"Pay 6 Billion"…Golf Ball Compensation Lawsuit, That Verdict Overturned

Couple Who Bought House Near Golf Course in Massachusetts Damaged by Over 650 Balls in 4 Years
High Court Ordered Compensation, but Supreme Court Ruled It Invalid

A couple in the United States filed a lawsuit against a nearby country club (CC), claiming that over 650 golf balls flew into their home over four years, causing damage. The court initially accepted the couple's claim and ordered the golf course to pay more than 6 billion won in damages, but this ruling was overturned by the Supreme Court.

On the 27th (Korean time), according to foreign media including the Boston Globe, the Massachusetts Supreme Court recently invalidated the ruling that ordered the Tenjar couple, who live near the 15th hole of Indian Pond CC in Kingston, to be compensated $4.9 million (about 6.1 billion won). Judge Scott Kafker stated, "The original ruling was nullified due to a 'clear error' by the previous judge," and sent the case back to the Superior Court.

Earlier, in April, the Plymouth County Superior Court in Massachusetts had ordered the golf course to pay the Tenjar family $3.5 million for emotional distress plus $1.4 million in accumulated interest before the ruling, but the Supreme Court dismissed this. The Massachusetts Supreme Court said it is necessary to reconsider whether the number of golf balls flying into the Tenjar family's home is actually reasonable and whether the tee box and fairway of the 15th hole at Indian Pond CC comply with regulations, as the Tenjar couple claimed.

Judge Kafker evaluated, "Just as foul balls and hitting errors occur in baseball, mistakes can happen in golf, and this is a natural part of the game." He added, "The fact that such mistakes occur even among highly skilled players demonstrates the difficulty and spirit of challenge in sports." He emphasized, "Even with training, education, improved skills, and excellent golf course design or management, mistakes in golf shots are naturally possible."

The Tenjar couple were captivated by the scenery near this golf course in 2017 and bought a house for $750,000. The house is next to the 15th hole of Indian Pond CC. This hole is a par-4 dogleg (a hole that bends left or right like a dog's leg). The structure has houses located at the bend between the tee box and the green, separated by trees. Golfers often hit golf balls into nearby houses while trying to navigate the dogleg hole. The couple claimed, "Over four years, more than 650 golf balls flew in, breaking windows and damaging exterior walls and outdoor decks."

The golf course took measures such as planting trees near the Tenjar couple's home and adjusting the hole cup's position but did not install protective nets as the couple wanted. The golf course has not issued a separate statement regarding the reversal of the ruling. The Tenjar couple's attorney expects a new lawsuit to be filed early next month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.