CINCINNATI -- A private golf course is causing big problems for an Ohio elementary school as the students are nearly pelted with golf balls.

Parents at Pleasant Ridge Montessori want the golf course to take action but it could be Cincinnati Public Schools that has to pay thousands to protect the children, WLWT-TV in Cincinnati reported.

"We have to give our children free lunches so they can study and a golf course cannot put up a net to keep our children safe," Parent-Teacher Organization co-president Ruth Anne Wolfe.

The golf balls are flying over a fence from Ridge Club's driving range and coming dangerously close to hitting kids on the playground.

A week-and-a-half-ago the principal asked the club manager to shut down the driving range during school hours to make sure none of the children get hurt.

"It's nothing that I think anyone is in imminent danger, but you never know and we don't want to take that chance," Principal Maria Lagdameo said.

The golf course wrote back, telling the principal that it had no intention of shutting down the driving range while school is in session.

It turns out that CPS signed an agreement two years ago not to hold the club responsible for flying golf balls.

In return, the school system was allowed to build a new sewer line on the club's property.

CPS will now have to spend about $25,000 to put up a huge net to stop the golf balls. It will take three weeks to be installed.

So far, no children have been hit by errant golf balls, although some have flown over the playground and a few cars have been hit.