(WSVN) – Residents who live next to a golf course in Pembroke Pines are dealing with golf balls flying into their community. 7 An investigator approached me a few months ago. At the time, they said they were worried someone would get hurt, and now someone has. 7’s Heather Walker has an update.
James Grimes may look like he just lost a boxing match, but his injury wasn’t the result of a fight.
Resident James Grimes: “The ball literally knocked me out.”
He’s talking about this golf ball. Five days after moving into Park Place in Pembroke Pines, the 66-year-old man was walking his dog earlier this month when…
James Grimes: “Suddenly there was a white light. I was completely unconscious. I don’t even know how long I was unconscious. I remember wiping my face and seeing blood on my hands. Masu.”
James didn’t have a cell phone. He managed to get to the second floor of his apartment, called 911, and was taken to the hospital.
James Grimes: “There were no broken bones, no brain bleeds. The golf ball literally hit me in the eye, and there’s another half an inch behind my temple. That would have killed me. I mean, I didn’t do this interview. I’m not here to receive it.”
The interview with Mr James came just three months after seven panels reported on residents’ concerns.
Resident Charles Heiter: “It’s scary. It’s scary.”
This condo is surrounded by a municipal golf course. A bad swing can cause the golf ball to fly into the community.
Florence Hirsch, resident: “I’ve lived here for 31 years. When I moved in, within the first month I had the front window of my car, the back window of my car, and three windows in my apartment… I took a picture of the window.”
Residents shared stories of their cars being scratched or damaged.
Resident Robert Heath: “Bang, the back windshield is completely broken.”
But their biggest fear was someone getting hurt.
Resident Marcia Storm: “I was really lonely. If I had taken one more step, it would have hit me right in the head.”
Nancy Taylor: “You can see what it did to my windshield. So you can imagine what it did to my skull.”
Florence Hirsch: “If that golf ball hits people, they’ll never get back up.”
In the letter, which was sent less than a month after James was struck, the president of the association said of a resident who “suffered a cut from shards of glass when a golf ball went into his living room and broke a window. ” he said.
James Grimes: “I’m really worried that we’re going to have another conversation and it’s going to be about death. I’m not looking for monetary damages. We are trying to protect our community.”
James told Pembroke Pines commissioners this week about his ordeal.
James Grimes: “If we can find a way to fix that problem, or a solution to that problem, we might be able to save some lives.”
Mayor Angelo Castillo met with James before the meeting and promised the city would take action.
Mayor Angelo Castillo: “We all feel terrible about this. It’s a terrible accident. It happens. It’s a beautiful golf course that they enjoy. We have to make it a little bit safer. ”
The mayor said the city will fast-track plans already underway to install more netting around the golf course.
Mayor Angelo Castillo: “I talked to the city manager and I don’t think anyone here would object. He’s going to accelerate the installation. That’s your promise to the city.”
James Grimes: “I know myself and the community will appreciate that gesture. That’s all we wanted, a safe place to be within our community.”
A date has not yet been set for installing the new nets, but the mayor said the city will cover the cost, which will be a benefit to condominium residents.
Heather Walker, 7News.
Contact 7 investigates:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
[email protected]
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