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Council weighs temporary golf-barrier nets and tree plantings after repeated ball damage to nearby homes
Summary
Councilors, staff and nearby residents discussed options — temporary netting, fast-growing trees and resident meetings — to reduce stray golf ball damage from the municipal course along 11th Avenue. Council directed staff to schedule a Buildings & Grounds meeting that includes affected residents.
Virginia City councilors and residents discussed short- and long-term ways to reduce stray golf-ball damage near the municipal golf course during the Committee of the Whole meeting on July 1.
Neighbors near Hole 2 reported repeated property damage — broken picture windows, dented siding and safety concerns for children — and said incidents have increased in recent years. One resident told councilors that a broken picture window and repeated strikes had made parts of the home and yard unsafe for family use.
Park and Recreation Director Brian Silver presented two vendor estimates for temporary net systems: a portable-net system with movable bases (12-foot height option) and a higher temporary-pocket-in-the-ground pole-and-net system (20-foot option). The 20-foot removable system was approximately $24,000; the lower portable net option was about $14,000. Silver said taller permanent flagpole-and-net systems are available but significantly more expensive.
Council discussion and next steps: Councilors and staff agreed a single short-term solution might not fully eliminate the problem because some tee shots clear 20 feet, and balls that strike pavement can ricochet unpredictably. Several councilors favored a combined approach: install temporary protection measures while accelerating tree plantings and exploring resident-side screening where practicable. Brian Silver said the city has planted several fast-growing saplings along the corridor this spring and that additional plantings will take years to reach effective height.
Councilor Beyonditch moved — and Councilor Friedlieb seconded — to schedule a Buildings & Grounds meeting and invite affected residents to discuss solutions. The motion passed. Council asked staff to include impacted neighbors, park staff and public works staff for a problem-solving session and to explore grant or donor funding options, including private donations from golf leagues that have expressed interest in helping fund plantings.
Ending: The council will convene a focused meeting with residents and staff to collect specific proposals, review netting options and discuss funding; staff will return with recommended designs and budget implications for council consideration.
