THOUSAND OAKS : Court OKs Award in Golf Course Battle

John and Toni Picciolo have scored one victory in their battle against Los Robles Golf Course, but the war is far from over, the Thousand Oaks couple said Tuesday.

On Monday, a Ventura County Superior Court judge upheld a small-claims award of $2,596 to the Picciolos for damage caused to their home on Cherry Hill Court by hundreds of errant golf balls that have bombarded the property since the couple moved in five years ago.

Now, John Picciolo says, he’s considering hiring an attorney and seeking more from the city of Thousand Oaks, which owns the golf course.

“I might have asked for a million in the first place, but you can’t do that in small claims court,” Picciolo said.

The couple’s main concern, he maintained, is to stop the bombardment, which on some days has seen as many as 18 balls fly into their home adjoining the course in the Los Robles Fairway Estates tract. Numerous windows, pots, ceramic roof tiles and solar panels have been broken, and the patio furniture has taken some hits, too, Picciolo said.

“So far, nobody has been hurt, but we’re concerned for our safety,” said Picciolo, a retired operator of a swimming pool servicing firm. “When our grandchildren visit, we keep them indoors.”

Homes in the area sell in the $500,000 range, Picciolo said.

Picciolo said he and his wife, along with the tract’s homeowners association, will continue to urge that the course be modified. Trees could be planted near the fifth tee that would prevent golfers from aiming toward the couple’s house, Picciolo said.

“The city wants to put up a net that would cost about $100,000,” Picciolo said. “That would be a waste of taxpayers’ money. The balls would sail right over the net.”

Assistant City Atty. Shawn Mason said Superior Court Judge Richard Aldrich turned down Thousand Oaks’ contention that the tract’s homeowners had agreed to absolve the city of responsibility for damages caused by wayward golf balls.

Mason said the city is in the process of choosing a contractor to build fences to solve another problem related to the Los Robles course. For years, motorists traveling the Ventura Freeway near Moorpark Road have complained about smashed windshields and other damage from errant golf balls.