Golf balls flying out of Route 1 driving range fuel Saugus debate

SAUGUS – The Saugus Board of Selectmen will hear from residents on Applewood Lane tonight about a reported problem with golf balls flying over the nets at the Golf Country driving range on Route 1.?One neighbor has holes in the back of his house,” said Selectman Stephen Horlick. “The golf balls are leaving their (Golf Country?s) property. I don?t know if when this gentleman bought the house it was disclosed to him, because the previous owner there had issues there and the back of his house got pummeled.”Golf Country owner Jon Nekoroski said he took over the driving range about eight years ago and it has been open since 1997. He said one neighbor who has been there a “couple years” has been having issues, but other than that he said it?s been quiet.?If you buy a house on a golf course, you have to expect a golf ball to come into your yard,” said Nekoroski, who also owns driving ranges in Middleton and Easton. “When we got here, there was only net on the right side ? We put netting up around the whole place. We?ve done a lot since then. We?ll take care of any problems. We?re willing to work with the neighbors.”John O?Brien lives at the end of Longwood Avenue, directly behind the driving range, and said he gets an “occasional” golf ball in his yard about once a week, but noted Nekoroski has done “a hell of a job” helping out neighbors.?It is what it is,” said O?Brien. “The gentleman that has it now, is really a gentlemen. If I call him and tell him balls are coming over, he stops it instantly. He?s done everything in his power to help. If something gets broken, he fixes it.”O?Brien said Nekoroski even installed separate nets in one of his neighbor?s yards on Applewood Lane.?He?s done a lot for the neighbors,” said O?Brien. “I think it?s pretty sad that he?s done all this and they?re going after him.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].