Home owner trying to pin damage on me, thoughts?

[Agolfer10]

I was golfing a local par three course yesterday and on the longest hole, a little over 200 yards, I sliced my 3 wood it went right, into a very large tree, fell down, bounced off the home owners roof and landed in his yard. I was somewhat embarrassed/mad that it happened and saw that as I was walking up to drop ball the homeowner was standing in his yard. The owner of this house is know for going nuts on golfers who go near his house/cars and I was trying to avoid confrontation given his repor, and the fact that the ball hit his roof and caused no damage. As I was about to hit my

Ball He starts yelling "oh so that's how you're going to play it jackass", I was a little taken back but I walked over to him and apologized for hitting his roof as it was an accident. He goes on to say that He heard the ball hit his car and proceeded to point out the dent, which is laughable considering He didn't see where it landed. When I pointed to where my ball was in the yard and told him that it hit the roof all He did was tell me I'm full of s*** and that He knows it hit the car.

 

 

The hole is a dog-leg right and his house is at about 150 yards and He has a wrap around driveway that backs up to the fairway. He had all three of his cars parked parallel in his driveway and all three of the cars looked like they had been hit by golf balls over 2 dozen times each. Mind you his two car garage was completely empty, and their is a street to park on. While I understand the homeowners frustration He was extremely disrespectful, cussing and yelling obnoxiously at me the hole time, and I didn't hit his car. He eventually stormed inside and his wife came out, who was nice. We talked and I provided her my name and number and told her to call me if their was any damage to the roof of the house(which their wasn't I was trying to be nice).

 

 

I get a call around 12pm today and it's the wife of the homeowner. She starts talking and asks me if I have homeowners insurance because they want me to pay for the damage to the car. I can't stress enough how dented their cars were from previous golfers, and it's mood point because I didn't hit the car.

 

 

I'm curious as to what I should do in this situation? Especially because I don't want them using me as a scapegoat to get their car fixed.

[bplgocards]

I'd kindly explain that I didn't hit their vehicle and that if they have any more questions they can be addressed to my attorney.

[Sun Devil]

These situations aggravate me. People who live by a golf course should know better. It's like living next to an airport and complaining about the noise.

 

If you knowingly damaged something .... the ethical and right thing to do is to pay for the damage. Sounds like you did your due diligence in the matter.

 

If the homeowner says you damaged his car .... I believe he has to PROVE that your ball did the damage. No proof. It's just his word against yours.

[Arizonalefty59]

Tell them to kick rocks. These kind of people are the absolute worst man. There is no way they can prove that your actual golf ball is the one that "damaged" their car.

[Golf Symantics22]

You were too nice.

 

I know that sounds stupid. You gave them your name and number. At the most your name and the number to contact your lawyer. (Even if you don't have one. They lie you lie.)

 

Tell them you want to go to court and have them present pictures of the car that was allegedly hit.

 

They will leave you alone.

[PixlPutterman]

Next time they call tell them they have the wrong number, hang up

[LeoLeo99]

Sounds like a shakedown.

[vsproto]

Make them earn it. Period

[Bonneville85308]

Next time don't give your name or number. Or do as my buddy did once, tell them "you're a f*cking moron, you bought a house on a f*cking golf course, what did you think was going to happen!" and walk away.