Get That Golf Ball Out of My Yard or Else

Living on a golf course has become increasingly popular over the past decade due in large part to the boom in golf course construction between the mid-90's and today; I would estimate that there are more than 20,000 golf courses in this country and that number is probably low. The perks of golf course residences are plentiful and include pleasing fairway views, a relatively isolated and pristine setting and fairly terrific landscaping. Homes situated on golf courses are typically appraised at higher prices than those that are not. Residents of golf course dwellings are usually, but not always, in a relatively comfortable income bracket.

But all those benefits and all of that serenity can seem irrelevant when that little white ball comes to a stop on your well-manicured lawn. 

Glancing at this morning's Island Packet, the local newspaper serving Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, I came across a story of a golf course confrontation that almost escalated into a shootout; and we're not talking about the LG Skins Game here.

Apparently two golfers were playing on a Sun City Hilton Head Golf Course, when one of them hit his ball into a resident's backyard. I must point out that Sun City is an active community for adults age 55 and over.

The golfers claimed that while in the process of retrieving a golf ball, the homeowner went bald Britney Spears crazy and began cursing them. According to the article the homeowner then called to his wife for his gun.

It is unclear whether the homeowner had a gun upon his return, but his wife did call 911 and police soon arrived.

The homeowner's defense was that the golfer was preparing to play his shot out of the man's yard and had clearly ignored cart path signs.

My question and I hope this is an obvious one, is why would a man so uptight and tense about a ball landing in his yard live on a golf course? At some point, you've got to have a conversation with yourself, no doubt this man has many, and question whether or not you're the kind of individual that is capable of living on a golf course.

And so what if the man was playing the ball out of your lawn? Grass will grow back. Once lost, self-respect and dignity will not.

Anyone out there have a story about a crazy golf course homeowner attacking you during an attempted ball retrieval? Or any property owners who are perfectly sane but are just fed up with the lack of etiquette displayed by players who wander onto your lawn? Feel free to share your stories.

To read the full article, check out www.islandpacket.com.

Email (will not be published)

Name

Title

Comment
 remaining characters

Post