What do you do if your ball hits a car?

[Shawn Paul]

This past season my pal and I had just finished our round and we were sitting in the parking lot finishing our barley pops and discussing how much better we would be next week. The parking lot is sandwiched between holes 9 and 18. As expected a ball comes off of 9 and smashes into the hood of a newish Honda civic.

 

The guys finished their 9^th walked to the parking lot and left without a note or a trip up to the golf shop. I know for sure that they were well aware that the shot hit a car because they were discussing it as they loaded up their gear and they even asked us if it hit a car and we pointed out the car and point of impact.

 

My pal and I waited about 15 minutes just in case the car’s owner happened to come by simply to explain what happened. He never arrived. We also felt that he would probably think we were the ones that hit the car and it would end up doing more damage telling him than good. We did not report to the golf shop either because, well snitches get….

 

So, what do you do if your ball careens into a car? Are you at fault? Casualty of the game? Do you leave a note?

 

For me, I would leave a note if I could figure out which car I hit. But I also kind of feel like it’s a casualty of the game. I would want someone to leave me a note. If they did so I would not ask them pay for it and I would commend them for their honesty.

 

Your thoughts?

[wobgon]

RUN!!!!!!!!

[GOUFGO]

What would you want done if it was your car damaged and someone else witnessed it?

[One_Putt_Blunder]

As a player I would not feel obligated to leave a note or pay for damages. As a car owner I would hope that the ball hits my windshield since I have a 0 deductible on glass, if it hit the body I would not go chasing someone down demanding payment it is just bad luck no different than parking under a large tree and getting a dent from falling debris. Probably should not have parked somewhere that damage could occur.

[nbg352]

Your home insurance policy has a section in the liability coverage that covers such claims.

Being honest and up front doesn't necessarily mean out of pocket.

Causing property damage regardless of intent carries responsibility. At least report it to the pro shop and be prepared to compensate for the damage you've caused.

[bwrichmond]

Your home insurance policy has a section in the liability coverage that covers such claims.

Being honest and up front doesn't necessarily mean out of pocket.

Causing property damage regardless of intent carries responsibility. At least report it to the pro shop and be prepared to compensate for the damage you've caused.

 

To further this, while the homeowners or renters policy may cover the liability, whether or not you're liable for the damage differs in different states.

 

In my home state of Indiana, it's my understanding that driving by or parking on a golf course is assumption of risk, and an errant golf ball causing damage wouldn't render me liable under the negligence tort. If, however, I tee'd up the ball specifically with the intent to hit the car that just honked in my backswing (as I've been tempted to do at times) and was actually accurate enough to hit it, I'd be liable for intentionally causing the damage.

 

Disclaimer: I'm not an attorney and this is not, nor should it be construed as, legal advice.

 

Edit: My post is intended to describe the legal ramifications only. I'll let you decide for yourself whether or not you owe a moral duty to someone if you know you hit their vehicle and caused damage.

[Colin L]

 

So, what do you do if your ball careens into a car?

 

 

It depends on whether my ball comes to rest on the course or out of bounds. (cool)

[Shawn Paul]

What would you want done if it was your car damaged and someone else witnessed it?

 

I would not expect the observer to go out of their way in this scenario. I don't feel it would be necessary for whomever observed the damage to leave a note or report to the pro shop. I know at this course their policy is park at your own risk and they are liable for nothing. If I saw someone maliciously damaging something then we have a different scenario. Either way I can't fault anyone for their decision, I can really see both sides of this discussion. Like bwrichmond said, the moral duty lies within you.

[nbg352]

Sadly, too many do not have a very strong moral compass.....

[Mr. Bean]

Well, around here:

 

- there is an insurance covering this not only by the course but also by any player as that insurance is a MUST

- most people know the existence of that insurance and tend to make reasonable effort to inform the club and give their contact info

- some people do what wobgon suggested and just disappear as they are a**holes and have serious difficulties to take responsibility of their actions. And even worse than that, they are too stupid to understand that the course will pay the bill for them. Talk about stupidity....

[KYMAR]

Snitches get stitches? Lol this isn't prison.

 

Not your obligation?

 

Leaving a note is "going out of your way"?

 

 

You seem to be pretty comfortable and justified with your do absolutely nothing response. Why even post this? Looking for validation?

