By Jonathan Cronin
Tenants at the Crestwood Apartments in Woodmere have a close up view of the golf action at the Woodmere Club--too close, for their liking.
Errant golf balls have been hit over the club's fence and smashed windshields on cars belonging to the tenants, who are furious that their persistent complaints have been ignored by the club's management.
The tenants of Crestwood Apartments, located on Meadow Drive on the northeast corner of Woodmere Club's golf course, have been complaining to the club to raise their fences or begin paying for the broken windshields. Replacing a broken windshield runs between $250 and $350.
Jonathan Weinstein, legal chairperson for the club, said, "We have absolutely no legal liability in this matter."
Richard Lev, a resident of Crestwood, said his car was hit once, his wife's was hit as well as his mother in-law's. "Everyone who parks there [on Meadow Drive] has had their car hit," he said.
Mr. Lev added that he and his baby daughter have come too close to being struck by golf balls-- once by the stairs on the side of the building and another time by the benches in the field next to the building. His daughter was in her carriage once when a ball came over the fence and landed in the carriage next to her, barely missing her. Mr. Lev also displayed a bag of 10 golf balls which he claims came over the fence in less than a week.
Mr. Weinstein countered that he finds it unlikely 10 golf balls are hit over that fence in a week, "I wouldn't imagine they're hitting balls over that frequently," he said
Mr. Lev and several other residents of the apartment complex feel that the fence is too low and in two spots the fence has been pushed down below three feet so golfers can climb over to retrieve their golf balls.
"I've heard complaints over the past few years," said Howard Kupferberg, manager of the apartments. There is evidence of golf balls being hit over the fence, he added. "There is a need for higher fences." He noted that portions of the fence by the corners are as low as five feet while in other spots the fence is 12 feet high. "I do think this should be addressed further by the club," he said.
One resident of the apartment complex, who did not wish to be identified, said her windshield had been broken five times and on one occasion the car had to be towed away because it was not capable of being driven. "I went down there [to the club] and they wouldn't do anything," she said.
The resident added that after the fifth time, her insurance company would no longer cover her for the broken windshield and it cost her $369 to replace the glass.
"They [Woodmere Club officials] are not cooperative," said Florence Weinberg, a member of the board of directors at the apartment co-op, who said she was almost been hit by a ball. "It's not so important that people's cars are damaged; it's more important that you could walk down the street and get hit."
"It's a seasonal problem, March through November," said Edith Singer, who is also on the board of directors. Both felt steps should be taken to make sure that balls do not go over the fence.
"This happens constantly and it really isn't right," said Ms. Weinberg.
Renee and Harold Schein said their 1986 Chevrolet Monte Carlo has been struck four times and a van that they owned previously was hit once on the windshield; and on two occasions the back window was broken.
"They're very arrogant and they don't care," said Ms. Schein of the club. "They don't even want to talk to you."
Charles Miller, another resident of Crestwood, said his girlfriend's car was hit by a golf ball about two and half years ago. "They [the club] were very accommodating." He recalled that the club gave her a voucher and she went to a mechanic to have her windshield fixed at the expense of the club. "They took care of it in one day," he said. He added that when the club asked for proof of the accident, she just showed them the hole and the golf ball that passed through the windshield.
Mr. Weinstein said he has been with the club for 20 years and they have never reimbursed or paid anyone for a windshield that had been smashed by a golf ball.
The club has been in constant contact with the president of the board of directors of Crestwood, who is a member of the club, said Mr. Weinstein, adding that they have been discussing ways that would make both sides happy. He could not discuss what options they have right now since the matter is still under debate. "It's not like we're ignoring their complaints," Mr. Weinstein said.
In response to whether the club could raise its fences, he said, "There are certain legal limits to fencing." Fences near street corners cannot be raised because that could obscure the vision of motorists. If residents of the complex are so concerned, they should ask the Town of Hempstead for permits to put up higher fences. "It's time consuming and costly," he said.
"We will listen to any reasonable recommendation. We would like to be good neighbors," he added. "We have been there for 90 years."
