If you've been considering buying a home on or next to a golf course, you're most likely hearing a mixed bag of opinions from friends and colleagues. Some might warn you of armies of flying golf balls landing in your yard, while others might tell you about acquaintances who ended up having to have the cars from course visitors towed all the time. But don't worry too much about these issues. You can avoid the downsides -- and increase the upsides -- of buying golf course real estate if you just do some advance research.

Flying Frenzy

One of the most immediate concerns about buying a home next to or on a golf course is the threat of stray golf balls hitting your home or you. Look for three things when you check out the neighborhood:

• Nets surrounding the course
• The distance between the house you like and the course
• The direction in which golfers have to hit balls when the game ends up close to your home

Not all courses will have nets because nets don't look that nice. But some courses do string nets up when housing is right next to the course, especially at smaller courses. If you don't see nets, ask the real estate agent to show you how close your potential home is to all parts of the course. For example, the house might be a few blocks from the main part of the course, but it could back up against a more remote part where a few golfers still end up. Look for a home that is at least a few houses away from the actual course on all sides.

If you do find that your home is right next to part of the course, find out which way golfers will have to hit the balls to continue the game. If your home is behind the golfers as they hit balls away in the other direction, you aren't going to have much of a risk of balls ending up in your yard.

Searching Strangers

Another potential risk is that of golfers climbing into your yard to look for balls they think flew in your direction. Again, find a house that's a few plots away from the course. If you can't, or you really do want that house that backs up right against the green, look for tall fences or talk to the HOA about installing one yourself. Also check out the penalties and rate of enforcement that the HOA or course management sets for people invading yards. If the development has a reputation for coming down hard on people who wander onto your property, you might not have much of a problem, if at all.

Noise Nuisance

Golf course tournaments that run into the evening hours require lighting, and the lights and noise from the crowd can really be an issue. Find out what the course management offers in terms of tournaments, contests, and operating hours. Look for courses that close at dusk and that discourage large tournaments. Also look for courses that separate the course from housing with streets or parking lots. These represent a barrier to most people, who will keep to the course side of the lots and streets.

Also check the type of lighting fixtures used. Any lights left on in the course for safety at night should shine down on the ground, not be angled away from the ground. Even a slight angle can throw light toward windows rather than the greens and paths. Also look for natural barriers such as rows of tall trees that can block light and noise.

For more information, contact Levitan Realty or a similar company.