 

[farmer]

In defense of the OP, he would have had to get a license plate number or some other positive ID for the offending party, and that may not have been possible. As he said, it is an assumed risk when parking there. The correct thing would have been for the responsible player to leave a note, but without the risk of a major confrontation, I don't see what the OP could have done.

[TerpFangolfer]

To turn it around...I make sure I park in the least likely spot to get hit...the same way that I park well away from other cars at the grocery store/mall parking lot.

 

I dont look for the closest possible spot and wedge myself in. So when I go to a course I know - I park in the area I know wont get hit!

Atr a new course...just a quick survey can usually reveal a good place to park.

If I someday choose to buy a house right on a course -well then I will expect to get hit (and try to prepare) and not blame the golfer

[Petunia Sprinkle]

This past season my pal and I had just finished our round and we were sitting in the parking lot finishing our barley pops and discussing how much better we would be next week. The parking lot is sandwiched between holes 9 and 18. As expected a ball comes off of 9 and smashes into the hood of a newish Honda civic.

 

The guys finished their 9^th walked to the parking lot and left without a note or a trip up to the golf shop. I know for sure that they were well aware that the shot hit a car because they were discussing it as they loaded up their gear and they even asked us if it hit a car and we pointed out the car and point of impact.

 

My pal and I waited about 15 minutes just in case the car’s owner happened to come by simply to explain what happened. He never arrived. We also felt that he would probably think we were the ones that hit the car and it would end up doing more damage telling him than good. We did not report to the golf shop either because, well snitches get….

 

So, what do you do if your ball careens into a car? Are you at fault? Casualty of the game? Do you leave a note?

 

For me, I would leave a note if I could figure out which car I hit. But I also kind of feel like it’s a casualty of the game. I would want someone to leave me a note. If they did so I would not ask them pay for it and I would commend them for their honesty.

 

Your thoughts?

 

Casualty of the game? What exempts golf from civility, in your mind?

[Shawn Paul]

Snitches get stitches? Lol this isn't prison.

 

Not your obligation?

 

Leaving a note is "going out of your way"?

 

 

You seem to be pretty comfortable and justified with your do absolutely nothing response. Why even post this? Looking for validation?

 

Just posted it to call out trolls from Cleveland. It's interesting how you didn't add any valuable input to the discussion. Nothing good to say? I'm pretty sure based on your post that you didn't read the entire post.

 

To answer your questions, nope not my obligation. leave a note for something I didn't do, also not my obligation.

[BillyZ2]

Your home insurance policy has a section in the liability coverage that covers such claims.

Being honest and up front doesn't necessarily mean out of pocket.

Causing property damage regardless of intent carries responsibility. At least report it to the pro shop and be prepared to compensate for the damage you've caused.

Nah, just forget about it and go home. It's simply the luck of the draw. Park your car in a safer place!

[RickK]

Have had it happen to a car of mine before. No one reported it. After that incident, I became very cognizant of where I park. I do my best to park my vehicle as far away from any hole or driving range as I can even if it means parking a long ways from the the pro shop. To answer the question...I would probably not go in the parking lot looking for my ball if I did hit one in there and I would not be saying a word to anyone about it. I have broken 3 windows on houses on golf courses and I have paid for every one of them.

[Shambles]

Anything wrong with bringing the matter to the club for discussion as to the location of the parking lot ? I would be fairly well concerned if I had to park between two holes as it's a pretty sure thing one of them would have balls flying in my direction.

 

 

 

Shambles

[dkimbooo]

At the golf courses I play in CA, there are signs up warning drivers that they are assuming the risk of having golf balls hit their car when parking at a golf course. Same thing with hitting houses lining a golf course. The homeowners assumed the risk that it could happen (exception: their house was built/they moved in before there was a golf course there).

 

It sucks if it happens to your car, so I suggest trying to find parking where a ball would probably not land.

[rsj1360]

Insist that it didn't and it is the lying press that says so.

[BillyZ2]

Blame it on the foursome behind you.

[ChipDriver]

This past season my pal and I had just finished our round and we were sitting in the parking lot finishing our barley pops and discussing how much better we would be next week. The parking lot is sandwiched between holes 9 and 18. As expected a ball comes off of 9 and smashes into the hood of a newish Honda civic.

