Car damaged by a golf ball

AutoMan79

Hi guys,

Need a bit of advice.

Was traveling few days ago beside a golf club and a ball flied directly into car braking lower bumper grill and plastic inside the engine beside the radiator.
I have the footage caught on dash cam. Went to VW dealer to get estimate for the damage cost - still waiting on price.

Would it be worth talking to the golf club?

Any advice more than welcome - never been in such an odd situation.

GreeBo

Yep contact the club, they probably already have a record of a ball going out at that time.

They have insurance to cover this, or may just cover it out of cash.

AutoMan79

GreeBo wrote: »

Yep contact the club, they probably already have a record of a ball going out at that time.

They have insurance to cover this, or may just cover it out of cash.

Thanks! Guys in VW told me was lucky as the ACC radar wasn't damaged as it would be like 2k

Austmcc

Yep golf club insurance/gui insurance covers this. Let the golf club know and they'll sort you out.

I'm a golfer and any club near a road tells its members this.

AutoMan79

Austmcc wrote: »

Yep golf club insurance/gui insurance covers this. Let the golf club know and they'll sort you out.

I'm a golfer and any club near a road tells its members this.

Thanks! Really appreciate.

Wetbench4

Is it a VW golf?:D

vandriver

Wetbench4 wrote: »

Is it a VW golf?:D

It's a polo...it has a hole in it!

Isambard

get a courtesy car whilst it's fixed...a Caddy perhaps

AutoMan79

Isambard wrote: »

get a courtesy car whilst it's fixed...a Caddy perhaps

Hahha! Caddy would be nice - do a big shopping lol

Hogzy

Id be going back to the Golf club asap to make them aware of the incident. Dont let it go too long before going into them.

MetzgerMeister

Where was this AutoMan?

AutoMan79

Road to Grange Castle.

MetzgerMeister

It wasn't me so

Miley Byrne

GreeBo wrote: »

Yep contact the club, they probably already have a record of a ball going out at that time.

They have insurance to cover this, or may just cover it out of cash.

How would the club have a record of a ball going out as a matter of interest?

donvito99

Miley Byrne wrote: »

How would the club have a record of a ball going out as a matter of interest?

Clubs will typically ask players to report any possible instances of a ball crossing a boundary.

Miley Byrne

donvito99 wrote: »

Clubs will typically ask players to report any possible instances of a ball crossing a boundary.

Never came across it anywhere I've played but maybe it exists in places so

zzantara

As a Covid tracing measure all Golf Clubs have times and contact details for all players.
When you give them a location/time of the incident they will narrow it down to a very small number of groups that might be responsible , they can then contact them to verify that one of them hit a stray shot , following that verification the Club will cover any expense that you have.

They will just be thankful that nobody was injured.

dar83

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

It wasn't me so

As if you'd manage to reach let alone go beyond a boundary!

GreeBo

Miley Byrne wrote: »

Never came across it anywhere I've played but maybe it exists in places so

It exists in places where balls go out

Comhrá

The 18th in Thurles Golf Club is a great spot to carve one out onto the busy N62.

I've had the dubious honour.

AutoMan79

Estimate repair cost + labour and plus sensor calibration €550.

Henry Ford III

Do you have to prove that the golf ball was hit by someone playing the course?

MetzgerMeister

Comhra wrote: »

The 18th in Thurles Golf Club is a great spot to carve one out onto the busy N62.

I've had the dubious honour.

That's exactly where I thought the OP was talking about!

bcklschaps

OP was there any particular reason you didn't go straight into the Golf club at the time of the incident?

Dash cam footage is mighty to have, but I wouldn't let it drag out too long.

ba_barabus

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

That's exactly where I thought the OP was talking about!

And me, that road terrifies me for that reason.

AutoMan79

bcklschaps wrote: »

OP was there any particular reason you didn't go straight into the Golf club at the time of the incident?

Dash cam footage is mighty to have, but I wouldn't let it drag out too long.

Why - I thought the car in front of me picked something and hit my car but after checking the dash cam I could clearly see the ball flying from the course directly onto the car.

Club has been informed shorty after the incident and they asked to submit the dash cam footage nd the estimate for repair cost. They will send it to the management so hope they will pay the bill.

AutoMan79

Today, I got an offer from a Golf Club offering paying me on 250 for the damages. Hmm i think i need a legal advise....or should I just accept.. ?

i57dwun4yb1pt8

no way accept , not with cam footage - maybe you are also feeling traumatised as well ..* cough*

AutoMan79

I tried to uploading video on here but it's not working - any way I can do it? any advise...

elgriff

stick it on youtube and link to it here is easiest

AutoMan79

elgriff wrote: »

stick it on youtube and link to it here is easiest

Thanks! Will do it.

bazz26

So the quote to repair was €550 and they offered you €250? Why would you accept €250? I'd be telling them that you want the full amount as per the repair quote or you will just go the direct route and deal with their insurance company via a claim which will end up costing them more.

BTW I wouldn't be posting the video up on the internet if you have to go the legal route as it could harm your case.

AutoMan79

AutoMan79 wrote: »

Today, I got an offer from a Golf Club offering paying me on 250 for the damages. Hmm i think i need a legal advise....or should I just accept.. ?

