Kokua Line June Watanabe

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Trespassing to blame for tee time limit

Question: Why is 3:24 p.m. the last twilight tee time at West Loch Golf Course, while the Pali and Makalena courses have tee times as late as 4:30 p.m. available?

Answer: Because of problems with trespassers, including those with vehicles that damaged the course.

The last tee time is tied to the need to secure gates by a certain time.

Garrick Iwamuro, golf course system administrator for the city Department of Enterprise Services, explained that the cart path through the golf course crosses Laulaunui Road, which is the entrance road to St. Francis-West Medical Center.

Because of that, there are gates between the 4th and 5th holes, and the 8th and 9th, that need to be secured.

In the past there have been many incidents in which people have trespassed onto the course with their vehicles, such as ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) and trucks, damaging the course, Iwamuro said.

There even have been instances in which people got in through the gates, then played golf without paying any fees, he said.

"The later the gates are left open, chances are people and vehicles will trespass and damage the course," he said. Typically, the gates are secured after the last golfer passes through the gate to the 9th hole, which is around 5:30 p.m.

During the summer, the last 9-hole tee time will be 3:54 p.m. -- 30 minutes later because of the longer day, Iwamuro said. The gates then are secured around 6 p.m.

Incidentally, the earlier-closing policy has been in effect at least since 1995, when the automated tee time system was introduced, Iwamuro said.

Auwe

To the soccer mom driving the big white SUV in Kailua last Thursday morning. She was makai-bound on Kuulei Road, waiting to turn left onto Kainalu Drive a couple of minutes before 8 a.m. She waited for oncoming traffic to clear, good for her, all the while yakking on a cell phone and mothering the kids in the back seat. So what's the problem? Well, she kept on waiting for oncoming traffic to clear, yakked on the phone some more and mothered the kids again long after the light changed and there wasn't any oncoming traffic. Instead, she sat there blocking the Kainalu traffic in both directions. Some people never will get the message. -- James V. Pollock

Mahalo

To "Concerned Nanakuli Resident," for speaking up over the homeless peeing and pooping all over the place here on the west side of the island ("Kokua Line," Tuesday). CNR couldn't have said it better. Not all, but most of the homeless out here have no concern for others. Plenty of families won't even go to most beaches here because the homeless act as if they own the place. They set up tents, park junk cars and beg for money. They hang around the bathrooms as if they own them. Mahalo, CNR, I believe you spoke up for most of us here on the west side. -- West Side Ray