POST FALLS, Idaho — Some homeowners in Post Falls claim a nearby golf course is causing them trouble. A recent change there has golf balls raining down on their homes, with some even causing damage.
Richard Hutchins lives in the Prairie Falls Golf Course Community in a home that borders the course.
Before Prairie Falls Golf Course completed its changes to the course last year, he would occasionally see only a couple of golf balls reach his yard. But, he’s now collected about 300 golf balls over the past year, some of which he said have damaged his home.
“There’s a lot of repairs that have to be done now," Hutchins said.
Just before Easter, he discovered a broken window. Before that, a dented barbecue and a hole in his drain, along with several holes in the siding of his house.
Hutchins recognizes these are risks that come with living in a home bordering the golf course. But, he said this is much more damage than they’ve ever experienced.
“When you live on a golf course you expect a ball or two to come into your yard once in a while," he said. "The damage is what we’re concerned about.”
Hutchins believes the damages are the result of the golf course moving the tee box of hole one several yards closer to his home.
Head golf professional Joshua Greiner confirms the tee box is shorter.
“The hole has changed," Greiner said. "It has gotten a little bit shorter, and, inherently, that’s going to put other homes in danger.”
Greiner sympathizes with Hutchins’ situation. But, he said it’s the same situation Hutchins' neighbors were in before they moved the tee box.
"There are nets throughout the back yards of several homes, and those nets are up purposefully," Greiner said. "But now some of those nets might not see as many golf balls as we moved the hole. Still, we’re going to move the hole back a little bit. So we’ll see what happens.”
With help from family, Hutchins put up one section of netting in his back yard. He's considering putting up more if that’s what it takes to protect his home.
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