Pontiac Weighs Rules for Stray Golf Balls
A first reading of a proposed city ordinance would require golf facilities to contain balls that leave their property.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in City Hall
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Pontiac City Council held a first reading of an ordinance that would classify stray golf balls leaving golf facilities as a nuisance. The proposal follows complaints from residents near a city golf course about balls regularly landing on their properties.
Why it matters
Residents say the balls have caused property damage and safety concerns for years, and an insurer has stopped covering the damage for one homeowner. If adopted, the ordinance would shift responsibility for containment onto golf facilities in Pontiac.
The ordinance was introduced as a first reading at Tuesday's council meeting and is expected to receive a second reading on Nov. 24 before it can become policy. Residents have documented nearly a dozen formal complaints, with roughly two dozen more residents raising concerns informally.
The players
Pontiac City Council
The elected legislative body of the City of Pontiac, Michigan, which is considering the ordinance and holds the authority to adopt it.
Delores Stephens
A Pontiac resident who has lived near the golf course for more than 40 years and is among those who have raised damage complaints about golf balls.
The details
Under the proposed amendment to the city's municipal code, golf facilities would be required to develop a containment plan to keep balls from leaving their grounds. Delores Stephens, who has lived near the course for more than 40 years, says there is no netting and only a short fence separating the course from her property, and she has collected golf balls from her yard over the past two years. Her insurance company will no longer cover the damage, which she estimates at thousands of dollars.
Timeline
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2026: City Council held the first reading of the stray golf ball ordinance.
October 2026: The course said it was not responsible for the damage when contacted.
Nov. 24, 2026: The second reading of the ordinance is scheduled.
Legal Context
The proposal would extend Pontiac's municipal code to classify errant golf balls as a nuisance, placing containment duties on facility operators rather than on neighboring property owners. It operates within the broader framework of local nuisance ordinances that govern how adjacent land uses affect nearby homes.
If the ordinance is adopted, golf facilities in Pontiac would need a containment plan, which could reduce the risk of balls reaching neighboring homes and yards. Homeowners near courses may need to document damage carefully, since the course has said it is not responsible for the damage.
The takeaway
The dispute shows how local nuisance rules can be used to assign containment responsibility when everyday activities spill onto neighboring property. Residents affected by similar issues may find it useful to document incidents and check how their city defines nuisances.
What happens next
The City Council is scheduled to hold a second reading of the ordinance on Nov. 24, 2026, before it can become city policy.
Further reading
Follow other local council decisions in Pontiac City Hall coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WXYZ 7 News Detroit.
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Should local golf courses be required to prevent balls from landing on neighbors' property?
