A local soccer mom is upset after an errant golf ball caused hundreds of dollars in damages to her car, but she's even more concerned about the safety of children playing in the area.
Tasha Stanford is a frequent cheerleader at Scheel’s Overland Park Soccer Complex, where her son and niece play soccer. She parked in the same nearby lot adjacent to St. Andrew’s Golf Course Mother’s Day weekend during a tournament, but came back to find a golf ball-shaped indentation in her windshield.
"I looked around; I could not find it. I didn't see any witnesses. I didn't see who did it,” said the single mother.
Stanford went directly to St. Andrews and was told to file an insurance claim with the city of Overland Park, since the course is publicly owned. However, days later, the city denied her claim.
The denial letter from the city’s insurance firm, Charlesworth & Associates, read in part:
“After talking to City employees and investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, we can find no negligence on the part of the City. The errant golf ball was not the fault of the City, but rather the fault of the golfer who actually hit the ball. Unfortunately, there were no witnesses nor was the City able to track down the identity of the golfer.”
Stanford’s estimate was $389, something the Independence mother would have a hard time paying for, especially considering her personal insurance deductible is $500.
Even more concerning for Stanford is the countless number of children playing in the neighboring tennis courts, basketball courts and soccer fields.
"Try to imagine that golf ball hitting my child or someone else's child,” she said.
Stanford would also like to see protective netting added around the golf course or signs in the parking lot that raise awareness of the possible danger.
"I think they should do better about trying to make sure that kids are safe and the people who are coming to watch them are safe and that our personal property is safe,” she said.
Sean Reilly is the city spokesman. He said that although the city denied Stanford’s claim, the golf pro at St. Andrews will be able to help cover the cost of Stanford’s windshield immediately.
"The golf pro is a contracted employee. They have their separate insurance; it's something that they cover through their insurance ... In fact, they said they'd have it taken care of today,” said Reilly.
Reilly also said that more protective netting is something the city would consider.
