Course where homes are way too close to the golf course?

[Jeff Schley]

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

What is the tightest routed course you have ever played that goes through a housing community? How close are the houses and bonus points if you have photos to show the ridiculous home buyers who certainly don't know golf and would buy a home that close to a golf hole.

Mine is Temeku Hills, in Temecula, Ca. which is routed through a housing subdivision including one hole where they had to eventually put up a netting to prevent you from hitting over the houses on a par 5. Also the 17th hole had a very tight 310 yard par 4 with houses about 50-60 feet from the playing area on both sides.  What does your amateur golfer do?  "Give me the big stick" and proceed to pull hook one into a stucco wall or glance off a 2nd story window on a slice that is taken by the wind. You know the feeling of after the ball is hit and you are ready to wince when you hear it land hoping it isn't glass or anything solid I'm sure.  That was Temeku Hills.  It is still there btw, but now called The Legends at Temeku Hills. It isn't every hole, but 3-4 are WAY too close for comfort and property insurance.

What other developer "golf course view" community lots are way too close?

[Tim Martin]

Farmington Woods GC in Avon, Connecticut is a 1970 Desmond Muirhead condominium development course. If you don’t play at least three shots where you require a gas grill or flower box obstruction ruling then it was a good day.

[Ian Andrew]

I think I've said this before on this site, the standard ball disbursement has increased by 50% from 1990 to 2020. There was also an increase from 1970 to 1990, but it wasn't as big. 1970 was the last time I can remember recommendations being in print. Liability stopped anyone from putting a setback distance in print since.

If your judging a 1970's housing development course on today's standards, it's not going to hold up unless it was planned with very deep setbacks. That's the reality of technological change.

I work almost exclusively within large city boundaries with all my work. It's become a logistical nightmare dealing with all the safety issues that exist on property boundaries. Out legal system has recognized the right to safety for homeowners even if the golf course was there first. Think about what that means to golf. You must address the problem. With landlocked inner city courses, there are very few options available. You are left to choose between problems and make decisions accordingly. It's a horrible situation to deal with.

I always wondered why Titleist and Taylor Made didn't get into the netting business. It was a logical extension of their business model.

[Peter Pallotta]

That explains a lot, Ian - thanks.
It also explains why on the one 1970s residential course I sometimes play, I've scored better with persimmon than with modern equipment.
Sadly, the experience isn't often replicated, especially on courses that have been renovated (lengthened) *since* the 1970s! 

[Jim Sherma]

Bent Creek outside of Lancaster, PA. Unreal how close the housing is to the fairway edges. One of the very few courses where I would choose not playing that day over having to play there again. Amazingly not fun.


Shepherd Hills in Allentown, PA has very tight housing as well.

[Adam_Messix]

I know that I am bringing up a sacred cow, but the homes on 6 at Pasatiempo are in play.  This includes the former home of the good Doctor.

[Robin_Hiseman]

I offer you this aerial image of Manila Golf Club. The closest is about 35 metres from the centre of the fairway.

[Thomas Dai]

You'd have to be mad, totally, totally crazy, an absolute nutter, to live alongside this fairway. And as for staying in the hotel on the corner or the one just down the road ........
atb

[Greg Gilson]

Penderbrook in Fairfax , NVA. Lived there 5 years. Always scared to go out the back yard!

[MCirba]

Flying Hills Golf Course in Reading, PA.


Many holes feature OB on both sides of the fairway, beyond which lies 10 yard wide backyards, little kids, dogs, and front porches.


My buddy bounced one off a guys metal awning and he didnt even look up from reading his Sunday paper.


I shot a 114 there once.  I kid you not.

[Carl Rogers]

Early TD course, Riverfront in Suffolk, VA.  The landing zone on hole 6 is squeezed between a pond and the mc-mansions.

[Joe Bausch]

Flying Hills Golf Course in Reading, PA.


Many holes feature OB on both sides of the fairway, beyond which lies 10 yard wide backyards, little kids, dogs, and front porches.


My buddy bounced one off a guys metal awning and he didnt even look up from reading his Sunday paper.


I shot a 114 there once.  I kid you not.

And the clubhouse is too close to the 18th green at Equinox IF a golfer desired to hit a 9 iron approach but instead pulls a 6.   

[Tyler Kearns]

The worst example I've played would be the houses down the right side of the 1st hole at Black Creek in Chattanooga.  First swing of the day can often be pretty bad, so not ideal in my opinion.


Tyler

[Michael Felton]

Two places spring to mind. Blue Bell Country Club in PA. Rarely have I felt so constrained. More than one house was hit during our round there. The other is Wind Watch on Long Island. The 10th hole is a par 5 with a very elevated tee. Fairway is a sliver between the driving range on the left and houses on the right.

[MCirba]

Flying Hills Golf Course in Reading, PA.


Many holes feature OB on both sides of the fairway, beyond which lies 10 yard wide backyards, little kids, dogs, and front porches.


My buddy bounced one off a guys metal awning and he didnt even look up from reading his Sunday paper.


I shot a 114 there once.  I kid you not.

And the clubhouse is too close to the 18th green at Equinox IF a golfer desired to hit a 9 iron approach but instead pulls a 6.   

Ha.  That was the 9th, not 18. 


I had to pass that dining patio again on my way to the 10th tee.   

[JMEvensky]

The worst example I've played would be the houses down the right side of the 1st hole at Black Creek in Chattanooga.  First swing of the day can often be pretty bad, so not ideal in my opinion.



Tyler

First course I thought of too.

[John McCarthy]

Arizona Golf Resort. 

[Tim Gavrich]

Orange Tree in Orlando is a white-stake nightmare.

[Tom_Doak]

Early TD course, Riverfront in Suffolk, VA.  The landing zone on hole 6 is squeezed between a pond and the mc-mansions.

I thought the 8th was worse, but maybe all the homes weren't built on 6 the last time I saw it.

[Tom_Doak]

the standard ball disbursement has increased by 50% from 1990 to 2020.

Did you mean dispersal, or are you talking about the money spent on lost balls?

[Jeff Schley]

the standard ball disbursement has increased by 50% from 1990 to 2020.

Did you mean dispersal, or are you talking about the money spent on lost balls?

Crooked or wayward I think Ian is referencing.  I don't know anything about that, as I just call it normal.

[David Whitmer]

The Lakes CC northeast of Columbus, OH has a row of very nice houses just left of the 1st fairway. I played there as a guest of the course architect once, and when I stepped up to the first tee, I yanked my tee ball and smacked a house REAL HARD.


Fast forward like five years after that, and the club I worked at north of Cincy was hosting the Ohio Senior Amateur. I picked up a guy to drive him to the driving range, and I saw he had a member bag tag from The Lakes. I proceeded to tell him of the time I smacked the house left of the first fairway, and of course he responds, "That's my house."


Thankfully he followed that with, "Don't worry about it...it gets hit all the time."

[Tommy Williamsen]

Flying Hills Golf Course in Reading, PA.


Many holes feature OB on both sides of the fairway, beyond which lies 10 yard wide backyards, little kids, dogs, and front porches.


My buddy bounced one off a guys metal awning and he didnt even look up from reading his Sunday paper.


I shot a 114 there once.  I kid you not.

And the clubhouse is too close to the 18th green at Equinox IF a golfer desired to hit a 9 iron approach but instead pulls a 6.   

MY wife would disagree. When she chipped in on 18 she received a very outrageous ovation from everyone on the deck eating there.

[Tim Leahy]

Redhawk is right up the street from Temeku and Redhawk was built first. Claustrophobic.

[Craig Disher]

Pinehurst #1, #3, and #5.