Enraged residents call for action over golf-ball damage
On June 14, while his family was celebrating his birthday, a relative was hit by a golf ball. The injuries were so severe the woman had to be rushed to Barberton Provincial Hospital.
Makhaza Ndlovu of Lomas Street said he had finally had enough of golf balls being driven through the windows of his house after the latest incident last weekend.
During the golf day which was held in aid of Barberton Primary School, another ball crashed through the window of the room where his children were playing, sending broken shards of glass flying all over the place, even as far as the lounge.
This has become a regular occurrence. On June 14, while his family was celebrating his birthday, a relative was hit by a golf ball.
The injuries were so severe the woman had to be rushed to Barberton Provincial Hospital.
“I have on numerous occasions spoken to the manager at Barberton Golf Club but to no avail.
“I am now at the end of my tether. Besides the cost involved fixing windows, there is the more serious issue of people getting hurt or even worse,” he said.
Ndlovu, who bought his house years ago, said he was not the only one in that part of Lomas Street which faced this problem.
“The same thing happens to my neighbours,” he said, “and I am not going to sit back and watch one of my family members get hurt or wait for a fatal accident to happen.”
According to an article by Scott Smith of Golf Digest regarding tests that had been done with hi-tech dummies, “Getting hit head-on is every golfer’s greatest fear.
“For good reason. The test data indicated a force of impact about a 10th of what would be expected in a head-on car crash.
“The likelihood of a fatality is quite small from such a blow.
“However, impact at that speed could cause a concussion, cerebral bleeding or, for a child or an older person with osteoporosis, a skull fracture.”
Fatalities do occur, too.
A few years ago a sales manager, Thomas Grennan died of a cerebral haemorrhage three days after being hit on the right side of his head by a golf ball which had been struck by his playing partner 45 feet away.
Also, according to Smith’s article, nearly 40 000 golfers are admitted to emergency rooms every year after being injured at play.
Barberton Times approached the Barberton Golf Club committee to find out what it intended to do about safeguarding the residents adjacent to the course.
Members were very approachable and asked for a week to discuss the matter.
The newspaper will publish the follow-up in the October 14 edition.
