Manteca Council approves $150,000 to modify golf driving range after residents report injuries and property damage

The Manteca City Council voted unanimously on Aug. 19 to amend the capital improvement program and transfer $150,000 from the self-insurance risk-management fund to pay for improvements at the municipal golf course driving range aimed at reducing errant golf balls that have struck nearby homes and injured a resident.

The council adopted a resolution (agenda item C-12) authorizing a not-to-exceed appropriation of $150,000 to replace driving-range concrete, add new mats and install dividers at the teeing area. The motion was made by Vice Mayor Halford and seconded by Council Member Lackey; the vote was 5-0.

Residents described repeated property damage and at least one injury. Elizabeth Perez told the council she had documented dozens of golf balls that hit a neighbor's home in a short period and that a neighbor, identified as Susan, had been struck in the chest while in her backyard and treated in the emergency room. "Susan was hit by a golf ball in the breast...she was diagnosed with a pleural effusion," Perez said, adding the county paid medical bills but did not cover lost wages. Nearby residents said they routinely collect buckets of balls, have cracked windows and several garage-door dents.

City staff described the proposed fix as a near-term, bid-driven construction project that will replace the concrete where mats sit, angle the new concrete westward to redirect typical launch trajectories and add dividers between bays. Staff estimated the work could be ready to bid after plan preparation and public-contract-code procurement; an optimistic construction start is about four months, with a realistic window of up to six months because of competing priorities.

During public discussion and council debate, council members urged the city manager to treat the repairs with urgency. Vice Mayor Halford and others called for expedited procurement and additional study of longer-term options. Staff said a trajectory study and a full net along the length of the range would be more expensive — on the order of $450,000 or more for an 80-foot-tall net covering the landing area — and would require separate funding and design work. The golf pro at the course urged moving the angled tees and adding a painted fairway strip to alter golfers' aim, and warned that additional protective work behind the ninth green might be necessary.

The resolution approved by council directs staff to prepare plans and solicit bids for the concrete, mat and divider improvements and authorizes the city manager or designee to take necessary actions to effectuate the transfer and construction. The city manager also said he would treat the repairs as an emergency under applicable procurement rules and would report back to council and the public on the timeline and any additional measures.

Key project details: appropriation up to $150,000 from the self-insurance risk-management fund; near-term work to replace concrete, install mats and dividers; estimated procurement and construction timeline 4-6 months; long-term net options estimated at about $450,000 or more according to staff.