Living on or near a golf course has its advantages, like picturesque views and relative peace and quiet. But one sound can shatter the silence—the impact of a stray golf ball. A golfer’s errant shot can dent cars and siding, break windows, and damage roofs in seconds. Homeowners who live on the course may have to sign a liability waiver, but repairs or replacement costs can add up fast for others outside the gates. 

While spotting siding, car, or window damage is pretty easy, roof damage may go unnoticed if you’re not home at the time. That’s why it’s crucial to protect your roof from high-velocity hits. Euroshield’s groundbreaking shingles are made to withstand dangerous weather elements like wind, storm debris, and hail. Check out how this hail-proof technology works and the most significant benefit besides saving you money on roof repair or replacement.

Golf Ball Speeds Can Exceed Hail Speeds

Big or small, hail costs homeowners more than $10 billion a year. According to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), one in 35 homes in North America has a property damage claim related to hail each year. Chances are good there are more than 35 homes near you, increasing your odds of damage. Euroshield Roofing systems may be the answer to protecting your home from severe weather and golf balls. 

Euroshield rubber roofs are designed to protect against Class 4 impact. IBHS created an industry-standard hail impact test, the UL 2218, to evaluate roofing material resistance. They designated four classes based on hailstone size:

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  Class 1: Projectile diameter is 1.25 inches
• Class 2: Projectile diameter is 1.50 inches
• Class 3: Projectile diameter is 1.75 inches
• Class 4: Projectile diameter is 2.00 inches

Most golf balls are 1.68 inches in diameter, so you’d think Class 3 would be safe, right? But hail travels between 25 -72 mph depending on its size, though hailstones over 4 inches can reach speeds of 100 mph. Golf ball velocity varies depending on the speed of the swing but can reach up to 180mph—significantly faster and more damaging than hail. 

How Hail-Proof Shingles Work

A UL 2218 Class 4 rubber shingle is the highest impact protection against hail and golf balls. Unlike metal, slate, or asphalt, rubber roofing absorbs and disperses the energy from an impact. They can also handle extreme temperature and temperature swings, making them a great option in any climate. And since hailstones can vary in shape, size, and speed, Euroshield went beyond the industry standard. They offer a best-in-the-business warranty for hail impact up to 2 inches in diameter for all shingle styles. 

Many areas of North America have seen a dramatic increase in large hailstones. Neighbors in the so-called Hail Alley have seen an uptick of hailstones double the size of golf balls. On August 1, 2022, residents in Calgary were helpless against hail the size of softballs. Drivers pulled over on the side of the road, trapped as softball-sized hailstones smashed through windows and windshields, causing injuries and devastating property and roof damage. 

Metal is no match for the speed and size of hail like rubber. While you can’t do much about being in a car, Euroshield’s Hail-Proof shingles are your best bet to help prevent damage to your home. Vermont Slate HP shingle is warrantied for hailstones of any size for the first 20 years. Just check out this test. They launched a 4-inch projectile at 183 mph. The result? Zero impact damage. 

Sustainable Roofing for Your Home

Golf balls take between 100 and 1,000 years to degrade, ending up in oceans and landfills and potentially leaching toxins into the environment. Roofing waste is just as harmful, with 11 million tons filling landfills annually. Euroshield Roofing, on the other hand, is not only durable and recyclable but also made from 95% recycled material, including tires meant for the dump. 

These shingles last longer than popular asphalt roofing materials and are specifically developed to be recyclable at the end of their life cycle. Euroshield uses between 250 and 1,000 rubber tires to produce a roof for an average-sized home. At a time when climate change and environmental issues dominate the headlines, Euroshield Roofing systems help reduce waste by diverting 3.5 million tires from landfills to date. 

Never Fear The Fairway Again

Homeowners aren’t the only ones taking a proactive approach to protecting their property from golf balls. Some clubhouses, such as The Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club in Calgary, have replaced traditional shingles with Euroshield roofing to minimize damage to their structures. This includes the legendary Old Course Hotel at St Andrews golf course in Scotland which for 600 years has sustained hit after hit, forcing the golf course to spend nearly $2000 a week replacing the slate shingles. Euroshield was approached not just for its durability and sustainability but also because its shingles come in several styles, including slate, so some would say it was a hole-in-one all around.

Golf ball damage can be annoying and costly, especially if you’re not home at the time. Rather than inspecting your roof weekly or daily, consider upgrading to Euroshield Roofing. These shingles provide superior protection against golf balls and help keep your home safe from wind, hail, and storm debris. With zero dollars in hail damage claims for hail-proof shingles to date, Euroshield is hyper-focused on creating new technologies that protect homes and conserve the planet. Contact us for more information or to find a verified installer in your area who can help make golf ball shrapnel a thing of the past.