A Mississauga resident is urging city council to take action after years of property damage from stray golf balls flying out of Credit Valley Golf and Country Club, warning that the next incident could cause serious injury or death.
Speaking at a July 30 council meeting, Marwan Essa described living across the street from the course as “welcoming the balls and hoping they don’t hit me or my family.” He shared photos of a shattered windowpane and the broken rear windshield of his daughter’s car, damage he says came from errant shots. While the club has paid for repairs, Essa insists that compensation is not enough, saying, “If it’s able to break that windshield then it’s able to kill someone.”
Coun. Dipika Damerla, who has received multiple complaints, has proposed a motion directing staff to explore a bylaw requiring golf courses near residential areas to maintain higher or stronger netting. During a visit to the club, she was “shocked” by the number of holes in existing nets.
The club says it has received fewer than 10 complaints in recent years, mostly from the same individuals, but is taking safety concerns seriously. Measures already introduced include using low-flight balls, tightening range policies, increasing staff supervision, and planning to install tighter-gauge netting following an independent safety review.
City staff will present a report on possible enforcement options by late 2025 or early 2026, ahead of next year’s golf season.