[margaretmattson]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Florida law would supercede a deed restriction. But, does any Villages deed restriction even state that?

If you are a golfer and are certain you are reading the law correctly, do as you wish. One day, your golf ball may enter the yard of a homeowner who knows more about the law than you. The choice to enter a homeowner's yard is always up to the individual. I never have and never will. I do not want a possible legal hassle over a ball that costs much, much, less. The tiny white cross lawsuit always makes me think twice. But, that is my choice. As I said, do as you wish.

[Taltarzac725]

The Golf Ball Hazard https://share.google/ttla57wADZBpQHNI1


This is interesting. Facts do matter in these situations. If you have a broken hearted lover who deliberately strikes his ball into the yard of the woman who broke his heart.... And then goes to retrieve it....

What is reasonable also probably applies.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

If you are a golfer and are certain you are reading the law correctly, do as you wish. One day, your golf ball may enter the yard of a homeowner who knows more about the law than you. The choice to enter a homeowner's yard is always up to the individual. I never have and never will. I do not want a possible legal hassle over a ball that costs much, much, less. The tiny white cross lawsuit always makes me think twice. But, that is my choice. As I said, do as you wish.

If the law is on my side, I would retrieve the ball as long as I am not disturbing the house. To me, the homeowner is being unreasonable. If you don't want golf balls in your yard, don't buy a house on the golf course.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

If the deed restrictions state NO GOLFER is permitted on a home owners property to retrieve an errant golf ball, the words NO GOLFER implies not one golfer has the right to enter a yard to retrieve an errant golf ball. Deed restrictions do not only outline what a homeowner can do to his/her property. They also outline THEIR RIGHTS.

Can anyone produce such a deed restriction that they signed ( not a yellow box under etiquette on golfthevillages.com)?

[margaretmattson]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

If the law is on my side, I would retrieve the ball as long as I am not disturbing the house. To me, the homeowner is being unreasonable. If you don't want golf balls in your yard, don't buy a house on the golf course.

Normally, I would agree with you. However, I know of several lawsuits filed by Villagers that make me think twice. Examples: Who would believe a homeowner would spend an exorbitant amount in legal fees to protect his right to place a tiny white cross in his yard? Who would believe a deaf Villager would file a lawsuit because learning enrichment did not include a sign language interpreter in each and every class? Opposite, but related, who would believe a Villager would punch a man to death because the man "supposedly" crashed into his Lexus? Remember the white Mercedes woman? The home that needed a SWAT team to remove a Villager? I have learned there are UNREASONABLE Villagers who will fight to the bloody end. Yep! As I said, this makes me think twice. My better judgement tells me to stay out of someone's yard unless invited.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by npwalters

Where did you get this idea? It is an understanding that damage caused by a golf ball is the cost of being on a course. But going onto another person's property without permission - no.

I'm a bad golfer and go OB too often. If it goes in a person's yard I leave it.

No horse in this race. My home is not on a golf course AND I DON'T PLAY GOLF. However with the price of fishing lures, Mud,leaches,aligators. As a kid poison ivy so bad my buddy
went to the hospital. I never asked if he got the lure. Enjoyed the memory mine is true. Do you really leave balls behind or creating an alibi? SORRY CAN'T HELP IT.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

Normally, I would agree with you. However, I know of several lawsuits filed by Villagers that make me think twice. Examples: Who would believe a homeowner would spend an exorbitant amount in legal fees to protect his right to place a tiny white cross in his yard? Who would believe a deaf Villager would file a lawsuit because learning enrichment did not include a sign language interpreter in each and every class? Opposite, but related, who would believe a Villager would punch a man to death because the man "supposedly" crashed into his Lexus? Remember the white Mercedes woman? The home that needed a SWAT team to remove a Villager? I have learned there are UNREASONABLE Villagers who will fight to the bloody end. Yep! As I said, this makes me think twice. My better judgement tells me to stay out of someone's yard unless invited.

If of any value. I had a minor in psychology. HUH science of a bunch of nuts studying people they decide are nuts. To quote Freud. Sometimes it is just a cigar. Having said that, I recall reading 2% of the population is criminally insane. People who are violent not all the time but when triggered. It can be like blond hair and I am grey. Two percent is 2 out of a hundred,

Life in the Villages. Think twice. People complaining anonymously. It is an act of cowardice. It is the postman who bought into the villages and thinks he is the postmaster general.

