COURSE WHERE YOU PLAY LIKE PROS ON TV ALHAMBRA GC OFFERS YOU PLENTY OF SHORT-DISTANCE HOLES.

Byline: Dave Shelburne Staff Writer

ALHAMBRA - Looking for the opportunity to play a course the way the pros do on television? Plenty of driver, short-iron par-4 holes? Par-5s that can yield a chance at an eagle putt? Medium-length par-3s? Lots of chances for par or birdie?

Try a trip to Alhambra GC, where the rates are reasonable and where you don't have to swing out of your shoes to hit greens in regulation.

Front-nine trees and back-nine contours will force you to make accurate shots to get the chance at a low score. But par-70 Alhambra's short length - 5,211 yards from the tips - and consistently good greens will reward those who hit their targets off the tee and from the fairway.

``We're not one of the real popular or name-dropping courses,'' said Jerry Wisz, Alhambra's head pro since 1983, ``but the greens are good, we'll treat you well and the course won't wear you out.''

Wisz, who has represented the Southern California PGA section in several L.A. Opens, has worked at the 46-year-old municipal course long enough to see most of its improvements, including its expansion from nine holes to 18 in 1983.

``It's regulation by design,'' he said, ``but it's just as short as you can get for a regulation course. We have a lot of short par-4s and par-5s that can be reached with two good shots. It's the old cliche that you can hit every club in your bag. I tell people they can have a lot of fun here.''

Henry Liaw, last year's U.S. Junior Amateur champion, and Golden State Tour player Joey Citro have definitely had fun rounds at Alhambra. Both shot a course-record 58 there - Liaw as a 12-year-old in a junior tournament four years ago and former course employee Citro this year.

Higher handicappers also enjoy Alhambra, which challenges with tight fairways on the front nine and with sidehill, uphill or downhill lies on the back nine but keeps players optimistic because of reachable greens.

``There are a lot of holes under 300 yards and not a lot of blind shots, so it's a course you can play for the first time and not worry,'' said Burbank resident Paul Matsuoka, a 21-handicapper who made his Alhambra debut last week.

``The greens are really in good shape for a little course and it's really a good course to score. I didn't do it today, but there are a lot of scoring chances here.''

Most scoring chances will come on Alhambra's seven par-4 holes of fewer than 300 yards or on the course's three short par-5s, which measure 467, 485 and 478 yards.

But Alhambra toughens considerably on the back nine - notably the 337-yard par-4 12th, where out-oounds flanks the left side of a well-bunkered green. The 182-yard par-3 13th is just as difficult, with the same OB concerns coming into play on the left.

And Alhambra's 393-yard, dogleg-left par-4 18th would be a difficult hole on anyone's course, especially when it plays into afternoon wind.

For any number of reasons, this is a fun course.

EXCURSION 

Destination - Alhambra

Course - Alhambra GC, 630 S. Almansor Street

Vital stats- Men's back tees: par 70, 5,211 yards, 64.3 rating, 107 slope; women's back tees: par 71, 4,805 yards, 66.4 rating, 109 slope.

Rates - $19.50-$24; carts $11-$22.

Access-Public

Phone -[phone]

Head professional - Jerry Wisz, PGA

Course record - 58, by Henry Liaw and Joey Citro

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Golfer Larry Morgan on the 16th hole at Alhambra GC, which features several short-length holes to help with scores.

Dave Shelburne/Daily News

Box:

EXCURSION (see text)