Does anyone live on a golf course?

[jaimee1024]

If so,I have some questions for you. DH and I are considering buying a house that sits on the 16th hole of a private golf course. We love the house, but have some concerns about living on the course. We are worried about golfers coming into our yard to search for wayward golf balls. This is especially a concern because we have a young daughter who would be playing in the back yard. So...if you live on a golf course can you share some info with me? How is it? Has a golf ball ever hit you, your child, or your windows? Do golfers traipse through your yard? Any drunk golfers bother you? (these are things people have brought up to me). The community does not allow fences along the golf course, so our yard would be ope to it. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[ducklite]

If so,I have some questions for you. DH and I are considering buying a house that sits on the 16th hole of a private golf course. We love the house, but have some concerns about living on the course. We are worried about golfers coming into our yard to search for wayward golf balls. This is especially a concern because we have a young daughter who would be playing in the back yard.

This does happen, although not when I'm out in the yard. I certainly have no problem with them coming a few feet onto my lawn to grab a ball they can easily see from the course. I've had them rooting through the shrubs, and that's rude.

So...if you live on a golf course can you share some info with me? How is it?

I love the buffer the course creates in my backyard, it's generally very private.

Has a golf ball ever hit you, your child, or your windows?

No to people, we've had to ahve two screens replaced on the lanai due to errant balls. Our next door neighbors haven't fared as well, they've had three windows broken and have replaced them with the golf ball proof glass. ($$$!) I walk through the yeard a few times a week and usually pick up 2-6 balls a week. DH never needs to buy golf balls.

Do golfers traipse through your yard?

Sometimes, but generally they are polite and don't. I think being on a private course you won't have as many problems, mine is semi-public. I've learned to be very pro-active when I need to be, and have called the clubhouse to complain a few times when they are clearly being rude.

Any drunk golfers bother you? (these are things people have brought up to me).

Only once, I just went back inside and they left. If you call the clubhouse to complain, things get handled quickly around here. We had some guys who may or may not have been drunk get a cart stuck in the mud after a really heavy rain, it was actually hilarious and that didn't bother me at all.

The community does not allow fences along the golf course, so our yard would be ope to it. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

I don't have a fence, and it really hasn't been a problem. I'm glad I live here and the ocaisional nuisance is well worth the overall peace and quiet.

Anne

 

[Sandy22]

I've always wondered about being so close to land that might have heavy use of strong commercial pesticides.

 

[Seahunt]

If so,I have some questions for you. DH and I are considering buying a house that sits on the 16th hole of a private golf course. We love the house, but have some concerns about living on the course. We are worried about golfers coming into our yard to search for wayward golf balls. This is especially a concern because we have a young daughter who would be playing in the back yard. So...if you live on a golf course can you share some info with me? How is it? Has a golf ball ever hit you, your child, or your windows? Do golfers traipse through your yard? Any drunk golfers bother you? (these are things people have brought up to me). The community does not allow fences along the golf course, so our yard would be ope to it. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

I've always wondered about being so close to land that might have heavy use of strong commercial pesticides.

We love living on the golf course - lots of fun to watch the golfers! Some are very good and some are horrible - and the horrible ones have a habit of hitting our house with their golf balls

I would say that you can't sweat the problems that come with living on a course and get any enjoyment out of it - if you feel that you might be bothered, you probably will, and will be selling right away. You have to be "golfer friendly"

For example, we have golfers in our yard all the time looking for their golf balls. I have even found golf balls in our front yard (and we have a two story house! Those balls have had to fly over the roof!) There are also a lot of residents who drive their golf carts or walk the course after hours looking for leftover golf balls who also come into our yard. (There is also a scuba guy that comes in every so often to dive the water traps for golf balls!) BUT I think that this also has a lot to do with where your house is situated on the course - we are on the 11th fairway - the homes closer to the tee probably have less trouble than we do, as we get all the long drives that hook to the left.

We have had 2 broken windows so far, and hopefully no more as we have now installed Lexan window protectors (to be used as hurricane protection also). Of course, the golfers who broke the windows never came to the house to collect those golf balls (or pay us for the windows) unfortunately - I think they flew by in their golf carts as fast as possible. There's no way you can miss the sound, it's a huge crash!

Our gutters and the aluminum piece on our patio lanai have also been dented by errant shots in a few places, not really noticeable to me so much, but it irks my DH.

I have never noticed any drunk golfers, though we do hear some bad language when they miss a good shot. The other day I heard an "F" bomb when I was walking in, and then I heard someone yell "Sorry Ma'am". I told my husband I was more insulted by him calling me "ma'am" than using the F word

Re the chemicals, that is also a concern of mine, and I have been pleasantly surprised that they really do make an effort here. There are many ponds just full of fish and lots of wildlife here on this course, and I have noticed that they are particularly careful with their spraying. They say that they use no restricted chemicals (but who really knows?).

It IS lovely to look out at the manicured grounds every day (even though the maintenance guys start their rounds at 6AM - LOUD groomers, mowers, etc.), but again, I do think about all the chemicals that are used throughout Florida = all the homes, lawns, shrubs, golf courses, etc. just can't be good.

But all in all, we really love it, and appreciate the feeling of spaciousness, and the entertainment value of watching the golfers.

 

[manning]

Regards to being paid for broken windows. Unless the golfer is a professional they are not obligated to pay for a broken window. I was told this by a lawyer I was playing with and it was confirmed by the club pro.

I guess a pro is expected to have enough skills to keep a ball in the fairway. Tell that one to the Tiger who has been known to put some in unusual places.

