A WOMAN was struck in the face by a freak "150 million to one" golf shot while waiting for a tram.
Anne Mulholland, 66, was waiting at Arena tram stop with her sister and cousin when an errant golf ball from the World of Golf driving range flew over netting – 400 yards away.
The impressive drive (Tiger Woods only averages 325 yards) struck a tram shelter and bounced back on to Anne's chin, causing bruising and bleeding from her gums. While Mrs Mulholland was tended to by her two relatives, a further three golf balls flew over the netting next to the tram stop.
The driving range backs on to the tram stop, yet World of Golf said it was the first incident of its kind at their driving ranges. They also said more than 150 million balls had been hit in six years without an accident like this occurring.
Mrs Mulholland, who lives with her sister Vera Stork in Westgate Road, South Norwood, said: "Whoever it was must have been a hell of a golfer. It came from nowhere and I didn't see it. If I had seen it I would have ducked.
"I am lucky it just hit my chin. If it had hit my eyes or brain I could be dead now.
"We are so paranoid to stand at that tram stop now because of what happened. It could have been a child or someone old."
Mrs Mulholland and Ms Stork were at the beginning of a planned day trip to the South Bank in London with their cousin Jill Ebell, 62, who was visiting from Australia.
The three women were waiting for a tram to Elmers End, from where they planned to travel to London.
Ms Stork, 69, now wants both World of Golf and Transport for London to work together to put safety measures in place.
She added: "There was a witness who was really shaken up because she lives in the flats nearby and almost on a daily basis waits at that stop with her daughter and grandchildren.
"Will it take something worse than what happened to my sister to get something done about it?"
In his apology, Grant Wright, chief executive of World of Golf, said his company had worked hard to ensure incidents like this did not happen.
He also said there would be a full investigation.
Mr Wright added: "I am extremely sorry this happened and all of us at World of Golf are shocked balls may have escaped our protective netting."
