Golf is a popular activity, unless you live too close to a golf course, it seems, which is the case of locals near the Baviera Golf Course in the Caleta de Vélez (Vélez-Málaga).

Unhappy residents live in an urbanización which is in some places is a mere ten metres from the greens. According to one resident they find between 20 and 30 golf balls scattered around their property per week on average.

They’re found lying on terraces, balconies and lawns whilst other balls take out plant pots, panes of glass and dent aluminium window frames.

Of course, the golf course existed before some of the last properties to go up, but the fact is that the golf course was built to include housing (that’s where developers make their money, after all).

The housing most affected belong to Baviera Hills, Green 9 and Colinas de Baviera. The majority of the golf course has high fences around the greens, barring where this last housing to went up. According to one resident, the company that manages the golf course says that the residents have to pay half the cost of erecting the missing perimeter fence in front of their homes

The said costs could be between 10,000 and 20,000 euros to be paid amongst the property owners. Furthermore, it seems that the Town Hall has completely “washed it hands” over the problem, claiming that it is an affair between private citizens and does not involve public entities.

The resident points out that the Town Hall is quite happy to collect the IBI on their properties and issue the building licences for them yet when it comes to problems, they’re not interested.

He does admit, however, that the golf course is making good the damages with their insurance policy but what the residents want, he points out, is a bit of peace and quiet without getting bombarded by errant golf balls.

The resident says that he has spent around 1,000 euros putting up an awning to protect his terrace. What do they do with the balls? They used to give them back but now they’re hanging onto them until damages are fully paid.

The Manager of the golf course says that they immediately cover the expense of all the damage caused and says that they deeply regret this inconvenience for the neighbours. The Manager says that they are trying to sort out the perimeter fence deficiency but it involves a lot of paperwork and permits from the Town Hall.

“Some people don’t want the high fences and prefer trees along the perimetre and even some don’t want it because it takes away their views,” explained the Manager. Asked whether they have approached the neighbours to co-finance the fence, he declined to answer saying that it was a private matter.

(News: La Caleta, Velez-Malaga, Axarquia, Costa de Sol, Malaga, Andalucia – Source Article/Photo: E. Cabezas/Sur)

Keywords: Golf Course, Greens, Golf Balls, Lost Balls, Damage from Strikes, Angry Neighbours, Perimeter Fence

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