Clubs in this country, especially in urban areas, will be familiar with the problem of encroaching golf balls. Secure your boundaries, is the byword. But what if the missiles are coming in the opposite direction?

Michigan state police were called to the Maple Leaf GC this week when a 44-year-old woman received a bullet wound in the forearm while playing the seventh hole. The errant bullet came from a nearby gun club at 8.0 p.m., two hours after the premises had closed for the day.

That was when two men entered the gun club, set up some targets and began firing a .40 calibre handgun. It seems that one bullet hit the ground and ricocheted upwards, over a tree-line and onto the golf course where the woman was standing.

"We're celebrating our 50th anniversary soon and we've never had a problem like this," said the gun club president. "We try to be good neighbours." I'll bet they do. Now, what was that about being able to pick your friends . . . .