TL;DR
Many golf course owners assume the driving range is the safest part of their facility, but injury data suggests otherwise. Driving ranges account for a significant number of golf-related injuries due to concentrated ball striking, inadequate netting, unsafe ball retrieval procedures, and instruction-related risks. Regular inspections, documented maintenance, well-designed safety protocols, and the right insurance coverage can significantly reduce your liability exposure.
Most golf course owners think of the driving range as the safest part of their facility. There are no golfers spread across 18 holes, no carts moving between fairways, and no unpredictable pace of play. Instead, golfers stand in one place and hit balls into an open field.
Unfortunately, injury data tells a different story.
Research published by the National Institutes of Health found that a majority of golf-related injuries occur at the driving range rather than during a round of golf. Meanwhile, the National Golf Foundation estimates there are approximately 40,000 golf-related injuries in the United States each year. That means your practice facility deserves just as much attention as the golf course itself when it comes to safety, liability, and insurance planning.
If you own or manage a golf course in Georgia, here’s what you should know about driving range liability and how to reduce your risk.
Driving Ranges Create Unique Liability Risks
Unlike a golf course where players are spread across multiple holes, driving ranges place dozens of golfers side by side, all hitting golf balls at the same time.
That concentration of activity creates risks you don’t typically see elsewhere on your property.
A mishit ball can strike:
- Another golfer
- A golf instructor
- A maintenance employee
- A ball retrieval operator
- Someone walking nearby
- Drivers or pedestrians outside the property
If your range sits next to a road, parking lot, neighboring homes, or another hole, those risks increase even more.
A widely cited law journal study examining golf course “buffer zone” litigation found that golf courses were held liable in roughly 47.5% of lawsuits involving errant golf balls or related property damage. In many of those cases, courts concluded the facility failed to provide adequate netting or sufficient buffer distances for the conditions on the property.
Netting Height and Buffer Zones Matter More Than You Think
There is no universal building code that specifies exactly how tall driving range netting must be.
Instead, liability often comes down to a much simpler question:
Was your facility reasonably designed for the risks it created?
That means your netting and buffer zones should account for:
- The longest possible shot distances
- Higher swing speeds
- Recreational golfers who frequently mishit shots
- Nearby roads and parking lots
- Adjacent homes or businesses
- Changes to neighboring development over time
Many older driving ranges were built decades before nearby neighborhoods or commercial properties expanded around them. If your range hasn’t been professionally evaluated in years, you may be carrying significantly more liability exposure than you realize.
Ball Retrieval Procedures Can Prevent Serious Injuries
Collecting golf balls introduces another layer of risk.
Whether you use a caged tractor or a manual ball picker with protective shielding, employees become vulnerable if golfers continue hitting while retrieval is underway.
The safest approach is to eliminate active hitting during ball retrieval altogether.
Best practices include:
- Scheduling retrieval during designated closure periods
- Posting highly visible warning signs
- Using flags or warning lights to indicate retrieval is in progress
- Training staff on retrieval procedures
- Preventing golfers from entering restricted areas until retrieval is complete
These procedures help reduce both the likelihood of injuries and the potential for liability claims.
Golf Lessons Can Increase Your Liability Exposure
Many Georgia golf facilities offer:
- Private instruction
- Junior clinics
- Group lessons
- Club fitting sessions
While these services provide valuable revenue, they also introduce additional liability considerations.
For example, an instructor who places a student in another golfer’s line of fire or allows unsafe swing practices could create a claim that extends beyond standard premises liability.
General liability insurance doesn’t always respond the same way professional liability coverage does.
If your facility employs golf professionals or rents instructional space to independent instructors, make sure you understand:
- Who carries liability insurance
- Which policy responds first
- Whether professional liability coverage is included
- Any contractual insurance requirements for instructors
What Georgia Law Says About Driving Range Liability
Georgia law generally recognizes that golfers assume the ordinary risks associated with the game, including the possibility of being struck by an errant golf ball during normal play.
However, assumption of risk has important limits.
Golf facilities can still face liability if they fail to address known hazards that could reasonably have been corrected.
Examples may include:
- Damaged or deteriorating protective netting
- Repeated complaints about golf balls leaving the property
- Unsafe ball retrieval procedures
- Failure to repair obvious hazards
- Ignoring recurring maintenance issues
Maintaining detailed records of inspections, repairs, maintenance schedules, and customer complaints creates valuable documentation if your facility ever has to defend itself against a liability claim.
Build a Stronger Driving Range Risk Management Program
Reducing liability doesn’t require complicated procedures, but it does require consistency.
Consider making these practices part of your annual risk management plan:
- Inspect netting, poles, and anchors for damage or wear
- Repair storm damage promptly
- Evaluate buffer zones whenever tee locations change
- Review shot dispersion patterns each year
- Maintain written ball retrieval procedures
- Clearly post restricted areas and retrieval schedules
- Verify your insurance covers driving range operations
- Confirm professional liability coverage for golf instruction
Regular inspections and documented maintenance can be just as valuable as the physical improvements themselves if a claim ever arises.
The Bottom Line on Driving Range Safety
Driving ranges often receive less attention than the golf course itself, but they deserve just as much focus from a liability standpoint. Concentrated golfer activity, errant golf balls, instructional services, and maintenance operations all create exposures that should be evaluated regularly.
If you’ve never reviewed your practice facility with safety and liability in mind, now is a good time to start. A professional assessment of your netting, buffer zones, operating procedures, and insurance coverage can help identify gaps before they become costly claims.
At Oak Insurance Group, we work with golf course owners across Georgia to identify liability exposures and build insurance programs that reflect how their facilities actually operate. Whether you’re reviewing your driving range, clubhouse, maintenance operations, or the course itself, we’re here to help you protect your business with coverage designed for the realities of running a golf facility.
