Two women have filed lawsuits against TopGolf, alleging they suffered severe head injuries after being struck by golf clubs at separate facilities in the Houston metropolitan area. The legal actions, reviewed by The Independent, highlight concerns regarding safety protocols at the sports entertainment chain.
The first suit, filed on July 6 in Harris County District Court, involves 62-year-old Kelly Ann Auer. According to the complaint, Auer was hitting balls in August at the TopGolf location in Webster, Texas, when a golfer in the adjacent bay lost control of his club. The errant club flew through the air and struck Auer in the head.
Auer’s attorney, Scott Sanes, stated that the facility lacked any netting or physical barriers between hitting bays and did not require helmets. He noted that TopGolf only offered gloves for purchase. The complaint argues that while the company describes the Webster site as a premiere entertainment destination, it failed to provide adequate warnings beyond a single red line marking the danger zone.
Auer is currently experiencing persistent headaches, dizziness, memory loss, nausea, blurry vision, light sensitivity, and ringing in her ears. Her legal team also reported that she occasionally becomes confused and freezes. Co-counsel Robert Rice described the incident as resulting in a traumatic brain injury.
A separate lawsuit, filed on June 4 in Harris County District Court, involves 43-year-old Brandi Triplett. Triplett was seated and watching a friend play at a TopGolf location in Katy, Texas, last year. The complaint alleges that a man in an adjacent bay swung a driver and released the club during his swing, striking Triplett in the skull.
Both lawsuits accuse the Dallas-headquartered company of failing to properly monitor guests, particularly those who may have been consuming alcohol. The filings reference a history of incidents at TopGolf venues, including previous injuries and fatalities, to argue that the chain is aware of the risks associated with its open-bay design.
