ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, November 18, 1996 TAG: 9611180093
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: FALLS CHURCH
SOURCE: Associated Press
MEMO: NOTE: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.
Living near a golf course is usually a good thing, but Forrest Hatcher says having Jefferson Golf Course as his next-door neighbor has been a painful, expensive nightmare.
Hatcher, 44, said that over the past 20 years, wayward golf balls have broken windows and left dozens of large dimples in his vintage cars. His son, John, 16, has been hit three times by golf balls and his ex-wife once, Hatcher said. Within three weeks recently, his Ford Taurus was hit four times, his living room window was shattered and his garage window broken.
``I don't even have the benefit of looking over my sun deck and enjoying the scenery,'' said Hatcher, an electrician, adding that the problem has become worse in the last 18 months. ``Far from having a benefit, all I have is pain and heartache.''
Some might say that anyone who buys a house on a golf course used by as many as 300 people a day should expect to encounter some golf balls. But there's the rub.
Hatcher said that when he and his family moved into the five-bedroom ranch house in 1954, there was only a small driving range next door. He said he thinks the course, owned by Fairfax County, was built in the 1960s.
Hatcher's fight with the county came to a head in the summer, when he filed suit in Fairfax County Circuit Court, claiming the course is a nuisance because golf balls keep damaging his property. It also claims the county has ``taken'' his property, because he doesn't have 100 percent use and enjoyment of his house and cars.
County officials counter that they've tried to work with him over the years to lessen problems with errant golf balls, installing nets and planting trees to protect him from the fairway.
``Mr. Hatcher has long been unhappy, and we've tried to be good neighbors with him,'' said Thomas White, chairman of the Fairfax County Park Authority. ``We've done many, many things to try to satisfy him over the years.''
Hatcher said he wants the court to order Fairfax County to expand a 35-foot net, which he said helped for a while but is wearing out. He also wants the county to change the location of the No.2 and No.3 tees so golfers hit away from his house instead of toward it.
Hatcher also is asking for $20,000 to cover damage to his house and cars, including a '68 Mustang and a '66 Thunderbird.
Hatcher has no intention of moving out.
``This house is the house I grew up in,'' he said. ``It's a family estate. I have very strong feelings for this house. I shouldn't have to move.''
LENGTH: Medium: 54 linesby CNB