More than two years after a Daly City martial arts studio raised concerns about stray golf balls from San Francisco’s Olympic Club potentially endangering its students, the studio is still pushing for a safety net.
The issue resurfaced at a June Daly City Council meeting during a discussion of The Olympic Club’s plans to renovate Westlake Park, when Councilmember Dr. Rod Daus-Magbual questioned what progress has been made toward addressing the golf balls.
Joseph Bautista, owner of Legacy Filipino Martial Arts, launched a petition for a safety net in April 2025 after saying he recovered more than 30 errant golf balls that had sailed over the shared fence separating The Olympic Club and Doelger Arts Center at 200 Northgate Avenue.
Bautista says a July 27, 2024, incident was particularly concerning: A golf ball nearly struck two children — ages 1 and 12.
“Knowing that golf balls are being hit our way where kids play and hang out with their family is something that can’t be ignored,” Bautista said. “If something were to happen to someone, I don’t think I’d be able to let it go.”
The Olympic Club and the Doelger Arts Center — home to Westlake School of Performing Arts and Legacy Filipino Martial Arts — share a fence. The Olympic Club, the oldest athletic club in the United States, is on San Francisco property and the arts center sits on the Daly City side.
Over the last two years, Bautista says he has recovered nearly 100 golf balls and emailed the athletic club each time he discovered a new one. He said there have been no recent incidents, which he believes may be related to renovations at the club’s Ocean Course.
Bautista says he’s been in regular communication with elected officials in both Daly City and San Francisco to address the issue.
Mayor Glenn Sylvester said during the June meeting that he had no idea golf balls were landing at the arts center.
“We are aware that a limited number of errant golf balls have landed on the adjacent Daly City-owned property,” The Olympic Club said in a statement to Peninsula Buzz. “We are a good neighbor and are pleased to work collaboratively with Daly City toward a solution that is appropriate and proportionate to the situation.”
According to Bautista, The Olympic Club has responded to his concerns in several ways, including saying it would investigate the problem and directing him to pay for a net himself. Bautista also says the club has deflected responsibility for the errant golf balls.
“They are the ones hitting the golf balls,” Bautista said. “They should be responsible for them. We just keep hearing various excuses.”
Bautista said The Olympic Club also told him that the club had been there longer and that students and families using the center should be aware they were near a golf course.
The Olympic Club said Daly City is responsible for creating a remedy.
“Because the affected property is owned and controlled by Daly City, any proposed remedy would ultimately need to originate with the city,” The Olympic Club said. “Once Daly City develops a proposal, we will review it promptly and provide support in that effort.”
The Olympic Club did not respond to a follow-up question asking whether they deflected responsibility for the stray golf balls.
For now, Bautista says he’ll continue raising concern with local leaders.
“In martial arts, our jobs are to teach people to be safe,” Bautista said. “Not just from a physical altercation, but anything that can cause harm. As humans in our society, if we see something that could be harmful to someone, it’s our moral and ethical duty to do something to prevent it.”