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Neighbor complaints prompt discussion of tee-box moves and buffers at Groton course
Summary
A nearby resident reported repeated golf balls striking their house after trees were removed; board members described replantings and temporary tee relocations and discussed mitigation options including moving white tees, placing nets or allowing trees to regrow.
Groton — At the start of the meeting a neighbor raised safety concerns after golf balls struck a nearby house, prompting a substantive exchange about tee placement, landscape buffers and short‑term fixes.
The resident described prior plantings along the property line and said some replanted trees failed; the course replaced several trees last week and added a temporary tee box to shift play away from the house. "We did plant trees along the property line to begin to replace the trees that had previously been removed," the resident said, describing multiple replanting efforts.
Board members and other attendees discussed alternatives. Some suggested moving the white tee markers to the other side of the fairway; others said that would make the hole a temporary different par or conflict with tournament setups. The group noted USGA guidance that tees may be moved up to 100 yards, but limitations of course design, adjacent roads and neighbors’ views constrain options. Potential remedies included placing netting near the bench/trash can area or allowing newly planted trees time to grow; no final mitigation plan was adopted during the meeting.
The board asked staff to consult with course superintendent Eric on practicable options and to report back on feasible short‑term and long‑term steps prior to the next meeting.
