ALARCON OFF TARGET IN SAYING SIMPSON GOT FREE GOLF CARTS.

Byline: Patrick McGreevy and Marni McEntee Daily News Staff Writers

O.J. Simpson stood accused Friday of getting special favors while golfing at the Hansen Dam Municipal Golf Course - free use of golf carts for his bodyguard.

``While Mr. Simpson has the right to utilize our facilities as any member of the general public, I find it unconscionable that he receive special favors to do so,'' Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon wrote in a letter Friday to Recreation and Parks Commission President Steven Soboroff.

But Simpson had a ready response: Not guilty.

``I don't get free anything,'' Simpson said, as he loaded his golf clubs from a cart into a car after a round at the Hansen Dam links Friday afternoon. ``I always pay my way.''

Simpson's golfing companion, who wouldn't give his name, said the two split the $20 cart fee. And Simpson said he doesn't require the services of a bodyguard.

``Do I look like I need a bodyguard?'' Simpson asked.

City parks officials said later Friday that a probe of the allegations found them to be unfounded.

``When O.J. Simpson plays occasionally on our course, we let that cart go out with a bodyguard. But they rent that cart. They pay for an extra cart,'' said Dick Ginevan, the city's golf program manager.

In an interview, Alarcon said he wrote the letter after he was told by Jim Andervich, the Park Department's San Fernando Valley manager, that Andervich had authorized the free use of golf carts for a Simpson bodyguard on two occasions.

``Specifically, it has come to my attention that he has been provided a free golf cart on at least two occasions for his bodyguard so that people can be kept away from asking for Mr. Simpson's autograph,'' Alarcon wrote.

Andervich said Alarcon was mistaken and denied ever authorizing free carts. He said he simply told Alarcon that Simpson was playing at Hansen Dam and was using a golf cart for a bodyguard.

``There's no comp of any cart,'' he said.

Golf carts are provided at Hansen Dam by Kishi Cart Inc., a concessionaire that is required to pay the city about 45 percent of all the fees paid for golf carts.

Kishi Cart manager Art Cholula also denied that Simpson has been given free use of golf carts.

``Everybody pays. There are no complimentary fares,'' he said.

Simpson said he plays golf four or five times a week at courses around Southern California and has used the Hansen Dam course several times, even taking lessons there. He also has golfed at the city-owned Woodley course in the Sepulveda Basin.

``I think the people are nice and for a city course it's well-maintained,'' Simpson said of Hansen Dam.

Simpson, who had not heard of Alarcon, reacted angrily when told of the councilman's accusations.

``If his information is that bad, and he's in an elected office, then he shouldn't be,'' Simpson said. ``He's like people who like to flap their gums when they don't know what they're talking about. He would rather deal with innuendos and rumors.''

``He's not doing his constituency any good. He's not looking for proof,'' Simpson said, adding that Alarcon could simply have called the course to confirm that Simpson doesn't receive free golf carts.

``He's not smart enough to make one phone call. His constituency should know he should not be in office.''

Alarcon disputed Simpson's charge that he acted irresponsibly. The councilman said Andervich told him ``point blank'' that the free carts had been authorized.

``That's the extent of research I needed to bring this to the attention of the proper authorities,'' Alarcon said.

Alarcon also said he is not afraid of Simpson's appeal to his constituents.

``I'll let my constituents respond to how serious this is,'' he said.

Simpson was acquitted in October of killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. But families of the victims continue to assert Simpson's guilt and have filed a` civil suit against him.

Simpson refused Friday to discuss any aspect of the case.

Before he was charged with murder, Simpson often played at the Riviera Country Club - an exclusive course that is home to the Los Angeles Open Golf Tournament.

Simpson said Friday that he has gotten hundreds of phone numbers from Hansen Dam golfers interested in sharing a game. Sometimes he shows up without a partner, but never fails to find one.

``Lots of guys will say, `C'mon, Juice, let's play,' '' he said.

He bemoaned what he called the ``negative spin'' on his activities, be it hosting a charity fund-raiser at his Brentwood mansion or playing a round of golf. As he spoke, several golfers stopped to shake his hand, some asking for his autograph.

``I just let him know how I think he's keeping things in perspective,'' said Jeff Toothaker, 29, who asked Simpson to sign his golf scorecard. The former Buffalo Bills player affixed his trademark: ``Peace to you,'' below his signature.

Most of the response about Simpson's visit to the course was positive, but one man walked by a news photographer and said: ``How much do you charge to take pictures of a murderer?''

But Ray Sidey, 45, who was driving balls with his 10-year-old son, Sean, said Simpson's presence wasn't in the least disturbing.

The only difference in how the Northridge man treated the former football star was that before Simpson's murder trial, he may have sought out an autograph.

``We're just not interested, because of the murder thing,'' Sidey said.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

Photo: (1--color) O.J. Simpson Friday denied a charge of free use of carts at a public course.

(2) O.J. Simpson signs an autograph for a fan at the Hansen Dam links.

Evan Yee/Daily News