For years, golf balls have sailed over the safety nets at Mariner’s Point Golf Center and landed too many times in windshields and roofs of cars parked in a small lot behind the driving range. The cars usually belong to kite surfers who flock to the area for its prime surf conditions.

VB. Golf and Foster City entered into its original 15-year lease agreement in 1996 for the 24-acre city-owned land at Third Avenue and Mariner’s Island Boulevard. With less disposable income in the area for things like golf, the center is having a hard time coming up the estimated $725,000 it costs to raise the nets that catch balls sailing toward the Bay.

“It was mainly broken windshields and dented roofs — relatively minor, but it’s the type of thing we need them to take care of so any risk of [balls] hitting a person are taken care of,” said Assistant City Manager Kristi Chappelle. “We’ve been working with the board sailing association to find something we can all deal with.”

For the last few months, city officials met in closed sessions with management from VB Golf and the San Francisco Board Sailing Association to compromise on a lease agreement that will make everyone happy.

From the city’s perspective, the deal is almost as good as a hole-in-one.

Foster City agreed to lower VB Golf’s annual minimum rent to $350,000 or to collect a percentage of its gross receipts — whichever is higher.

In return, VB Golf agrees to raise the nets and offer the city an expanded benefit program.

VB Golf will offer Foster City residents the lowest published rates, give a 30 percent bonus on $100 range cards and donate two city golf events each year to accommodate 60 players each. The company will donate 25 range cards and one free hour of golf instruction per month to be used for the city’s employee achievement awards.

VB Golf will sponsor and manage a fall and spring team from Bowditch Middle School, offer free practice for up to 25 Foster City elementary school children as part of an after school physical education program and donate a $500 scholarship to be awarded to a Bowditch student.

The company will offer four free clinics per month for juniors, senior women, senior men and city employees.

Until surfers get protection from the errant balls, they will continue to work with the golf center management to reduce the risk of being hit. While surfers are acutely aware of wind conditions, golfers tend to overlook weather that can carry a ball further to the Bay.

Management started closing the second story of the driving range on days when the wind picks up and blows east. There are also signs posted to alert golfers of the risk of hitting people on the other side of the golf center fence, Chappelle said.

The renewed lease agreement is good until 2021.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.