Residents worry as Boundary Lakes golf balls hit into gardens

Boundary Lakes Golf Course at the Ageas Bowl opened in 2017 and nearby residents say that ever since, golf balls have been landing on their properties.

Despite netting in place to try and stop balls leaving the course, residents say this is not high enough and are now concerned that a ball might hit somebody and possibly even leave them needing medical attention.

Staff at the golf course have now offered to meet with residents in a bid to resolve the issues with them.

• Clubhouse plans at Boundary Lakes Golf Course, West End

John Pilcher and his wife have lived on Botley Road since the early 90s.

The home is now next to the golf course and John said he is worried for his young grandchildren who are all below the age of 10 as balls continue to fall in his garden from people teeing off on the first hole.

He told the Echo: “We’re really worried. We’ve got four grandchildren and if any of them are in the garden, a golf ball could hit them.

“It would land a nasty blow even if it hit an adult as they travel at some speed. It would cause damage that you would need medical attention for.”

John has been calling for the golf club to erect higher netting for years he says, but nothing has been done.

When balls come over into his garden he puts them into a bag and he now claims to have around 300.

He wants to see a proper fence added: “If a professional fence was put up, this would eliminate my concerns. Its got to be professional netting, “sufficiently high enough to stop a ball” and on both sides of the fairway.

“They’ve done it to protect cars and the hotel but they’re not interested in residents”, he added.

John has now set up a cover above the children’s swing to stop balls hitting it when his grandchildren are playing.

Shaun Hall, Director of Golf at Boundary Lakes.

Shaun Hall, director of golf at Boundary Oaks said: “We have been made aware of the situation for a period of time, as a golf club we have worked with the residents and health and safety officials to try and resolve the situation.”

He added: “Having met with the residents on many occasions we have erected netting in all the areas those residents asked us to and we continue to monitor these areas to see if there is more that can be done to prevent any injury or golf balls entering their properties.

“We are meeting with said residents next week to try and discuss and resolve any matters regarding golf balls in their gardens and hoping to resolve these matters.”