The Camarillo, CA, Spanish Hills Country Club advertises on its website that “The Lifestyle You Deserve Is Just Around The Corner.” No one deserves the lifestyle at the midpoint of the golf course’s 7th hole.
It was there that one couple purchased a home and property that receives as much golf ball traffic as the 200 yard sign at a busy practice range. Despite having noted a hole in one of the home’s stucco roof tiles during an inspection of the house, and picking up 25 golf balls from the backyard during that same visit, the couple sued the sellers for fraud a year after they bought the home. The claim was that the sellers had not told them just how often the house was peppered with golf balls from the 7th tee.
If the three to four golf balls a day –- that’s more than 1,000 annually –- were simply coming to rest in the backyard, the purchasers might have welcomed the extra income from all those Titleists and Top Flites. (It would have at least paid for the pith helmets.) But apparently the damage to stucco and windows was way more than the couple had anticipated. They lost the suit, by the way, but more to the point is the cautionary advice for you, dear reader: Golf course view homes come at a premium price, but some views may come at an extra price.
Attorney Rob Harris’ entertaining and informative Golf Dispute Resolution website has a full accounting of the story. Click here for access.