MOTORIST Penny Green wants Dubbo Golf Club to install higher fences after a golf ball smashed the sunroof of her car as she drove past.
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Mrs Green was driving on the Newell Highway past the club last Friday when she heard a loud bang and glass fell on her and the passenger seat.
"There is nothing that can describe the sound of that ball hitting my car," Mrs Green said.
"I actually thought I had been shot at, it was that loud."
The ball bounced off the sun roof leaving a gaping hole, she said.
Mrs Green said she drove straight to a local smash repairs business, where staff inspected the damage and said they believed it was caused by a golf ball.
She said she returned to the club and spoke to general manager, Ray Core, who told her the club was not responsible for the incident.
Mr Core told the Daily Liberal he had contacted the club's insurance company, which told him the club was not liable for the damage.
Mrs Green said it wasn't the cost of the damage that concerned her, it was the fact she or other motorists could have been seriously injured or killed.
"I wasn't the only vehicle on the road at the time," she said.
"And I surely can't be the first person this has happened to.
"And why hasn't a higher fence been installed or even safety netting."
Mr Core said it was the first incident of its kind he was aware of since he started work at the club last September.
"It's an unfortunate incident, but I haven't received any complaints like that in my time," he said.
Asked if the club had considered extending the height of its fencing along the highway, Mr Core suggested Golf NSW be contacted for comment.
"I'd find it hard to believe any regional club would be able to afford to do that," he said.
Dubbo Golf Club president, Greg Campbell, said he did not recall a similar incident in the last 20 years.
Mr Campbell said to the best of his knowledge there had been no previous discussions on raising the fence adjacent to the Newell Highway for a safety precaution
He said there had been discussions in the past on raising the fence height to address security issues.
"In the past we have had numerous issues of course vandalism and theft and this section of the course provides easy access and exit for offenders," Mr Campbell said.
Golf NSW chief executive officer, Stuart Fraser said Golf NSW had no jurisdiction over the operations of any of its member clubs.
"Safety matters concerning its members and the general public, is the responsibility of the club in conjunction with its insurers and in some instances the residing council," Mr Fraser said.
A spokesperson for the Dubbo City Council said it was a private matter to be dealt with by the club.