Golf Season is Upon Us: Are You Protected?

Living on the outskirts of a picturesque golf course is a dream come true for many Arizonians. We are so blessed to live amongst famous courses that professional athletes and celebrities alike flock to during golf season.

While beautiful, golf courses can also bring about a certain degree of danger to those who live near them. Runaway golf balls can cause severe damage to both homes as well as people. As the temperature in the valley slowly begins to cool, traffic on our lovely golf courses will begin to increase – therefore – so will the likelihood of these dangerous fly balls.

As a homeowner on a golf course, you take on a certain amount of responsibility for errant golfers around you. If the golf course existed when you purchased or built your home, you are responsible for damages from golf balls that are not considered the result of negligent acts. In recent studies, it has been extremely difficult for homeowners or those who experienced injuries while golfing to prove negligence outside of the normal risk assumed when one associates with golf.

You may be able to force the individual golfer to assume liability for the damages, however, the task of identifying a single golfer (sometimes up to 200 feet away) can be extremely difficult. There have even been instances where golfers have personally apologized and taken responsibility for the damage when it occurred, and then later denied being responsible for the errant ball. In most of these cases, it was impossible for the homeowner to hold the golfer liable, as it then becomes a “he said, she said” type argument.

Moral of the story: if a golf ball hits your home and causes damage, you will most likely be liable for repairs.

It is estimated that about 40,000 people are admitted to the emergency room due to golf related injuries each year. (golfdigest.com). The most common golf injuries are amongst players on the course, however, there have been reports of some serious injuries to people in their own backyards as well.

While data on the number of homes damaged by errant golf balls per year is difficult to solidify, there are many individual cases that can outline the severity of this issue. Take Wayne Winton, for example. Wayne has lived in his home on a beautiful golf course for 14 years. Within this time, he has had 70 windows shattered by errant golf balls. At about $100 per window, this damage has cost him $7,000 out of his own pocket over the course of his homeownership. (golf.com). Wayne is not alone. Earla Smith (85) lives on a famous golf course in Phoenix. She describes her second day in her new home as such, “the second day I was in the house, I kept hearing a banging outside… It was golf balls hitting the outside walls. Three or four windows were broken”. (nytimes.com).

Don’t worry. You can have your cake and eat it too. Living on a beautiful golf course is a luxury and can be enjoyed safely, without running the risk of replacing multiple windows per year. You just need to get protected.

One effective way to protect your home is by installing anti-golf ball screens on your windows and glass doors. At CC Sunscreens, we install high quality anti-golf ball screens to protect your windows (and loved ones inside) from costly errant golf balls. For added protection, we can even install these screens using our Textilene brand solar screen material. This way, your home will not only stay protected against golf balls, but harmful UVA and UVB rays as well. In summer (when it’s too hot for golfers) you will also enjoy a cooler house and lower electricity bills if you choose this option.

Reach out to us today to schedule your free, no hassle consultation and quote with one of our knowledgeable experts. Go ahead and enjoy your beautiful home on the greens – just stay protected while you do so! FORE!