Golfers In Vernon Beware: No Hitting Balls At Town Fields, Parks

VERNON, CT — Golfers have been spotted on several Vernon athletic fields and parks practicing their short games against town regulations and officials, in turn, are sending out a reminder that the fine for getting caught is a lot more expensive than a bucket of balls at an area driving range.

The penalty is a hundred bucks.

The ordinance reads as follows:

Sec. 9-2. - Restricted activities in parks, cemeteries and school grounds.

(e) It shall be unlawful for any person to play golf or drive golf balls in any park, cemetery or school ground in the town.

Sec. 1-9. - General penalty.

It shall be unlawful for any person to violate or fail to comply with any provision of this Code, and where no specific penalty is provided therein, the violation of any provision of this Code shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00). Each day any such violation shall continue shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable as such.

A golfer was spotted at Vernon Center Middle School Tuesday evening hitting wedge shots. The golfer left a patch of dirt due to divots not replaced just beyond an end line of the Vernon Lacrosse Association beginner field, which Vernon Parks and Recreation Director Marty Sitler said could easily lead to a slip-and-fall injury if stepped on, particularly if a player is going full bore after a missed shot.

Golfers (not from the disc course) have been spotted on the lower VCMS field, where soccer fields are set up, along with Henry Park, Northeast School and the Dart Hill Linear Park, officials said.

Several golf balls were left behind at VCMS, which can lead to turned ankles if stepped on by players and ruined mechanics on the large lawn machine used to cut the fields, Sitler said.

The mower cost cost $120,000, he added.

Often the golf balls fly out of the machines of they do not get stuck inside them, which leads to them becoming "100 mph projectiles" that could hit students outside at physical ed class during the day and park-goers later in the afternoon, Silter said.

Vernon Police Department Rob Marra said officers will politely warn golfers about the prohibition when responding to a first-time complaint. Persistent offenses will lead to tickets being issued, he said.