Who is liable for damage caused by a golf ball?

Who is liable for damage caused by golf ball in Australia depends on negligence, course design and assumption of risk. Under Australian negligence law, golfer has duty of care to avoid foreseeable injury or damage, must check ahead is clear and shout fore if ball goes astray. If golfer acts negligently, such as hitting towards houses or crowd, or ignoring warning, golfer is liable for property damage like broken window $300 to $1,000 or car damage $500 to $2,000, and personal injury claims $20K to $500K. However, if golfer takes reasonable care and ball goes wayward as inherent risk of golf, especially for amateur, court may find no negligence and damage accidental, with no liability, as seen in cases like golf ball into neighbouring property where homeowner assumed risk. Golf course operator may be liable if course poorly designed with fairway close to houses without netting or buffer, or if no warning signs, under occupier's liability, must ensure safe design. Homeowners who buy house bordering golf course are often deemed to have assumed risk, known as volenti, and contract may include disclosure that they accept risk of errant balls, so they may need to claim on home insurance. In practice, many courses pay for damage as goodwill even if not legally liable. So liability depends on negligence, with golfer liable if negligent, course liable if design fault, homeowner may bear risk if bought next to course.