A father who lives next to a golf course is bemoaning the number of wayward balls that hit his home and says a child could end up in a coma if they were hit.
William Fennell, 44, moved next to Ufford Park Resort in Suffolk eight years ago, which was about 26 years after the 18-hole course was originally opened.
The joiner said stray balls first started finding their way on to his land two years ago, but recently the number has increased, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.
Fennell says a bad shot “could be catastrophic” and is calling on the course to “take responsibility”. The resort, near Woodbridge, says it is “committed to providing a safe environment”.
Fennell’s home is positioned next to one of the golf course’s holes
Fennell, who has two children, said the course’s current design was “dangerous” and needed to be “brought up to date for the use of modern golf equipment”.
“No golfer wants to hit a bad shot. It’s the responsibility of the course that if they do hit a bad shot, it stays within the bounds of the course,” he said.
“Imagine a child being in a coma in Ipswich Hospital having been struck by a golf ball. In my experience, if these things can happen at some point, they will.
“Children should have the right to play without fear or random projectiles causing them a great deal of harm.”
The golf balls have struck his family’s cars and caused thousands of pounds worth of damage
Over the years, about 100 stray balls have landed within the boundaries of his home, with some hitting and breaking his roof tiles and others leaving deep dents in his car.
Fennell became so fed up, he started his own tongue-in-cheek, online golf ball reclaim service, giving golfers the chance to get their overhit balls back, but for a fee.
The persistent problem, he said, had left him and his family, as well as his neighbours, “always on edge”.
The 44-year-old’s roof had also taken a battering from the flying golf balls
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But what would he say to someone if they quizzed him on his decision to move next to a golf course, where stray balls were always a possibility?
“I would say, if you chose to live next to a shooting range and you had a few stray bullets come into your garden, would you be happy with that?” he says.
“We’ve had several thousand pounds worth of damage to vehicles and property, and I heard a golf ball whistle past my ear and the thud as it landed was terrifying.
“We would really like Ufford Park golf course to take responsibility for that.”
William Swan, a golf course architect, says new technology is contributing to golfers’ ability to strike their balls farther
William Swan, golf course architect for Swan Golf Designs, says the suggestion that some older courses needing a redesign needs to be taken “seriously”.
” Golf has changed and this puts new challenges on our old golf courses, many of which were designed over a century ago, but also golf playing,” says the 46-year-old.
“Technology has changed hugely over the past couple of decades, with golfers able to hit it further and higher than before, just not necessarily straighter.
“[The industry must] make sure golf courses stay enjoyable, sustainable, fun and safe places to be, for the golfers and our neighbouring communities.”
Ufford Park, which also has an adventure golf course, two-storey driving range, hotel and spa (all in the top right of the picture), is run by LQ Resorts
Ufford Park Resort says it conducts “regular reviews of risk” to all those who use the course and those who live nearby.
“We are committed to providing a safe environment for our team, visitors and neighbours,” a spokesperson says.
“Since opening back in 1992, we have engaged in course redesign, signage and education whilst reminding golfers of their responsibilities of care whilst playing.”
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