Someone I knew years ago and not the Villages. Was amusing to hear the story. He planted a tree. What he was. It was a xxxxxxx tree worth $$$$$$$$.
After many years someone complained. He as part of common charges was paying the atty for the planned community but his own attorney. It went on and on and on. His atty bills were like 40,000. He passed away. His daughter inherited the place. She sold it for less than market to the worst she could find. AMUSING BECAUSE I HAVE A NEIGHBOR ON MY CASE.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

Normally, I would agree with you. However, I know of several lawsuits filed by Villagers that make me think twice. Examples: Who would believe a homeowner would spend an exorbitant amount in legal fees to protect his right to place a tiny white cross in his yard? Who would believe a deaf Villager would file a lawsuit because learning enrichment did not include a sign language interpreter in each and every class? Opposite, but related, who would believe a Villager would punch a man to death because the man "supposedly" crashed into his Lexus? Remember the white Mercedes woman? The home that needed a SWAT team to remove a Villager? I have learned there are UNREASONABLE Villagers who will fight to the bloody end. Yep! As I said, this makes me think twice. My better judgement tells me to stay out of someone's yard unless invited.

Attorneys and lawsuits. Based on experience. No shortage of attorney jokes. Humor is usually a view OF REALITY. Endless TV ads. Call shyster, shyster and shyster. "Reasonable."
What is that? An issue? You go to an attorney. Tell your tale. HE/SHE runs a credit check on you. GREAT THEY CAN pay. Take the case or someone else will. Notice people who have nothing do not get sued???????????????????? I have more questions than answers. Answers change when it is you or yours.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by JGibson

I'm over here just wishing they would change the OB rule from 2 strokes to 1 stroke.

It is one stroke. Stroke & Distance, just like a lost ball.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

You seem to have missed "If the deed restrictions allow it." Some deed restrictions state no golfer can enter an owner's yard to retrieve a golf ball. If you choose to do so, you are breaking the law.

A Deed Restriction isn't a "Law".

Nor can a Deed Restriction apply to a 3rd Party.

Originally Posted by margaretmattson

If the deed restrictions state NO GOLFER is permitted on a home owners property to retrieve an errant golf ball, the words NO GOLFER implies not one golfer has the right to enter a yard to retrieve an errant golf ball. Deed restrictions do not only outline what a homeowner can do to his/her property. They also outline THEIR RIGHTS.

What ever rights anyone has from a Deed Restriction, don't apply to other people. It restricts the home owner, no one else, other thatn possibly the Grantor.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

I believe the Florida State Legislature "makes up the rules", not golfers.

Want bet majority are golfers, so would that be conflict in interest?

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Want bet majority are golfers, so would that be conflict in interest?

I bet the majority breathe, so is it a conflict of interest in passing clean air laws????

[margaretmattson]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

A Deed Restriction isn't a "Law".

Nor can a Deed Restriction apply to a 3rd Party.



What ever rights anyone has from a Deed Restriction, don't apply to other people. It restricts the home owner, no one else, other thatn possibly the Grantor.

If I read, no golfer is permitted to enter the yard of a homeowner to retrieve an errant ball. I will do as written. As I have said, I do not enter yards in the Villages without permission. Your interpretation of the law may not be the homeowner's interpretation. In my opinion, leaving and replacing an errant golf ball is always better than challenging a stranger. I know of too many instances in the Villages in which an encounter with the wrong Villager resulted in death, a prison sentence, or years of legal fees. No thanks! I will leave the golf ball behind and move on. So what? My golf score is terrible. It is not like the PGA had interest in me. It is just a game among friends. At the end, I would probably brag that I am the worst golfer in the Villages. A title is a title, right?

[Taltarzac725]

I have entered a neighbor's yard on occasion. Usually to look for a wayward pet. I recall letting my dog out the back door at night and hearing quite a commotion. I run out there and find my pooch Sport facing off with an opossum which looked to me like an opossum that might have just had little ones as she was really holding her own against both of us. I grabbed the dog which was in a neighbor's yard and got back quickly into the house. I think me and Sport had seen all 42 of the opposum's teeth.

We have had other occasions when I have had to go looking for a wayward pooch in various yards. We had looked all over the neighborhood for Beau and the neighborhood people had gone looking all over the place as well. I had lost all hope of finding Beau as I had been out watching a very long movie and a Right at Home worker had been taking care of things. I looked some more and was totally discobombulated and staring off into space and looked down and a small head appeared beneath the chair I was holding the back of. And out came Beau who had been hiding under the chair. Kind of looking at me like what's the big deal?


There have been other pet hunts in the neighborhood as well with many of us looking for a pet mentioned on the Villages' radio station as having been lost.

And we have had Alzheimer's patients who get out of their homes and wander around. Who also need to be rescued.

[golfing eagles]

Slightly off topic, but while on the thread of trespassing---- The "nice people in this photo, at 6:07 just after the ambassadors left, drove from Hillsborough Tr. down Egret 8 towards the tee, then around to the 7th tee where you now see them teeing off. I'm sure they paid green fees . This of course is clearly trespassing, no ambiguity. I hope they're pleased with themselves