 

[golfgal]

Living on a golf course you take was is called an assumed risk; you assume the risk that someone may break a window or damage something in or around your house. Legally you are responsible for your repairs. Some golf courses do have insurance to cover things like that but not many.

We don't live on a golf course but we have played a lot of golf and yes, all of your concerns will come true at some point and time. You are better off living near the tee box then along the fairway/green, less chance of your house getting hit. Personally I would have great concerns about a young child playing outside if you were near a landing zone along the fairway. As much as I love the game of golf I would NOT want to live on a golf course, near one, yes, on one, no.

 

[MosMom]

Our home is on the 16th hole as well! We are not directly off the fairway which is where I think a lot of the problems come in. We are a good 50 feet from the green so I doubt we will have problems. You never know though! Someone may get overzealous with their putt.

Never had a problem with people in our yard, never had a problem with a drunk golfer, never had a problem at all. My kids play in the back yard too and I've only seen golfers say "Hi" to the kids and behave politely.

I do tell my kids to stay closer to the house when golfers are out just to be safe. Also, being on the 16th hole is nice because we don't get golfers until a bit later in the afternoon. It takes them awhile to work through the first 15 so the kids have all morning to play before the golfing starts.

 

[ducklite]

Regards to being paid for broken windows. Unless the golfer is a professional they are not obligated to pay for a broken window. I was told this by a lawyer I was playing with and it was confirmed by the club pro.

I guess a pro is expected to have enough skills to keep a ball in the fairway. Tell that one to the Tiger who has been known to put some in unusual places.

On our course the course rules are that golfers ARE required to pay for damage they cause. They agree to this when they pay their greens fees. While it might not be "law" it is something that becomes a contract when they pay the fee to play.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Living on a golf course you take was is called an assumed risk; you assume the risk that someone may break a window or damage something in or around your house. Legally you are responsible for your repairs. Some golf courses do have insurance to cover things like that but not many.

We don't live on a golf course but we have played a lot of golf and yes, all of your concerns will come true at some point and time. You are better off living near the tee box then along the fairway/green, less chance of your house getting hit. Personally I would have great concerns about a young child playing outside if you were near a landing zone along the fairway. As much as I love the game of golf I would NOT want to live on a golf course, near one, yes, on one, no.

Our house sits squarely on the "tee side" of the fairway. Our neighbors who have had broken windows live right on the tee. There are some really bad golfers who play this course.

Anne

 

[JuneChickie]

subscribing

 

[amid chaos]

We don't back up to the course, but our neighborhood does. Once a year they have an outing that is at night...glow in the dark golfballs and lots of other fun. That morning, anyone who backs up to the course finds a bottle of wine or champagne on their front porch. The groups way of saying "thanks for putting up with us'. It's one night and has never really caused a problem.

 

[ducklite]

We don't back up to the course, but our neighborhood does. Once a year they have an outing that is at night...glow in the dark golfballs and lots of other fun. That morning, anyone who backs up to the course finds a bottle of wine or champagne on their front porch. The groups way of saying "thanks for putting up with us'. It's one night and has never really caused a problem.

That's really a very, very nice gesture!

Anne

 

[GeorgeG]

Our community has over two dozen golf courses laced amongst the residential areas. We do not live right on a course (by choice), but have a lot of friends and neighbors who do. We hear all the stories about the balls breaking screens and windows and at one case of a man being hit right in his pacemaker. The golfers are not supposed to plpay their ball from anyone's yard, but they do and often chop up the lawn and shrubs. Another complaint is the noise from the gas-powered carts first thing in the morning.

Down here you pay extra to be on a golf course or water, as I suppose you would anyplace. Besides all the stuff listed above, you also get snakes and gators. I have houses behind mine with nice, quiet neighbors and no critters (at least that we've seen in a year and a half).

 

[IwasatWDWforamonth]

We havent had any problems with balls hitting anything, one landed in the pool once, but thats it.
Our house sits quite aways back.
We have had to yell at some golfers that think its ok to run their golf cart on our lawn. and ones that poke thru our flowers looking for their balls.
I to wonder about the pestcides, but the golf course is what keeps us from moving we really enjoy the view.
Its very peaceful and we are allowed to walk on the course at night.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

We live on an older, private golf course. Since it is older, most of the homes sit back from the course. All of the lots are an acre+. That makes a difference with the amount of balls in your yard.

You will have all of the problems mentioned but to me they are minute compared to the joys of living on a golf course. We have ceiling to floor windows with a golf and lake view. It is very peaceful and beautiful.

Lori

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Growing up, I lived on a golf course for about 8 years, mid-way on the fairway of a par 5. We never once heard of any kids getting hit by a ball, did have golfers milling through our yard from time to time (not a big deal), never had any incidents with drunks, but we did have three broken windows. One when we were home, and twice when we were away. All three times, the golfer paid to repair the window. The time we were home, the golfer knocked on our door and offered to pay. The other two times, the errant golfers told the Ranger and clubhouse staff, who then notified my parents of where to send the bill.

From a personal standpoint, I loved growing up on a golf course. After play was halted on the weekend, my friends and I would go diving in the lakes with masks and snorkels to find balls. We'd then sell them in our backyard to golfers passing through as water balls, 10 for a dollar. I had industrial sized garbage cans full of them. Most golfers loved seeing us out there and would typically stop and buy a few dollars worth and the course looked the other way seeing that we were just kids. That was big money for a bunch of ten year olds.