Golf ball causes $6,000 damage to Ontario home owner’s solar panels
There are benefits to living beside a golf course as you can enjoy the open green spaces, beautiful views and manicured landscaping.
However, 89-year-old George Hancocks of Scarborough, Ont., says there are drawbacks too.
“I think there are some pretty bad golfers out there, that’s for sure,” Hancocks said.
Hancocks says he has lived beside the Tam O’Shanter Golf Course in Scarborough, which is owned by the City of Toronto, for more than 50 years and there have been plenty of times when errant golf balls have struck his home breaking windows and denting his cars.
Hancocks said he doesn't often complain about balls hitting his house.
However, he said recently he had solar panels installed on his roof to make his home more energy efficient and in August 2021, a golf ball smashed a solar panel on his roof that short circuited the entire system.
“A wild golf ball came down and hit one of the solar panels and completely destroyed the panel,” Hancocks said.
The cost to replace and repairs the panels came to $6,000.
Hancocks contacted the golf course and filed a claim to have the city pay for the repairs, but following an investigation by the Insurance Company ClaimsPro, his claim was denied.
"In order for you to be successful against the City Of Toronto, you must prove the city was negligent. Please note there is an inherent risk in owning a property located in close proximity to a golf course," the claims adjuster said. "Therefore we can find no negligence on the part of the City of Toronto and your claim has been denied in full.”
Golfers tee off not far from Hancocks’ home and he says a screen or netting could be installed to stop balls from hitting his home and others in the neighborhood.
Hancocks said he feels the golf course is responsible for the damage and he has been trying for the past nine months to get the city to pay for the repairs.
"When golf balls hit and damage your house to the tune of $6,000 that's no joke," Hancocks said.
CTV News Toronto reached out to the golf course on Hancocks behalf, and a spokesperson for the insurance and risk management department with the City of Toronto said the adjustor came to the wrong conclusion.
“In this case, the adjustor came to the wrong conclusion with respect to liability," the spokesperson said. "Generally speaking, because the city recognizes that a nuisance was created, the city and its claims adjusting firm usually takes the necessary steps to resolve claims of this nature.”
“Usually, claimants escalate disputes to ClaimsPro senior management. Unfortunately, this did not occur in this instance and so it was not brought to the city's attention until now. Now that this claim has been brought to the city's attention, the city has reviewed the decision made by the adjustor and brought the error to the attention of the claims adjusting firm. ClaimsPro has contacted the claimant to inform them that the claim will be resolved.”
“The city has taken steps to ensure that the adjusting firm and all of its adjustors are aware of the appropriate position to take with respect to liability to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.”
Now that the city has agreed to pay the $6,000 repair bill, it came as a great relief to Hancocks.
“Having this $6,000 paid now is wonderful and I really appreciate it. I’m very happy” said Hancocks.
It is not always clear who should pay if a golf ball hits a home. The golfer could also be liable if they were being irresponsible, but courses should also take precautions to keep neighbouring homes safe from being hit.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.