Southborough committee to ask select board for review after residents report errant golf balls

At a Town of Southborough Golf Course Committee meeting, members agreed to recommend that the select board review options to reduce errant golf balls reaching nearby homes and streets and asked a committee member to inform the select board and town staff of that recommendation.

The recommendation follows repeated public complaints from homeowners near the seventh hole and extended committee discussion of the architect's report and several mitigation options. Resident Christine Pearson, who said she lives across from the seventh hole, told the committee, “My car is severely damaged, and it actually hit me the other day.” Pearson said workers on her property and passersby have been nearly struck by balls.

The committee discussed short-term and longer-term fixes that appeared in the architect's recommendations: replacing the existing patchwork “franken” fence, extending taller fence sections back to the rear of the fourth tee (roughly 100 feet as discussed), planting trees to alter sight lines, and more structural changes such as moving tees or greens. A committee member said an estimate to replace the fence behind the third green was “in the vicinity of $8,000.” Committee members also discussed that removable netting had been rejected as impractical and that the architect emphasized some options may not fully stop all errant balls.

Committee members emphasized trade-offs. Several members said the currently installed higher fence on part of the course should be used as a uniform height where the new fence is added; others raised concerns that a new, stark fence could be visually intrusive where greenery currently masks older fencing. Ideas to retain pedestrian access included overlapping sections or a gate where people cross the line of the new fence. The committee also discussed signage to remind golfers they are responsible for their balls and a simple on-course bell or flag to alert following players, but committee members noted enforcement would be difficult.

The committee did not adopt a final design or fund a construction contract at the meeting. Tony Shoner, a committee member, took the action item and said, “I'll take that action item. I'll take that item to inform the select board of our recommendation, and I'll also talk to Mark Purple.” The group agreed the select board (and town staff including the person named Mark Purple in the discussion) should be asked for guidance before the committee takes final action.

Neighbor safety, property damage and liability were recurring concerns in the discussion. Residents and committee members noted that no mitigation option will eliminate every errant ball; several members said the goal is to reduce the risk to people walking by and to minimize property damage. The committee agreed to carry its recommendation to the select board for a policy-level decision and to seek whatever further approvals are required.