Newcastle neighbours left unable to use their garden for fear children 'will be killed' by a flying golf ball

Resident Lynn Stott holds the golf balls that she has found in her garden
-Credit: (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)


A couple have been left unable to use their back garden for fear that their young children will be killed by a flying golf ball.

Rebecca Dixon, 29, and her husband Alex, 32, purchased a new build property from Bellway in Callerton, Newcastle. They bought the two-bedroom semi-detached house for £134,000 in November 2022 and moved into it in August 2023.

The couple, who are parents to Lily, four, and Alfie, 12 weeks, claim that when they bought the property they were not made aware, by the housebuilder, of how close it would be to Westerhope Golf Club. They are now unable to use their back garden as golf balls fly into it at speed.

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Rebecca said 12 metre netting has been put up behind their home to protect them from golf balls, however they are still coming over. She said they have complained to both Bellway and Newcastle City Council but that nobody has taken responsibility.

Bellway have now said it will be organising an inspection from a specialist firm to "ensure the netting is working as designed".

Mother-of-two Rebecca said: "The golf balls were coming over from day dot. We have had numerous golf balls in my garden. I have nearly been hit by a golf ball and my next door neighbour has had golf balls in her garden.

"I have got a four-year-old daughter and a 12-week-old boy. If they got hit by a golf ball they would get killed. It's not just a broken leg, they are going to get seriously hurt.

12 metre netting has been put up behind the homes
12 metre netting has been put up behind the homes -Credit:Newcastle Chronicle

"I can't let me children play in the garden. One day I went to hang my washing out on the line and I heard a massive smack. A golf ball had smacked off my fence and was on my grass. I was heavily pregnant at the time. I rang Bellway spitting feathers.

"We can't use our garden - I have to go out to a play park. I have got a degree in childhood studies and I focused on outdoor learning. I'm passionate about getting my kids outside and I can't.

"How far does it have to go before someone does something? We have got about 17 children living in the street and one of them is going to get hurt.

"We've just been going around in circles because no-one is taking responsibility. At what point is somebody going to accept responsibility? Something needs to be done because it's not safe!"

Resident Lynn Stott holds the golf balls that she has found in her garden
Resident Lynn Stott holds the golf balls that she has found in her garden -Credit:Newcastle Chronicle

Rebecca, who works in customer support, said a golf ball has also smashed the window of a car across the street. She said: "When we bought the property we weren't made aware of how close it was to the golf course.

"We were told that we would be far enough away from the golf course but that we would still have the view of the golf course. We got told there would be no properties behind us and we would have a nice private garden.

"We never saw the property until the day we exchanged the keys and by that time it was too late.

"We moved in in August last year. The netting was not put up until June. For nearly a year we were living with the risk of golf balls coming over - but they're still coming over. The net is not tall enough."

Rebecca said that Alex, who works as a professional golfer, has also complained to Bellway but nothing has been done. She added: "Alex has gone to Bellway and they're not taking him seriously, it's ridiculous."

Lyn Stott, 65, purchased the two-bedroom semi-detached property next door to Rebecca and Alex for £200,000 and moved in in July last year. She said she was not told by Bellway how close it was to the golf course or that netting would be put up.

Lyn, who works as a responder, said: "I just looked out and I saw the trees as it's now, looking over the golf course, and I thought it's fabulous. But then after Christmas we got a letter from Newcastle Council saying Bellway should have put the netting up before they sold the house to us. If that happened I would have pulled out, there's no way I would have bought a property that close.

"I have had three golf balls in my garden since the netting has gone up. I was ironing the other day I had my patio doors open. I heard this massive bang and a golf ball hit my wall. If it had been a foot further along it would have come through and hit me!

"I have got grandkids and I can't use my garden. It's stopping me from having my grandkids. I have just paid nearly £4,000 to have my garden done and I can't sit in it. I'm absolutely raging."

Resident Lynn Stott in her garden
Resident Lynn Stott in her garden -Credit:Newcastle Chronicle

Lyn claims she has spoken to Bellway about the issue and they have told her to contact Newcastle City Council. She said that when she contacted the local authority they said it should be dealt with by the housebuilder.

A spokesperson for Bellway said: "Bellway has not received any previous complaints related to golf balls landing in homeowner's gardens or the location of properties in relation to the golf course. The 12-meter-high golf netting was a key requirement of our planning conditions, as it is designed to prevent balls from putting homeowners at risk, and it has been installed by a company who specialises in installing netting of this type.

"Due to poor weather and issues with the supply and installation of the netting, it was installed after residents moved into the properties but has now been fully completed earlier in the summer. However, considering the issues being highlighted to us, we are organising an inspection from the specialist firm to ensure the netting is working as designed.

"As part of our regulated sales procedures, customers are given detailed information of a plot's location and any information relevant to the sale such as being adjacent to a golf course. This is clearly highlighted in site plans and other key information provided to our customers at the point of reservation. In addition, during the conveyancing process, solicitors would provide any relevant information to customers about their property, its location and any other relevant information.

"Prior to legal completion, customers are also given the opportunity to visit their new home to undertake home demonstrations, and again, in this instance, no complaints have been received in relation to the location of the homes at the time of those visits or subsequently."

A spokesperson for Newcastle City Council said: "A planning condition requiring Bellway to prevent golf balls from hitting properties was put in place before any homes were sold. This required the installation of a net which was not in place before homes became occupied. The council took enforcement action against Bellway and the net has now been installed. We are unable to comment on what information Bellway gave to residents about this matter."