First time for everything

First off. Kinda long...

Hole 12 at Santa Maria this morning. I hit a drive that went left and hit a birdhouse in someone’s back yard. It ricochet into his back patio and broke a little tricket. Guy was outside and yelled “you almost hit me”. I yelled and said “sorry ,are you okay?”. I walked toward him and kept asking if he was okay. He said “what did you hit”. I said I hit the bird house. Then he said “I hope you’re ready to pay $700 if it’s broke”. It wasn’t. Then his wife walked outside and noticed a broke cross or something. I apologized several times. He then asked if I was paying for it right now. I said I didn’t have cash on me and he said he’s call the cops. I played on figuring he’d calm down and realize how big of a douche he was being. His wife was telling him to calm down the entire time.

So he actually called the cops who met me at whole 18. Cop was nice and agreed the guy was a huge a-hole about it. I called the guy and we agreed on a settlement. He initially told me $40 bucks on the course, when I called him he gave me a huge rigamarole about sentimental value and how he called the guy who made it and claimed he couldn’t find another for that price and how he paid $85 for it. I again apologized and then said I’d agree to $60. He said that’s fine.

I get to the house and the wife opens the door and the first thing she does is apologize and say she’s sorry about all this. I apologized and said I was glad I didn’t hit anyone. The guy then walked up and I apologized yet again. Then I asked if they found my ball . I actually planned that out before I got there. Probably a dick move, but I did get my ball back.
Then they invited me inside to show me where someone a while back hit their window and broke it and then lied about their name and number.

From what I can tell I am at fault which is why I paid the $60 bucks so we could both move on, but why do these people who live on golf courses want to be assholes about this stuff. It wasn’t even like I shanked it so bad I should be embarrassed. His bird house is about 20-25 yards from the fairway. He needs to take down the birdhouse or move it closer to his house in my opinion.

Anyone ever have this kind of experience or is everyone in here a +3 handicap?