Gina Stoner is not a golfer. But she collected scores of golf balls outside her home just since the Douglaston Golf Course reopened in late June. 

Stoner lives across the street from the city-owned course and for her, it’s no hole in one.

What You Need To Know

  • Gina Stoner lives across the street from the Douglaston Golf Course, which is managed by the Parks Department

  • Wayward golf balls have been in and around Stoner's home for years. Her home and car have been hit again, and again

  • Stoner lives closest to the 18th hole. At almost 500 yards, it is the course's longest, encouraging golfers to swing harder

  • The Parks Department installed netting around the 18th hole six years ago and the golf course operator adjusted the tee box location. A Parks spokesperson said there is a plan to extend the netting

“It’s car damage. It’s been broken windows. And the fear of getting hit,” said Stoner. 

Wayward golf balls have been around and in Stoner's home for years.

Her front window has been broken twice — so she replaced it with plexiglass. She’s had to patch holes in her fence in several spots. While she has the luxury of a driveway — she doesn’t use it, because her car has been dinged too many times to count.

“The golf balls come over with such velocity,” said Stoner.
 


Over her house and into her backyard too, there is damage everywhere.

And she’s not alone: her neighbors have also dealt with smashed windows.

Stoner said the city does not reimburse her for the damages. She estimates she's paid thousands of dollars out of pocket.

“There are signs that warn the golfers they are responsible, that it’s their responsibility, but you tell me — if somebody breaks a window and they’re hidden behind a whole bunch of trees, are they going to say they did that," said Stoner. "It’s almost a set up, for nobody is financially responsible for anything.”

Stoner said the problem has gotten worse in recent years, possibly because some trees have been lost to storms. Or maybe it's the newer golf clubs that allow duffers to hit the ball longer.

Living across the street from the 18th green doesn't help.

At nearly 500 yards, the hole is the course's longest, encouraging golfers to swing harder. The Parks Department installed netting six years ago, but Stoner said it hasn't helped. She said the city needs to reconfigure the hole.

“They could actually fix this. I know the bottom line is the almighty dollar. But they can do it. It certainly can be done,” said Stoner.

The Parks Department said the agency is working on a plan to extend the length of the netting around the 18th hole to minimize errant golf balls. A timeline has yet to be determined.