'Stray golf course balls could put child in a coma'

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 damage totalling thousands of pounds.

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, 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."

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".

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, golf course architect for Swan Golf Designs, says the suggestion that some older courses require 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 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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