If you live close to a golf course and you’ve had to contend with stray balls, there are measures you can take to protect your property from damage.
So, How Can You Protect Your Home from Errant Golf Balls?
Firstly, it’s going to depend on the surface you wish to protect. The windows of your home will need a permanent solution. Your car, on another hand, may require a more temporary solution.
Seven Ways To Protect Your Home From Errant Golf Balls
Here is how to keep stray golf balls at bay:
1. Golf Ball Screens
There are dedicated golf ball screens in the market – check these examples (https://bit.ly/3tLJvtd), (https://bit.ly/3hlCIUE).
These screens help reduce the likelihood of the golf ball landing on the delicate glass on your windows.
They are designed to sit a few inches over your windows.
This way, they will absorb the impact of the ball in place of the window panes.
A golf ball flying at great speeds can still smash past the screen onto the windows and still inflict damages.
Sometimes builders add an extra frame around the windows to provide additional protection.
Note that golf ball screens are designed to prevent objects from hitting your glass windows and are different from regular screens. This means you will pay more for the former and you might need the assistance of a professional installer to put them in place.
Golf ball screens come with another benefit – protection against UV rays and excess sunlight, thanks to their dark appearance.
2. Roll-down Panels
Roll-down panels offer non-permanent protection against golf balls and even basketballs.
They can be deployed when the damage is more likely to occur and rolled back when you need more light in your home.
Most of the roll-down panels you will find out there are made from strong vinyl or polyester screens or both but some feature reinforced glass.
They are the best bet if you aren’t always exposed to falling balls and don’t require a permanent solution.
Another great thing about them is that you don’t need to install them on each window because not all windows are in the path of flying balls.
Even better, they are much easier to customize for your home than the specialized golf ball screens. For that reason, consider talking to your local door and window expert to get a product that works best for your windows.
3. Plexiglass
If you are looking for a DIY solution for falling balls, you should probably try out Plexiglass.
Sheets of Plexiglass can be screwed on existing window frames to set up a permanent solution for even the most destructive balls.
If you peruse through the reviews, you will come across a few complaints regarding the purported invisibility of Plexiglass – this is not a problem
I’ve experienced myself. Let’s just say most Plexiglass products out there permit satisfactory visibility.
Still, it’s not like you intend to look outside often once you install them – they are on the window for a specific job.
Plexiglass comes with one flaw though: the tendency to accumulate water in those tiny gaps left between them and the window. You may not detect the presence of water in this area until the parts of the window start to show signs of damage. You can partly avoid this problem by having them installed by an experienced professional.
One of the must-dos before installing Plexiglass is to leave tiny holes that can permit air into the spaces between the two panels.
That way, the air will quickly dry off the little moisture that may get inside to prevent accumulation.
Also, you might want to add an awning or allow the roof to extend a bit more.
This helps prevent rainwater from penetrating the panels. If you have a large tree instead of a roof overhang, part of the leaves debris will end up in the Plexiglass.
Clearly, Plexiglass isn’t the best solution for the problem but it can offer a reprieve.
4. Window Film
Some security agencies provide clear security films that can be attached to glass windows with conventional adhesives.
These films are designed to strengthen the windows, making them more resistant to impacts.
Some of these window films are bulletproof (or are advertised as so), which means golf balls won’t be a threat at all.
These films are normally expensive, with a price tag in the region of thousands of dollars a roll.
However, because they are permanent, they will save you a great deal of money for the entire period. This is better compared to having to replace your glass windows constantly.
5. Screen Enclosures
Screen enclosures are the best solution if you want to stop the golf balls from falling in your compound or certain places in your homestead.
They are the best bet if you are always exposed to flying golf balls. If you live very close to a tee box, for example, or any other really bad spot, you should think of these enclosures.
Screen enclosures are never made specifically for golf balls, but anything that may fly into your compound.
For that reason, you will need to disclose the intention to the supplier before choosing one.
Units designed for the pool, for example, may not provide the best protection against golf balls.
The best thing is that if the ball gets to rip a section of the enclosure, you just have to replace that specific section. This is a bit cheap compared to replacing an entire window panel.
Another benefit of screen enclosures is that they keep bugs away from your yard. This means you can relax on your own patio in the evenings without worry.
The main drawback of screen enclosures is the complicated nature of their installation process.
However, if you choose a quality product, the annoying flying balls might become something of the past.
6. Impact-Resistant Roofing and Regular Checks
Other than your windows and the general backyard, another part worth protecting is the roof.
Choose an impact-resistant roof that falls in Class 4 category.
All Class 4 roofs are designed to provide the best stone, golf ball, and hail protection. Better yet, you stand to earn significant discounts on your insurance premiums.
Alternatively, you can ask the golf course or the sporting establishment responsible for the stray balls to erect a net on the perimeter of their fields.
This can be easier if you live in a neighborhood with an HOA.
It is the responsibility of the sporting establishment to keep the balls within their area.
If you can’t count on HOA, try to intimidate the golf course by threatening to write to your state’s Attorney General.
7. Shutters and Awning
Unlike soccer and basketballs which normally hit straight from the source, golf balls normally curve out from the source before hitting the window.
The fact that the golf balls fall from above means shutters and awning can offer great protection, even better than some kinds of protective window glasses.
Awnings are a bit limited when it comes to the application compared to exterior shutters since they often hang above the windows.
Exterior shutters can be easily shut during the daytime when activities at the golf course are at the peak. At night, you can get rid of the shutters to enjoy the night sky and allow the breeze to flow into the room.
Conclusion
Besides installing impact-resistant roofing, you can protect your home from golf balls by adding screen enclosures, window film shutters, awnings, Plexiglass, roll-down panels, and golf ball screens.
