Red Barn Golf Course back in full swing, nuisance ordinance reversed
The Village of Rockton reversed the ordinance because they found it to be unenforceable.
Red Barn Golf Course is open for the season and is in full swing, without the regulations and fines for errant balls that the Rockton Village Board implemented in 2024.
This season Red Barn owner Richard Barnes wants to welcome back all golfers, and hopes to see the return of former players, since Rockton trustees removed portions of a nuisance ordinance in October 2025.
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Words that have been removed from the ordinance are: “To throw, launch or cast any rock, stone or any other object or missile upon or at any building, tree, or other public or private property or for any person to conduct any business or allow any use of a premises wherein any rock, stone or other object or missile is thrown, launched or cast upon or at any building, tree or other public or private property so as to strike, hit or cause any damage to such building, tree or other public or private property.”
Richard Stasica, resident at 1018 Williamson Circle, addressed the Village Board in reference to the nuisance ordinance. Mr. Stasica stated that he’s the Chairman of the Summit Condo Association and that he would like to retain the nuisance ordinance so the golf ball issue can be addressed. Mr. Stasica said that the golf ball complaints are coming from the revised driving range at the Red Barn Golf Course. Mr. Stasica commented that if the Village doesn’t retain the current ordinance that he’s afraid that they will continue to have issues with golf balls hitting their condos.
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The Village of Rockton reversed the ordinance because they found it to be unenforceable. They said it would be hard to pin down just one definition of what can be considered a nuisance according to the original ordinance.
Motion by Mr. Winters to approve Ordinance 2025-29: An Ordinance Amending Section 92.065 and 92.084 of the Code of Ordinances of the Village of Rockton, Illinois Regarding Nuisances, second by Mr. Baumgartner. Mr. Winters stated that the Village can’t set fines just for golf balls and that the Village needs to go back to the table to see if there’s another solution. Roll call. All ayes. Motion approved 5-0.
Marianne Mueller
Marianne Mueller
Back on June, 18, 2024, after trustees voted to amend the village’s nuisance ordinances in hopes of protecting residential properties and the prevention of possible injuries.
Members of condominium associations near the golf course expressed concerns that errant golf balls were causing damage to their property or being a potential danger to the people living there.
When the ordinance was first being passed, village attorney Aaron Szeto said, “This adds an additional act such as throwing or casting any stone at another property. This can be a golf course situation to anything to the detriment of that property.” The village would have been allowed 10 days after the vote is approved to mediate in a situation if needed.
Red Barn owner Richard Barnes said, “I was blindsided when I found out about the ordinance.”
After a private meeting with the Village President and Attorney, Red Barn was asked to take immediate action and adopted a zero tolerance range policy in July 2024.
Barnes updated the TopTracer rental agreement and placed signage on the range reading:
“Effective Immediately, The Village of Rockton has kindly asked for No Balls hit in the Condo property. “
Barnes also gave further warnings.
This decision caused Red Barn Golf Course a loss of business and a substantial loss in revenue - more than $20,000 - and has caused the course to raise its prices.
Barnes says that after the ‘zero tolerance’ policy took effect, several golfers were escorted off the course with golfers being unwilling to come back. After word spread about the ‘zero tolerance’ policy, many other golfers didn’t return to the driving range.
Barnes even considered shutting down the business and building townhomes on the driving range.
Course history and what is on the property
Red Barn Golf Course and Driving Range has been in existence for over 70 years. It was formerly a part of the Wagon Wheel Resort, which sat on 55 acres of rolling hills.
The course was built as a nine-hole executive golf course complete with a full driving range. The concrete pad and TopTracer shelter were added in fall 2021
Red Barn offers a nine hole layout with par 3’s, 4’s and 5’s and is suitable for all skill levels from beginners to advanced.
Lessons are available to help golfers to play the best game possible. Leagues and tournaments give options to play with teammates.
The golf property has four outbuildings, a storage barn, storage shed, maintenance garage, and a newly remodeled clubhouse with a bar with a full liquor license.
The property includes all the equipment needed to operate the golf course.
Red Barn previously operated under the direction of PGA professional Marianne Kaiser since 1996. Kaiser has now retired. Tim Storm was a co-owner until the sale to Barnes and his wife.
What Red Barn did before and after the ordinance took effect
In the summer of 2023, Red Barn Golf Course added directional markers to the grass tee area of the range.
TopTracer added an ‘over the net feature’ to track balls hit out of the property. After the ordinance was passed, Barnes implemented a rental agreement on Toptracer with a three-strike policy:
When the first ball was hit out of the property, a screen message popped up warning the player to adjust aim. A second ball brought a verbal warning as well as a screen message. After the third errant ball, the bay was shut down and they were told to leave.
Red Barn added increased signage that instructs golfers ‘not to hit towards condo and golfer is liable for damages’. They also added more supervision of the range – enforcing the three-strike rule including the grass tee area, started a condo call log to track when condo members called or visited with concerns, and added a security fence to keep balls from rolling out of the property.
Fines from the Village of Rockton were $750 per incident.
Barnes took several measures to try to help in the situation.
A consultant with Range Servant, a golf professional with over 50 years of range experience, wrote a letter stating the internal net had no bearing on golfers aim, since golfers aim for the flags/targets. A certain percentage of balls are going to be miss-hit by golfers. To help, Red Barn moved their white flag (180-yard target) to the center of the range.
In spring 2024, Red Barn moved their yellow flag (270 yard target) 10 yards due west. Peak time supervision was added to the range to enforce policies.