Liaise with your insurer perhaps.

AutoMan79

bazz26 wrote: »

So the quote to repair was €550 and they offered you €250? Why would you accept €250? I'd be telling them that you want the full amount as per the repair quote or you will just go the direct route and deal with their insurance company via a claim which will end up costing them more.

BTW I wouldn't be posting the video up on the internet if you have to go the legal route as it could harm your case.

It would be really silly from me if I accepted this low offer.
Would they be obliged to provide me their insurance name? I mean they can just refuse to provide those details... Would small court claims be worth taking or better talking to a solicitor?

Damien360

AutoMan79 wrote: »

It would be really silly from me if I accepted this low offer.
Would they be obliged to provide me their insurance name? I mean they can just refuse to provide those details... Would small court claims be worth taking or better talking to a solicitor?

I would just go back to them and tell them you want the full amount and bring the quote. And tell them it won't require a solicitor at more cost for this to be settled now. Stand your ground and give a deadline of one week for a final response. In truth it's small claims court as no solicitor will touch it for that value. Insurance always low ball the first offer

i57dwun4yb1pt8

if no joy , then mention guards, criminal damage , council / road safety issue ,
newspapers and instagram , radio etc .

make them know you arent going away .

Eggs For Dinner

bazz26 wrote: »

So the quote to repair was €550 and they offered you €250? Why would you accept €250? I'd be telling them that you want the full amount as per the repair quote or you will just go the direct route and deal with their insurance company via a claim which will end up costing them more.

BTW I wouldn't be posting the video up on the internet if you have to go the legal route as it could harm your case.

If it is a GUI golf club member, I would be 99% certain that they would be insured with AIG. Politely tell the golf club that you want your estimate paid in full or you will lodge the claim with insurers. It is possible the €250 they offered you is their public liability excess, so they are on the hook for that amount anyway and are just trying to keep a claim off their record.

If everyone affected by similar accidents (I'm reluctant to call it that) just accepted a lowball offer, there is no incentive on the golf club to rectify the hazard

Tell them they can pay the garage directly. They really shouldn't be dicking you around.

Wildly Boaring

My response would be to write to them with the quote and a deadline for full payment or insurer details. No response and I will be writing to your governing body

No need for a solicitor yet.

AutoMan79

Thanks guys, really appreciate your input. Letter has been sent with a deadline and if they don't get back to me or don't accept to pay full damages I will go legal way. Keep you posted

AutoMan79

Just to update you on this as promised - They agreed to pay full amount + courtesy car while car's being fixed.
I am so glad it turned out all good and no hassles with court etc...

I want to thank you all for your input and great advise you gave me how to deal with it.

GreeBo

AutoMan79 wrote: »

Just to update you on this as promised - They agreed to pay full amount + courtesy car while car's being fixed.
I am so glad it turned out all good and no hassles with court etc...

I want to thank you all for your input and great advise you gave me how to deal with it.

Great news, seems like you were pretty FOREtunate in the end

Mango Joe

AutoMan79 wrote: »

Today, I got an offer from a Golf Club offering paying me on 250 for the damages. Hmm i think i need a legal advise....or should I just accept.. ?

I would not be impressed with this at all.

Provide them with your official quote, tell them you have video evidence and that you're not particularly impress by their insulting attempt to fob you off with a low-ball token gesture.

You can be sure if it was them then their costs would be covered in full.

TheBoyConor

GreeBo wrote: »

Yep contact the club, they probably already have a record of a ball going out at that time.

They have insurance to cover this, or may just cover it out of cash.

zzantara wrote: »

As a Covid tracing measure all Golf Clubs have times and contact details for all players.
When you give them a location/time of the incident they will narrow it down to a very small number of groups that might be responsible , they can then contact them to verify that one of them hit a stray shot , following that verification the Club will cover any expense that you have.

They will just be thankful that nobody was injured.

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Do you have to prove that the golf ball was hit by someone playing the course?

You do realise we are in Ireland, the land of hurrs and chancers, right?

Who is going to hit a car with a ball, then record it and report it to the clubhouse? Who is going to leave themselves wide open? The more likely scenario is that that nothing will be said, scoresheets falsified so as to show no ball being lost, and if the club narrowed it down to a few players based on tee off times and approximate locations, then everyone involved is just going to play dumb, admit nothing and probably blame an opposing group, or blame it on a stone kicked up by a car, or otherwise do anything they possible can to get out of it. And the culpable player will have a good laugh with their buddies about doing it and getting away with it and how the club got nailed for it and good enough for them too, sure don't we pay them enough in membership.

Just present the club with your evidence. Threaten them to either pay up or you'll get your solicitor on it and make it a lot more expensive for them.

AutoMan79

GreeBo wrote: »

Great news, seems like you were pretty FOREtunate in the end

Was lucky that the dash cam picked it up. otherwise wouldn't stand a chance.

Austmcc

Why are people still speculating about stuff and saying I'm not happy about the first offer. OP just said it's all rectified, paid in full with a courtesy car.

zg3409

Video or it didn't happen....please