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PARKER, Colo. -- Seven years ago, Leslie Stevens moved into her beautiful home at Canterbury Crossings in Parker. It backs up to hole No. 4 at Black Bear Golf Club.
Stevens knew she was assuming the risk of errant golf balls flying into her yard and breaking her windows. She says once new management took over three years ago, the course got busier and the errant golf ball situation got worse.
"We're getting drilled with golf balls constantly," she said.
When a Contact7 crew showed up, Leslie showed them eight balls scattered in her yard. Two balls were on her deck and one of her house windows was still shattered.
"It’s not just the cost of broken windows," Stevens explained. "It’s becoming a life-threatening issue that needs to be addressed."
Stevens is to the point where she believes the golf course should take some action. She wants to see the tee box moved or trees to be planted along the side of the fairway to add some protection.
Contact7 reached out to Black Bear Golf Club management. They had no comment on the specific complaint but said they always try to work with their neighbors.
Contact7 found that — like in many golf course communities — homeowners in Canterbury Crossings accept the inherent risk of living near a golf course when they first buy their home and that includes damage to property. Unless a golfer knocks on the door and takes financial responsibility for the damage his/her golf ball did to a home, the homeowner will be stuck with the repair bill.
"That’s true and I understand that and accept it," said Stevens. "If it gets to the point that it's so bad, I think the golf course should look at what is going on in a particular spot and try to fix it."
Stevens says it's a waste of time to use her insurance because damage costs usually don't meet her deductible. She also says she's afraid her insurance company would drop her because of too many claims.
Stevens says she has already worked with a couple of Colorado senators on trying to get new laws on the books to help protect homeowners in golf course communities.
