Posted By Phil Grace Stephen, I'm not aware of any HSE type guidance on this. However, there is a wealth of case law on the subject. Civil claims have been made against cricket and golf clubs for flying balls. It tends to revolve around the issue of whether the risk was foreseeable, had balls been "escaping" previously and if so how many/how often and also issues such as who was there first - the club or the housing. There is no simple answer. If you want to give me a call we can discuss further - 0207 817 6134

Posted By Joe Gray The HSE has published guidance in this area in HSG 79 Health & Safety in Golf Course Management & Maintenance. I have just completed a risk assessment for my own course and the question of public safety can be a difficult one. Do balls leave the course on one occasion a year or several times a week? Our course was built in 1893 and since then houses have been built alongside various holes. The degree of risk will vary depending on the proximity of the houses, the skill of the membership, prevailing wind and several other factors. Fences, netting, etc. may be appropriate but may raise questions of aesthetics as well as effectiveness, etc. Joe Gray

Posted By James Byatt Stephen, without going into the legal issues/requirements I can offer a bit of background from the perspective of a local resident. My Dad's house backs onto the 5th hole of his local course and is one in a row of large detached properties lining the fairway. All the gardens are relatively small but well used. The residents are aware of the risks, all have double glazing and in some cases re-inforced windows. There're no high fences or barriers and all suffer from the regular "pinging" of golf balls off of walls, windows, patios, lawns and decking. A few people have been hit, including my step-mother - no-one seriously (yet). Realistically, the only warning you get is the distant shout of "FORE" (if the player is aware his shot has gone astray - the tee is not in sight of the whole, or the houses). Being on a steep hill, you often get a ball land in one garden and then bounce through 3 or 4 more before coming to a stop. The general feeling is one of acceptance. My Dad gives approx. 50 balls to charity shops each year (he refuses to return them to the fairway!) and I got laughed off the estate when I sat their in my hard hat one balmy sunday afternoon. I guess they feel the pros of a nice view and free spectator-ship outweigh the cons of being shot at! Regards, James

Posted By Stephen J W Clegg. To everyone that posted a helpful response... Thank you!