New Look, Prices for Course
The rebuilt Skylinks Golf Course isn’t expected to open until October, but course operator American Golf fired the first shot last week when it proposed green fees nearly double what the fees were before the redesign of the Long Beach course.
Under the American Golf proposal, Long Beach residents would pay $35 on weekdays, up from $18, and $45 on weekends, up from $22. Nonresident fees would be $45 on weekdays and $55 on weekends, up from $24 and $29, respectively.
“I’m not against a fee increase, but what they’re talking about is way too much,” said Skylinks men’s club President Dick Allen. “If it went into effect, it would cause a lot of guys to be looking to play someplace else.”
American Golf has the right to request fee increases, but they must be approved by Long Beach City Manager Jerry Miller, who has the final say.
Miller will take advice from the Long Beach Golf Commission as well as other city organizations.
American Golf did not invest any money in the $8-million renovation project. It was fully funded by a bond taken out by the city and will be repaid through green fees.
“American Golf has no investment in the program,” said Bob Peters, chairman of the rates and fees committee for the Long Beach Golf Commission. “The city took all the risk, but American Golf would generate a big profit if the raises go through.”
In its proposal, American Golf contends that it requires additional revenue to maintain high course quality and to recoup losses for the yearlong period during the course closing.
American Golf representatives did not return calls.
Craig Kessler, executive director of the Southern California Public Links Golf Assn., said rate increases are one thing, but there is a bigger issue at stake.
“The city golf system has been designed to provide affordable golf for residents, and it’s done that for the last 50 years,” Kessler said. “American Golf is attempting to break that tradition.”
The public meetings are scheduled for Monday and July 26 at Recreation Park Golf Course.
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Tiger Woods acknowledged that his caddie, Steve Williams, probably shouldn’t have kicked a credentialed photographer’s lens or taken away a camera from a fan during the U.S. Open, but he called for more stringent camera regulations and enforcement at tournaments.
“Steve and I know that he probably went too far and we will make sure that does not happen again,” Woods wrote in a newsletter on his official website, www.TigerWoods.com. “However, Steve was just trying to protect me and let his emotions get the best of him.
“Hopefully in future events, organizers will do a better job of screening cameras from fans and will also take a harder line on the credentialed photographers who snap pictures during mine and other players’ swings.”
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The first two majors of the season are in the books, and only three players have finished in the top 10 of both: Phil Mickelson (first at the Masters, second at the U.S. Open), Ernie Els (second, ninth) and Chris DiMarco (sixth, ninth).
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Jack Nicklaus has hinted at retirement for several years, but his failure to enter the U.S. Senior Open could be a sign that he is serious this time.
Nicklaus, 64, has missed the Senior Open only twice since turning 50 in 1990, both times because of injury. This time, he did not turn in an entry form before the deadline, which was June 16.
“I have nothing against the Senior Open,” Nicklaus said. “I have always been very high on the USGA and their championships. Whether it was the U.S. Open or the U.S. Senior Open, they have always been among the most significant championships to me. I just felt that I didn’t want to play.”
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Spencer Levin, the low amateur at the U.S. Open last week, had only two hours of sleep Sunday night.
He caught a 4 a.m. flight from New York to San Jose, then drove to Pebble Beach and arrived minutes before his 1:20 p.m. tee time for the first round of the California Amateur Championship.
Levin hit a few putts to warm up, then shot a four-under 68 and was the first round co-leader. He shot 74 and 72 in the second and third rounds and easily qualified for the 32-player match-play field. Match play begins today.
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Gregg Sato of Annandale Country Club shot a final-round five-under 67 Sunday at Rancho Park Golf Course and won the Los Angeles Men’s Golf championship. His four-round total of 13-under 275 was three shots better than Brad Upgraft of Valencia Country Club and Tim Hogarth of Woodland Hills Country Club.
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Angeles National Golf Club in Sunland had its grand opening Wednesday, nearly a month later than a previously announced opening date. It is the only Nicklaus Design Co. course in Los Angeles County.
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Golf columnist Thomas Bonk has the day off. Associated Press contributed to this report.