

[Socrates]

Are you responsible for what happened? Yes, you hit the ball. Are you responsible for paying? No, that is on the homeowner either through their insurance or the golf course.

[walk18]

hope I never have to make that decision..

[Three Putt]

Been on both sides of the ball....or er...window.

Broke a window on a first hole tee shot...course was lined with houses,, crappy shot....left a note...homeowner called...I payed..thank goodness it was a cheap window.

I FELT THAT IT WAS SUCH A CRAPPY SHOT OFF THE HEEL...WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE HOUSES ANYWAY...NOT MUCH WARM UP....well stupid,,,,should have hit the 4 iron.... I'm paying...I deserve to.

Now the roles are reversed...live on a Par 3 semi private...takes a absolute TERRIBLE shot (from the BLUE tees) , virtually impossible to hit it from the whites unless it is a wicked power shank that goes at a 90 degreee angle and travels 70 feet high and about 70 yards directly to the right....to hit my half moon 10' diameter window...that is $800 to replace. When replacing noticed it has been replaced before....now have aluminum sheet protecting it.

Neighbor 2 doors down needs one also as of 2 days ago.

HERE is MY Problem....it has to be a shot of the blue tees, stop hitting from the blue tees if you shank a ball on a 170 yard par 3!!! (PS...I find plenty of expensive balls in the yard and next to the screen)

Better yet don't play on courses lined with houses....I personally play golf to get away...not listen to people arguing or smell their burnt food.

My point...if you are good enough to play from the blue or champ tees...you obviously have played the game and have a decent wallet...screw up...pay up........or upset the golfing gods.

If you are a wannabe hack playing from the blues and spraying tee shots...stop!

[PB1973]

Most public courses that have houses lining the fairways have signs that say the golfer is liable for damage. At least here in socal.

[JTMalley]

I wonder what the law says about it. Anyone know in Florida?

The golf course said that most people who lived on the course were told to get hurricane glass since they live in Florida and on a golf course.

I understand as the golfer who hit the ball I am the person placing the action on hitting the ball and sending it with such awesome distance and power to take out that window!

i understand that most muni clubs have signs although i did not see any sign! this was at a public golf club named PalmAire! does the law change vs a golf community vs just housing on a public course vs a private club???

[JTMalley]

I do agree with the idea that wild shots are a part of the game! i have been to several tournys and seen the pros hit shots that land in the cart path and almost hit people! i believe even tiger has done it although rare!

[sonicblue]

I believe the best analogy is a fan at a baseball game. You put a house next to a golf course = buying fieldside tickets. Even the best players rocket-slice a ball now and then, just like top baseball players will foul one off. If you are in the line of fire such that just a moderately adrift shot will hit your house, sorry, I think you should take the hit.

My dad lives "on" a course. However, his house lies about 100 yds behind the 8th green, and probably 150 yards to the right of the 9th green. You'd have to hit the skuller of all time or the largest banana slice in history to hit his house. If someone damaged his house, I'd expect them to take responsibility. However, another course I know has a long, downhill, dogleg right par 4. Just off the corner, maybe 40 yards, is a bunch of townhomes. It would be nothing to push a shot and - this place is very elevated, very windy at times - have it get caught by the wind and bonk a house.

[hurley9192]

are some of you kidding? Bad golfer launches a ball through a house and you think the homeowner should pay because he lives there!?!?!? What if his kid is playing there and you launch a banana slice into their yard and hurt their child? Tough luck kid...it's your dad's fault for living here. I can't believe what I've seen here...unless it is stated otherwise, if you hit a shot that damages something, it is your responsibility to inform the owner or at a minimum the course, and pay for damages.

Hell, I'm just going to start running into cars and say it's the others guys fault for being there. Same argument...they are taking the risk of having damage to their car by being on the road or leaving it in a parking lot.