Wayward golf ball at Mona Vale Golf Couse hits woman walking on path
Critics of a public pedestrian path that runs along the side of a northern beaches golf course have called for it be relocated after a woman was hospitalised when struck on the head by a golf ball.
Manly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Manly. Followed categories will be added to My News.
CRITICS of a public pedestrian path that runs along the side of a golf course have called for it be relocated after a woman was hospitalised when struck on the head by a golf ball.
The woman, 50, was hit by an errant shot about 8.30am on Saturday while walking on a section of the Northern Beaches Council’s coastal walkway next to a fairway at Mona Vale golf course.
Witnesses said the woman was walking south when she was knocked to the ground by the golf ball. She suffered a deep gash to the back of her head and was taken to Mona Vale Hospital after being treated by ambulance paramedics.
Mona Vale residents who use the upgraded, shared path — opened in May last year at a cost of $400,000 — said they regularly had to dodge wayward golf balls.
Locals said the concrete path, which winds along the eastern edge of the 17th fairway, was dangerous because a redesign of the hole meant that walkers cannot see golfers teeing off.
John Randall said he and others had written to the council to point out the flaws in the location of the path — part of the Manly to Palm Beach coastal walkway being built in stages by the council — even though there was a safety screen that walkers could shelter behind halfway along the fairway.
“The trouble is that along a long section of the path people can no longer actually see golfers teeing off so they have no idea that a golf ball is heading towards them,” Mr Randall said.
“I have been campaigning for months telling the council and the golf club that the path is now too dangerous.”
Gill Stokes, who uses the path twice a day to walk her dog and who regularly takes her six-month-old grandson for a walk in a stroller, feared a child could be seriously hurt.
“It’s very popular, especially on weekends. There are people with prams, wheelchairs,” she said.
“You can see golf balls flying across the path all the time. It should have been built on the other side of the dunes, nearer the beach.”
Mr Randall suggested that if council could not relocate the path away from the fairway, then it should install a netted fence to protect walkers.
Council general manager for environment and infrastructure Campbell Pfeiffer said it was concerned about the incident.
“Council has already done much work at this site by redirecting pathways, constructing mounds, providing safety screening and planting as well as relocating the golf tee to reduce the risk to the community,” Mr Pfeiffer said.
“Council will continue to work closely with Mona Vale Golf Club to explore opportunities to further reduce risk.”