How do golf balls become worth nearly $5 million? When golfers continue to batter a house with errant shots!
A Massachusetts couple won a nearly $5 million verdict against a local country club after being subjected to a “constant danger” of stray golf balls struck by hackers for years.
According to court records, a Plymouth County Superior Court jury awarded Erik and Athina Tenczar $4.93 million in December, finding that Indian Pond Country Club was at fault for failing to protect the couple’s home from a relentless bombardment of terrible golfing.
The Tenczars initially sued both Indian Pond and Spectrum Building Inc., the company that built their new home in Kingston, roughly 40 miles south of Boston. They reached an agreement with the developers, leaving Indian Pond Country Club as the single defendant.
“The continuous threat of golf ball strikes occurring at any time prevents the Tenczars from the use and enjoyment of their property,” which was purchased for $750,000 on April 27, 2017, according to the complaint.
According to Fox Business, $3.5 million of the judgement was for mental and emotional anguish, while the remainder was for damages and interest.
The golf club did not respond to Fox Business’ attempts for comment.
The ruling is being challenged, with club counsel claiming that the judgement amount is exorbitant, according to NBC News.
Errant balls, they claim, hit their deck and yard, including an area set aside for their daughter, as well as the front of their property, where their driveway was located and where family and guests would park their automobiles.
They said they were forced to remain at home throughout the club’s operating hours.
The Tenczars built a wall to protect their property and demanded that the country club add protective landscaping, netting, or change the configuration of the hole to safeguard their property.
Their attorney stated that while the inconvenience of a ball landing in their yard every now and again was one thing, a total of 651 golf balls struck their home, smashing windows many times.
On July 18, 2018, a terrible shot hit their daughter, scaring her and prompting the family to file a police report.
The parents and their three young daughters are hoping that the problem will be remedied now that the tee box on 15 has been relocated back, discouraging golfers from taking the shortcut and instead promoting more simple shots that follow the dogleg.
