A Houston, Texas man is calling for safety improvements at Gus Wortham Park Golf Course after a stray golf ball shattered his windshield while he was stopped at a red light.
The incident happened on August 17 when 71-year-old Miguel Galan’s car was hit at the intersection of Wayside Drive and Jamail Road. Dashcam footage captured the moment the ball flew off the course and cracked his windshield. The impact caused over $1,000 in damage and left him shaken.
When Galan reported the incident at the golf course, he was told to go through his own insurance. Frustrated by the response, he filed a lawsuit in small claims court. As an Uber driver who depends on his car for work, the unexpected expense was a significant setback.
Beyond his personal situation, Galan says the bigger issue is public safety. The area near the golf course is surrounded by heavy traffic, a grocery store, apartments, bus stops, and an elementary school. He fears that a stray shot could seriously injure a driver, pedestrian, or child.
In the days following the incident, Galan began collecting stray golf balls along Wayside Drive. In less than two weeks, he picked up more than 50, evidence he says shows how often balls leave the course.
His proposed solution is the installation of protective netting, which is already in place at other golf courses around Houston. The current six-foot chain link fence, he argues, is inadequate to stop high-flying shots.
The Houston Golf Association, which manages Gus Wortham, declined to comment on the pending lawsuit but said it is reviewing the matter and will consider appropriate steps once the investigation is complete.
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