MAN'S NEW BEST FRIEND: ROBOTIC COURSE CADDIES.

Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox

Star Wars technology arrived at venerable Rancho Park Golf Course on Wednesday in the persona of PK2, a shirttail cousin of R2D2, that robotic Hollywood charmer.

PK2 will help transport golfers back to those halcyon days when bags were toted by caddies instead of being carted around in carts, which is the norm just about every place the game is now played.

PK2 is a robot bag carrier that rents for less than a cart and does more besides give you exercise.

You don't have to give it a tip at the end of a round, but don't expect any help reading greens, for which live caddies are famous. But PK2 comes with a laser-powered DMR Ranger Finder, though, which gives golfers accurate distances from their ball to the green.

The rent is $7 for one bag or $12 if two golfers share a unit.

The robot units are made in Southern California by Century City-based Golf Group of America Inc., which obtained a concession permit from the City of Los Angeles to test them at Rancho for a year.

``Golf is just a better game when you are walking,'' said Bob Allen, the company's founder and executive vice president. He said he wants to show the city that this really does add value to the golfers.

The basic idea is to bring a country club-like experience to one of the nation's most populated public courses.

His partner, Leo Vezzali, Golf Groups marketing president, has operated a club washing-and-shoe-care concession at Rancho for a couple of years and the robot caddies seemed to be a natural extension of that service, both men said.

``We're going after the walking golfer,'' Vezzali said. ``The person that doesn't want to pull a hand cart or carry a bag.''

First-time users receive about a 15-minute get-acquainted session with PK2.

The caddies are controlled by a remote unit that golfers carry with them and then clip onto their belt, slacks or skirt when hitting the ball. The control has four big buttons - forward, right, left and stop. Holding down the stop button puts the unit in reverse.

Top speed is about 4 mph.

Allen said that the units are already being used at five other courses in Southern California, but this is the first time they have been tried at a Los Angeles city course.

Precautions have been taken so that PK2 will not run wild.

A sonar sensor in front can identify objects, including other golfers, seven feet away and automatically stops the caddie.

They can traverse just about any terrain confronting a golfer, except water.

Dick Ginevan, the city's manager of golf and park programs, said this test program is just one way being considered to enhance the golfing experience.

``The main thing we want to do is collect data and then evaluate the program,'' he said.

The city will determine whether the robot caddies take business away from cart rentals, a big source of income, and find out if golfers like them.

And, are you ready for this: Ginevan said that the city is just beginning to look at the possibility of bringing back real-life caddies.

For now, Woods uncommitted: So far, former Cypress resident Tiger Woods has not committed to playing in the Nissan Open at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades. Woods' West Coast schedule includes the Mercedes Championships, the Phoenix Open and the AT&T National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach, where he will be paired with his dad, Earl.

Then he heads for an outing in Thailand, the home country of his mother, Kultida.

No firm plans are set after that, according to International Management Group, which represents Woods.

The Nissan is the last week in February and tournament officials are not yet concerned that they have not heard from arguably the game's most popular player.

Tournament chairman Robert Banz said entry packets just went out.

``We haven't heard from anybody yet. The entry forms won't start coming in until later in January,'' he said.

And the final field probably won't be set until about two weeks before the tournament starts, Banz said.

Also: Entry forms are available for a tournament benefiting the College of the Canyons golf team. It will be held on Feb. 3 and Feb. 24, both Mondays, at Valencia Country Club. The cost is $110 per player or $100 if both sessions are entered.

For additional information, call College of the Canyons golf coach Gary Peterson at 805-648-3272 or 805-259-7800, ext. 379.