Mr Business Golf

For all of the homeowners who own a home that is along the fairways of the World’s golf courses, his story published yesterday in the New York Times will be of interest and might be one to follow.  I know I and my neighbors will be watching this one.

Mr. Pecora is suing Winged Foot, claiming that the club has opened him up to so many errant golf balls that it has caused a “life-threatening condition” for him, his two young children and his dog, according to court papers.

State Supreme Court judge in Westchester, NY issued a temporary restraining order against the club, banning play on the sixth hole until further notice. Outings have been disrupted, as has competitive play among members at what has become, in effect, the most famous 17-hole championship golf course in the country.

Not to worry, the "Donald" is on the case..

“Everybody at Winged Foot is very surprised, and people want to fight it,” Mr. Trump said on Tuesday. “I’m very surprised something couldn’t have been worked out. To close a hole, it’s a sad day for the club. I’m thinking maybe I’ll visit the gentleman. I’d love to go and mediate it.”

Geez, what is Mr Trump going to offer..build a Skyscraper between the tee-box and Me Pecora’s home. 

The fact of this matter is, technology has now brought golf to more people who have not learned to play the game proficiently enough to control their shot and in most cases do not want to.  The power game..the long ball …is the part of golf about 85% of today’s golfers (males 18-32yrs old) are ONLY interested in.  This places homes( and the people who live in them) on fairways that were build as little as ten years ago now in harms way.   Before technology increased the average distance a golf ball would travel these property owners may have only received a few balls trickling into their yards where now their homes, personal property and themselves are now living with the chance of being hit with an errant golf shot made from someone who could probably use a golf lesson or two, or three..

I’ll join with those who don’t agree with William O’Shaughnessy. Homeowners should not be held responsible for receiving injury from golfers bad shots.  I was in my home before Pro V1 and John Daly was born…

William O’Shaughnessy, who owns a pair of radio stations in New Rochelle, and is a member at Winged Foot, said, “If you buy a house on a golf course, you have to assume there may be a couple of errant shots that are going to land in your yard.”

There are many solutions to consider to correct this problem..which one is right and which one is good for golf might not be the same, but their is a solution to this issue..just not sure the court will render the right one.  I am for player certification which is being considered, but that is for another blog someday, but is one solution to this issue.

Lets stay tune to this lawsuit plays out..it keeps coming up and will not go away until GOLF recognizes it needs to deal with it.  If not dealt with, then all golf courses are going to be located in demilitarized zones a few hundred miles from the city…

For right now the solutions is….geez people, back off to an iron shot and keep the big dog in the bag when you know you have a slice and there is out of bounds on the right (for righthanders and left for Lefty’s).  That is part of playing golf is to hit the fairway an not in the door panel of my car that is 400 yards off to the right of where you are standing…

Judge Reduces Winged Foot East To 17-Holes

Winged Foot Is Sued Over Errant Golf Balls - NYTimes.com