There are a lot  of golfers that apparently need to work on their swing.

It’s how 31 golf balls in just one month ended up in the yard of a neighboring Golf Villa home.

To do so, those practicing at the driving range at the municipal golf course that parallels the Golf Villas have to send an errant shot over a 60-foot high net fence that was recently replaced.

A longtime homeowner appearing before the Manteca City Council Tuesday night said the situation is getting more frustrating. A neighbor’s windshield was smashed by a golf ball while she’s had her car hit as well.

The neighbor apparently can’t afford to pay the insurance deductible and is currently not driving their vehicle.

She’d like the city to do something.

Staff said they can’t safely raise the netting fence screen much higher.

They’ve looked at ways to alter the tee box. So far, however, they’ve calculated the cost the city would incur would have minimal, if any, impact on reducing errant shots.

Going after the golfer is futile unless they are caught and documented in the act by the homeowners.

As for the city, the conditions of approval for the row homes on the southeast corner of Crom Street and Union Road holds the city harmless. The information is passed on to buyers at the time property closes escrow.

If the city ever honored a claim, they would then be accepting liability for all damages of golf balls that damage property in the housing development that was built after the golf course was put in place.

It is why the city required developers of the 114 duplexes now under construction on the south side of the golf course near Airport Way to dedicate a 150-foot wide golf ball easement.

The easement holds the city harmless for any damage that may occur to 12 homes being built within the 150-foot wide easement.

Buyers of the homes are required to be made aware of the easement that means they can’t seek reimbursement from the city for damages caused by errant golf balls.
The city — or anyone else for that matter — will have no right to retrieve golf balls that may end up in yards.

The developer is constructing the biggest neighborhood of duplex-style homes ever built in Manteca.

There are 114 duplexes and two traditional detached single-family homes that will be built on 13.2 acres on what will become the northeast corner of Airport Way and Center Street.

The neighborhood is going immediately south of the 99-home Yosemite Greens neighborhood.

 To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com