Golf Courses

Robert Chacon Local golfers will be still able to hit the greens at a popular area course, but they might have to maneuver around some homes. The developer purchasing the 60-acre Verdugo Hills Golf Course plans to continue operating the golf course in the short term, but will build homes on its unused areas, said Bruce Martin, general manager of the course. Golfers who use the 18-hole, par-3 course said the unused portion is too compact for homes and worry the entire property will be converted to a residential area.

The Verdugo Hills Golf Course has changed hands. Karl Bathke, a La Cañada resident who was the course's managing general partner, confirmed Tuesday that escrow on the 18-hole, par-3 course, located at 6433 La Tuna Canyon Road, closed Monday. "It officially has changed ownership," Bathke said. "It's bittersweet. Everybody is sorry to part with the legacy." Verdugo Hills Golf Course, created in 1958, includes 1,805 yards of straight holes with no water or sand traps.

GLENDALE — Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich has committed $3.4 million in county funds for two proposed La Tuna Canyon land acquisitions, including $1.7 million for the Verdugo Hills Golf Course property, which is slated to be developed with 229 town homes. The commitment gives the first semblance of financial credibility to a proposal floated largely by community activists that imagines the county, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and the cities of Los Angeles and Glendale pitching in funds to jointly purchase and preserve the Tujunga golf course.

Whether it's for leisure or whether it's for business, Newport Beach is an ideal golf resort vacation destination. Despite the fact the above statement sounds like an advertisement from a travel brochure, the information is pretty accurate: The Newport-Mesa area, all of Orange County and even all of Southern California harbors some of the best golf courses in the country. Believe it or not, golf is a big tourist attraction in the area. Warm, sunny weather all year, beaches, Disneyland and golf -- a pretty appealing package.

LA CRESCENTA — The City Council election forum in the foothills above Montrose Wednesday night was not the place to be against open space, preservation or any other political hallmark of a community that has staunchly defended its small-town charm. Unlike the council forums of central Glendale, where a confluence of political and ethnic backgrounds often converge with calamitous results, 10 candidates faced a near-homogenous voter demographic — single-family homeowners who shun the hustle of downtown in favor of mom-and-pop shops and comparatively quiet neighborhoods.

Peter Fuertes and Andrew Landeros SCHOLL CANYON PARK -- The Scholl Canyon Golf Course is proposing to increase its fees by a small margin for this year. It is awaiting for approval from the city of Glendale. The American Golf company, that manages the course for the City, have asked for the increase to offset the costs of maintaining the facility. "It takes a good amount of money to keep up the golf course," said Scholl Canyon General Manager Mike Konjoyan.

1. The number of caddies at Newport Beach and Costa Mesa golf courses has what? A. Never been higher B. Never been for hire C. At this point become limited to one course from Friday to Sunday D. Fluctuated during the winter and summer months 2. Newport Beach police officers and members of the city's animal control division discovered what kind of animal that tested positive for rabies? A. A moose B. A coyote C. A skunk D. A bat 3. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed which politician this week?

Losing golf course will be a shame Whatever future use is chosen for the Verdugo Hills Golf Course property, our community loses. For more than 40 years Verdugo Hills has been a wonderful place for golfers to drive 'em far on the range and sharpen their short game on the course. It's been a place for people of all ages to learn the game -- no experience needed. Growing up in Sunland, I remember being so excited when Verdugo Hills Golf Course opened.

Culture shock wasn't going to prevent Mathias Dahl from playing collegiate golf in the United States. For more than 10 years, Dahl proved he could excel on golf courses across his native Sweden while playing in amateur tournaments. A new challenge beckoned for Dahl, one that's found him starring for the burgeoning Glendale Community College men's team. Since moving from Sweden last summer, Dahl has mastered English, quickly overcome any hardships residing in the United States and continued his dominance striking golf balls on 18-hole courses.