 

The guys finished their 9^th walked to the parking lot and left without a note or a trip up to the golf shop. I know for sure that they were well aware that the shot hit a car because they were discussing it as they loaded up their gear and they even asked us if it hit a car and we pointed out the car and point of impact.

 

My pal and I waited about 15 minutes just in case the car’s owner happened to come by simply to explain what happened. He never arrived. We also felt that he would probably think we were the ones that hit the car and it would end up doing more damage telling him than good. We did not report to the golf shop either because, well snitches get….

 

So, what do you do if your ball careens into a car? Are you at fault? Casualty of the game? Do you leave a note?

 

For me, I would leave a note if I could figure out which car I hit. But I also kind of feel like it’s a casualty of the game. I would want someone to leave me a note. If they did so I would not ask them pay for it and I would commend them for their honesty.

 

Your thoughts?

 

Do unto others. Your integrity-meter is very high IMO. I like the way you think. :)

 

For me: at a minimum I have let the owner know that I did the damage (I've hit lots of things with golf balls; and have hit things in my car too) and have offered to pay. It's about integrity to me - if I broke it, I ought to offer to pay to fix it. Whether they accept the offer isn't the issue.

 

This is entirely different than whether you're legally liable. For me - that isn't the issue either - but I understand that lots of people don't agree with me.

 

In many cases, insurance or legal liability will reduce IF or what you might pay. But IMO you still ought to tell them. :)

[Matt J]

Play a better golf course?

 

I'd leave a note and walk into the pro shop and tell the pro. I'd also confront someone in the situation you witnessed. You'd be surprised how quickly folks fess up when given no other option.

 

Stitches don't worry me as much as facing the man in the mirror. You caused the damage, you pay for it. Simple.

 

And figure out your gaps for pete's sake. I can honestly say I've never played a golf course where you could hit a car in their own car park without doing something pretty ridiculous. I've played quite a few layouts where passing motorists were a risk, but never the car park without an extra 3 or 4 clubs in your hand.

[jml4]

I was always under the impression it was a you break it you buy it situation... if you hit an errant shot, and break a window on a car or a house or something, you own up to it, and pay up. At the very least apologize

[HatsForBats]

And figure out your gaps for pete's sake. I can honestly say I've never played a golf course where you could hit a car in their own car park without doing something pretty ridiculous. I've played quite a few layouts where passing motorists were a risk, but never the car park without an extra 3 or 4 clubs in your hand.

 

I have definitely played some courses where the parking lot is easily reachable on an errant shot. One course there are 3 different holes where the parking lot is reachable and I have been paired up with enough different players at that course to realize that one going into the parking lot is not all that uncommon. None of them would really be from someone over clubbing. All of them would involve a slice from a righty or hook for a lefty.

[bladehunter]

No different than parking at a little league baseball game. People who park up front are idiots . Find a good spot. Away from other cars. Well away from flying balls. Easy peasy .

[Hateto3Putt]

Finishing my round and finding a nice dent in my door I see this note on my windshield....

 

I accidentally hit your car with my ball.

Several people witnessed it and suggested I leave a note.

I borrowed a piece of paper

They think I am writing down my contact information.

I am not.

[HoffTTM]

Fairly sure over here that is insured through a portion of the green fee/membership subs

[Imp]

One fall in Hilton Head (Playing the Ocean Course) at Sea Pines, I had a scumbag dentist from NJ back into my car, break my tail light and bumper, and tried to drive off. Bag attendant stopped him, and got his phone number and Sea Pines security showed up right quick. He was "late to get to the airport and didn't notice". Got his info for me while I was on the course.

 

My brother, friend and I got off 18 to be greeted with a note on my windshield to come into the proshop. Were given the info, and I called him. He refused to give me his insurance info, because he was renting, "it'll be handled through them". The short of it is I had to file with my ins company to get it fixed. I found out 2 years later, they finally got the money from him through subrogation.

 

No one takes responsibility for their actions anymore. Take responsibility, make the world better one step at a time.

 

--kC

[Evolved]

I work at a course where a road runs along the left side of the 17th hole. About 5 times a year a golf ball strikes a windshield and even though we know exactly who did it they never, ever, own up to it. Not once.