A STARTER'S LIFE IS THE END : DESPITE THE HAZARDS, THEY'RE LINING UP TO GET THESE JOBS.Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Rick Kopper arrives at the Encino-Balboa golf complex 45 minutes before sunrise to prepare for a job that can demand the concentration of an air traffic controller and the public-relations skills of a politician. During his eight-hour shift, Kopper will try to please all of his customers. Sometimes he will fail, the proof being the verbal abuse verbal abuse Psychology A form of emotional abuse consisting of the use of abusive and demeaning language with a spouse, child, or elder, often by a caregiver or other person in a position of power. See Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Spousal abuse. that is hurled his way. After 25 years of dealing with the public in a variety of jobs, Kopper still marvels at the intensity the wrath can reach. ``I've tended bar, I've dealt poker in Gardena and I've driven a limousine and the people on a golf course can be much more vicious or angry than anyone I've ever dealt with,'' he said. ``Their attitude is, `I've paid my money and I will do what I want. And if I want to take my time, well then, I'll take my time.' '' Kopper views the game from inside the starter's shack at the 36-hole complex in the Sepulveda Dam Located in Los Angeles, California, the Sepulveda Dam is a project of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, built in 1941 to control winter flood waters along the Los Angeles River. Basin. Kopper is one of three full-time starters at the Valley's busiest golf facility and he loves the work, despite the unpopularity it can bring. ``Oh, it's a great job,'' Kopper said. ``You're in the fresh air and always meeting new people and you do get to work with the public. That's always a lot of fun.'' And it is a lot harder job than most golfers realize. Kopper works Friday through Tuesday. On weekends, players without reservations start lining up for spots on the waiting list 90 minutes before Kopper gets to work. His first task is checking the reservation book, then getting a ``rabbit squad'' on the course. ``These guys like to get out and fly,'' Kopper said, noting that they will play 18 holes in less than three hours. Play invariably in·var·i·a·ble adj. Not changing or subject to change; constant. in·var  i·a·bil slows down from that point.
Jim Dodds, the complex's general manager, says it's not surprising considering what at times can become a confusing situation. From Friday through Sunday, Encino-Balboa is like a four-course complex because in addition to playing the 18-hole layouts, groups during the first hour can also play the back nine of each course. Last Saturday and Sunday were typical weekends; 688 golfers played the Balboa course and 759 played Encino. ``If you want to know the truth, what a starter does at a 36-hole golf course is probably the most underpaid un·der·paid v. Past tense and past participle of underpay. underpaid Adjective not paid as much as the job deserves underpaid adj → job in the city of Los Angeles
Maybe so, but it's sure a popular job. Consider this: The city gave a starter's test in February at Fairfax High School Fairfax High School can refer to:
Applicants were tested on their knowledge of golf, their ability to deal with the public and basic math skills. The pay? Entry-level starters earn $580.50 a week before taxes. Top salary for a supervisor starter is $653 a week. They get the same benefits and retirement package as other city workers plus a couple of other perks - free greens fees on city courses and a discount on golf carts. Glendale resident Lanny McCutcheon is a temporary starter, but he took the test in February hoping to get a permanent position. A former restaurant manager, he likes the job because of the benefits package and the fact it's golf-related. ``I was playing so much golf I said I might as well be a starter,'' he said. Kopper and McCutcheon try to send a new group out every six minutes, and they run the operation by the reservation book, not always a crowd-pleasing tactic. If you have a reservation on a city course, you must show up 15 minutes before your tee time. Starters give groups five minutes of leeway lee·way n. 1. The drift of a ship or an aircraft to leeward of the course being steered. 2. A margin of freedom or variation, as of activity, time, or expenditure; latitude. See Synonyms at room. , then their time goes to someone on the waiting list. Groups that show up late go to the bottom of the list, which is always long on the weekends. And leaving in a huff can carry a financial pinch. If you show up late for a tee time and don't play, the city will fine the reservation-card holder $2 for every player in the group. And if you don't pay, you won't be able to reserve tee times until the matter is cleared up. ``If I shut them out they are usually mad enough that they leave,'' Kopper said. ``And they cuss you out as they leave.'' arrow Notes: Phil Mickelson Philip Alfred Mickelson (born June 16, 1970) (nicknamed "Lefty" for his left-handed swing, even though he is otherwise right-handed), is an American professional golfer. He is one of the leading players of his generation, having won three major championships and a total of 32 might not have won the Masters last weekend but he left Augusta National with more than just the hefty third-place check for $170,000. He picked up the year's first bonus points for the 1997 U.S. Ryder Cup Ryder Cup Biennial team golf event first held in 1927. It was originally played between teams of golfers from the U.S. and Britain; since 1979 players opposing the U.S. have been chosen from all of Europe. The trophy was donated by the British seed merchant Samuel Ryder. Team. Ryder Cup bonus points - three times the value of points earned in regular tour events - are awarded at the four majors; the Masters, the U.S. and British Opens and the PGA Championship The PGA Championship (often referred to as the U.S. PGA Championship outside of North America) is an annual golf tournament conducted by the Professional Golfers Association of America as part of the PGA Tour. . Mickelson, who was leading the Ryder Cup standings entering the Masters, earned 120 points. Corey Pavin Corey Allen Pavin (born November 16, 1959) is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour. Pavin was born in Oxnard, California. He attended UCLA and turned professional in 1982. , who finished 7th, earned 60; Jeff Maggert Jeffrey Allan Maggert (born February 20, 1964) is an American golfer. Maggert was born in Columbia, Missouri. He attended Texas A&M University and turned professional in 1986. , who placed 8th, earned 45 and Davis Love III Davis Milton Love III (born April 13, 1964) is an American professional golfer. Love was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina before turning professional in 1985. , in 9th place, earned 30. MEMO: Gregory J. Wilcox is a Daily News staff writer. The golf column appears Thursdays. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Rick Kopper has his hands full as one of the starter s at the Encino-Balboa golf complex. Evan Yee / Daily News |
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