Exchanging course for people a bad deal The plan to convert the Verdugo Hills Golf Course into yet another tract of homes (“Developer wants to close course,” July 13) is a bad one for many reasons. More construction and needless housing creates more congested traffic and more pollution and global warming, more crowding of the schools, and a larger burden on the water, power and sewage utilities (so there’s even more pollution). The old arguments about the increase in tax revenues and business simply are not worth it to those of us who live in the area.

LOS ANGELES - Vince De Pinto had plenty of confidence entering the final round of the two-round Mission League Individual Tournament on Wednesday. One more solid 18-hole round would enable the St. Francis High senior golfer to be a part of the CIF Southern Section Individual Tournament for the first time in his career. De Pinto punched his ticket into the postseason, as he carded a three-over-par 75 to finish fifth in league at Griffith Park's Wilson Course. “It feels great to be able to move on,” said De Pinto, who entered Wednesday's action atop the leader board after opening with a three-under-par 69 on Tuesday at Lakewood Country Club before finishing with a two-round score of 144. “I knew what I needed to do. “I made a lot of putts for par. The plan coming into the last round was to be aggressive on the first nine holes and see where I matched up with my opponents.

A move that could block a residential development on the Verdugo Hills Golf Course hit a stumbling block last week when the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission voted unanimously to recommend it not be made a Historic-Cultural Monument. More than a dozen speakers voiced support for the nomination - both Sunland-Tujunga locals and descendants of Japanese-Americans who had been interned at the Tuna Canyon Detention Station, which was located on the site during World War II. However, the commissioners ruled that because all historic buildings and structures were demolished in 1960, the site, which is a Crescenta Valley resource, didn't qualify.

PASADENA - Heading into the home stretch in the Pacific League, Paul Park is pleased with his overall play. Nonetheless, the way the Crescenta Valley High boys' junior golfer sees it, there's still room for improvement and Park's effort Thursday raised his confidence of doing that going forward. PHOTOS: Pacific League boys' golf “I'm doing a lot of things well right now, like striking the ball,” said Park, who shot a two-over-par 72 on Thursday in Pacific League match No. 4 at Brookside Golf Course No. 2. “That really helped me out today on some different holes.

ARCADIA - Though the Glendale High boys' golf team doesn't have enough players to field a complete lineup, it hasn't deterred Russell Caletena from showing he may be a key building block for the program's future. Just a freshman, Caletena has put together a couple of impressive rounds during the first three Pacific League matches this season. His latest effort turned out to be his best, as Caletena carded a two-over-par 73 on Thursday to finish sixth overall at Santa Anita Golf Course.

While most of the Glendale Community College men's golf team continues to find its identity, Jin Park has been constantly elevating his level of play. Park's rise continued Monday while fighting through the fierce winds during a Western State Conference match at San Dimas Golf Course. Park shot a one-over-par 73, though Glendale finished tied for third with Santa Barbara City College with a 389. Santa Barbara won in the tiebreaker, as its sixth player finished one stroke better than Glendale's.

Re: "L.A. tries to save golf course," Feb. 17: Save the golf course? I'm confused. I can understand why the residents who reside near the Verdugo Hills Golf Course do not want an expansive housing development in their neighborhood. And L.A. Councilman Richard Alarcon is helping them out by his motion to get the Cultural Heritage Commission to designate the site a Historical-Cultural Monument. If the commission says it ought to be a Tuna Canyon Detention Station Site, does that mean they can “tear down” the golf course and erect something similar to the Manzanar National Historic Site?

Los Angeles this week began a process that could end up protecting Verdugo Hills Golf Course from controversial plans to build hundreds of homes after the City Council voted unanimously to review the site of a former internment camp for possible status as a historical monument. L.A. Councilman Richard Alarcon, whose district includes the golf course, put forward the motion on Monday, sending the matter to the Cultural Heritage Commission, which will review the site and come back with a recommendation on whether to designate the site a Historic-Cultural Monument.