When Ordinary Weather Causes Extraordinary Failure
the case
A golf club driving range suffered a sudden and catastrophic collapse. Massive wooden support poles split and failed, bringing down the entire netting system and rendering the range unusable.
The structure was less than ten years old. Weather conditions at the time were unpleasant—windy, sleeting—but not extreme.
The Challenge
The prevailing narrative became some variation of a sudden, unexpected and severe wind gust overwhelmed the structure.
Our Approach
We dug in and took a closer look.
Instead of focusing on the poles alone, we reconstructed the system as it actually existed prior to the collapse.
Ruling Out the Obvious
- We collected and analyzed historical wind data to confirm there was no extreme wind event
- Compared recorded conditions against design-level wind expectations
Next, we examined not just what failed—but what the poles were asked to support:
- The age, installation, and configuration of the netting and cabling
- The interaction between the vertical poles and the expansive netting attached to them
- We retained an engineer experienced in the design of tall, wind-sensitive structures, including cell towers and utility installations—systems where wind loading is often a critical design factor.
The Insight: “The Sail Effect”
What others overlooked was the role of the netting itself.
The expansive netting dramatically increased the effective wind load on the poles, creating a sail effect that multiplied lateral forces far beyond what the poles alone would experience.
Through discovery and expert analysis, we established that:
- No proper wind-load calculations were performed.
- The increased lateral forces imposed by the netting were never analyzed.
- The design failed to account for the need for additional ground cabling and resistance.
What Actually Caused the Failure
This was not a weather loss.
It was ordinary wind acting on an improperly engineered system.
The failure stemmed from design decisions made long before the day of collapse.
The Result
We pursued claims against the responsible design and installation parties, overcame defenses centered on maintenance and seasonal conditions, and secured a substantial recovery. What began as a dead end subrogation claim was transformed into a case of engineering malpractice.
When others stop at surface explanations, we look at how systems actually behave under real-world forces.
Get in Touch
Reach out to our team members today to get our process started!