‘No more wayward golf balls’

Police have urged the management of a golf course in Manila to put up additional safety measures to help prevent golf balls from hitting and injuring pedestrians.

Senior Superintendent Gorgonio Rosero, chief of the Western Police District-Station 5, issued the call to the Intramuros Golf Club after 71-year-old Fructosa Villanueva was hospitalized after being hit by a golf ball last Sunday.

"A safety net should be put around the vicinity of the golf course to prevent the ball from going outside its premises and hitting cars and people," Rosero told The STAR in an interview.

Villanueva suffered a contusion in the chest after being hit by a wayward ball along Burgos street. She was taken to the Manila Doctor’s Hospital for treatment.

Villanueva’s case was entered in the blotter of Station 5 as physical injury through reckless imprudence at around 11:30 a.m. Sunday. The incident took place at around 8:30 a.m. while the old woman was on her way to the Manila Cathedral.

The STAR learned that Villanueva’s case was not the first incident to take place.

According to Senior Police Officer 2 Tom Corpus, desk officer of Station 5, he had recorded a number of physical injury cases similar to that of Villanueva’s.

This happens often, but each time the Intramuros Golf Club pays the hospital bills of the complainants," Corpuz told The STAR.

Last April 4, bank employee Carmelita Lagdameo, 42, was also hurt after being hit with a golf ball while walking along Sta. Lucia street in Intramuros.

Rosero said they will closely coordinate with the Intramuros Golf Club so that nets can be put up to prevent golf balls from reaching the streets.