FIRE DEPRIVES GOLFERS OF PUTTER BUGGIES.Byline: Melissa Schmitt Daily News Staff Writer Golf culture was dealt a slice Saturday, when weekend golfers arrived at the Woodley Lakes course to learn they would be hoofing it across the fairways. Due to a severe fire around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, all the course's 76 carts were out of commission. Every last one. Nothing was left except the charred skeletal skeletal /skel·e·tal/ (skel´e-t'l) pertaining to the skeleton. skeletal pertaining to the skeleton. See also skeletal muscle. remains of the one-time party-mobiles for the golf club's riding class. ``First they take our smoking away, now they take our carts. What's left of our culture?'' joked John Barter John Wilfred Barter (6 October 1917 – 17 December 1983) was a British Labour Party politician. He was Member of Parliament for Ealing North from 1955 until he retired from the House of Commons at the 1964 general election. , who has worked the club's lounge for eight years. Thursday night's fire ripped through the shed housing the 76 carts. Because there are no fire plugs on the property, firefighters had to use water from their trucks to put out the flames. By the time the fire was out, the carts were toast. ``I heard this pop, pop, pop pop,'' Barter barter: see exchange. barter Direct exchange of goods or services without the use of money or any other intervening medium of exchange. Barter is conducted either according to established rates of exchange or by bargaining. said Saturday, explaining he later learned that sound was the popping of the carts' tires. It will take 10 to 14 days to get the carts replaced, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. course personnel. But the lack of carts didn't scare many golfers away, and the popular Sepulveda Basin golf course remained on a wait for tee times all day. ``We're still booked up solid,'' said Brett Hadley, Woodley's starter, who moonlights at the course in addition to playing Carl Williams
``We've had lots of walk-ons,'' Hadley said. A few people left because of the charred carts, leaving walkers to enjoy the serenity of the cartless course under the beautiful California sun. ``I like to walk just because it's exercise,'' said 58-year-old Mel Belger of Woodland Hills. ``Although we were going to ride today.'' Bandman Chuck Fiore, who plays with Billy Vera Billy Vera (born William McCord, 28 May 1944, Riverside, California, U.S.) is an American singer, actor, writer and music historian. Career Vera began his singing career in 1962 as a member of the Resolutions. and the Beaters among other groups, was golfing with Belger and explained golf carts were planned for the day because Fiore was to perform at the Moonlight Supper Club Noun 1. supper club - usually a small luxurious nightclub cabaret, night club, nightclub, nightspot, club - a spot that is open late at night and that provides entertainment (as singers or dancers) as well as dancing and food and drink; "don't expect a good meal at in Sherman Oaks on Saturday night and hoped to save some energy for the show. ``I'm bummed,'' Fiore said. ``But not bummed enough to not golf.'' Neither was Ray Shapero, 76, of Valley Glen. ``I'm going to walk since I want to play, but it's very tiring,'' she said. ``To walk and pull clubs and a purse and a sweater - and you still have to have the stamina Stamina Staying power, endurance. Mentioned in: Tai Chi to hit the ball properly.'' Another golfer showed off his ``hoofer'' bag, a golf bag with crossed straps that go across the back, making the bag easier to carry. ``If you don't walk, your legs will just shrivel up,'' the man said, not disclosing his name. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it appears to have been an electrical fire, Hadley said. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Weary golfers trudge across Woodley Lakes, after a fire destroyed all the course's carts. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News |
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