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READY FOR ROBOCADDY?; COMPUTER CARRIES CLUBS.


Byline: Lee Barnathan Daily News Staff Writer

CNN CNN
 or Cable News Network

Subsidiary company of Turner Broadcasting Systems. It was created by Ted Turner in 1980 to present 24-hour live news broadcasts, using satellites to transmit reports from news bureaus around the world.
 arrived at Rancho Park Golf Course on Monday to catch a glimpse Verb 1. catch a glimpse - see something for a brief time
catch sight, get a look

see - perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight; "You have to be a good observer to see all the details"; "Can you see the bird in that tree?"; "He is blind--he
 of the future.

With Mars already conquered, the cable channel shifted its focus to the PK2 robot caddy A plastic container that holds a CD or DVD disc for added protection. The bare disc is placed in the caddy, and the caddy is inserted into the drive. A caddy is not a jewel case. A jewel case protects the disc for transportation. A caddy protects the disc while reading and writing. , which has been carrying golf clubs at Rancho since January. What it found was disappointed golfers.

``It feels too gimmicky to me,'' Peter Frye said. ``I'd rather carry my clubs or use a cart. I don't see the point of it.''

Jimmy Chiang, a Sandpiper sandpiper, common name for some members of the large family Scolopacidae, small shore birds, including the snipe and the curlew. Sandpipers are wading birds with relatively long legs and long, slender bills for probing in the sand or mud for their prey—all  pro, said he used the PK2 for one hole.

``It had a mind of its own,'' Chiang said. ``I parked it and it kept turning by itself. So I had a marshall drive it in.''

Actually, robot caddies likely are here to stay, since most courses don't employ human caddies anymore.

The PK2 is a three-wheeled unit with four remote-controlled steering directions: forward, left, right and stop. The golfer can control it or have someone else handle it. Either way, the cost to rent is $7 for one bag or $12 for two bags.

Besides the PK2, made by the Oxnard-based Golf Group of America, a Santa Clara Santa Clara, city, Cuba
Santa Clara (sän`tä klä`rä), city (1994 est. pop. 217,000), capital of Villa Clara prov., central Cuba.
 company is testing the InteleCady, which not only holds golf bags but tells how many yards the ball is from the green.

The InteleCady is reportedly being tested at the San Jose San Jose, city, United States
San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850.
 Country Club, with an eye toward full operational status before the end of the year. Distribution throughout the Sun Belt could happen by next June.

PK2 can't spout yardage yard·age 1  
n.
1. An amount or length measured in yards.

2. Cloth sold by the yard.

Noun 1.
 yet, Golf Group president Steve Boyer said, but the company expects to offer that feature when the PK3 model is introduced next year.

Officials at Golf Group of America and GolfPro International, which is testing InteleCady, said the point of these robots is to allow the golfer to walk the course without having to carry or pull his clubs.

``People want to exercise,'' said Bob Allen, Golf Group's founder and executive vice president. ``Walking on the golf course is the purest way to play.''

``In the last 30 years, human caddies sort of disappeared from the face of the earth,'' GolfPro CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board.  Ron Davies said. ``They're only available at elite clubs, and being an avid golfer - as are my business partners - we realized preserving the right to walk was important to the long-term and continued success of the business of golf and the game of golf.''

Regardless, golfers around the area seem lukewarm to the idea a human caddy can be replaced.

Los Robles Robles is a common surname in the Spanish language meaning oaks, and may refer to:
  • Alfonso García Robles (1911-1991), Mexican diplomat and politician
  • Aurora Robles (born 1980), Mexican fashion model
  • Charlie Robles (born 1943), Puerto Rican musician
 Golf and Country Club used an earlier model of the PK2 but discontinued it because, pro David Sink said, the technology needed improving and there was no room to store them.

The local fire department also was concerned about the potential for trouble with cables used for charging robot batteries.

John Smith, a pro at Desert Aire Golf Club , said he has no use for robots.

``I'm from the old school,'' Smith said. ``It slows down the game.''

Golf Group marketing director Morty Mittenthal said he has a contract with Sandpiper Golf Course in Goletato introduce them later this year.

Golf Group president Steve Boyer said he's aware of the naysayers, which also include the cart concessionaires, who fear losing money, he said.

He agreed it could take a golfer two or three times to become comfortable with the robot. In the meantime Adv. 1. in the meantime - during the intervening time; "meanwhile I will not think about the problem"; "meantime he was attentive to his other interests"; "in the meantime the police were notified"
meantime, meanwhile
, he said, the technology can only improve.

It was just fine for Todd Lubin and MikeFitzpatrick on Monday.

``It was great walking,'' Lubin said after completing a round with a teen operating the robot.

``It was nice not having to carry our bags,'' Fitzpatrick said.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

PHOTO (1--color) The computerized InteleCady leaves the green, with clubs on board, and travels to the next hole.

(2) Golfers walk ahead of the InteleCady with their clubs while the robot races along with their bags.

Kurt Rogers / San Francisco Examiner The San Francisco Examiner is a U.S. daily newspaper. It has been published continuously in San Francisco, California, since the late 19th Century. History
19th century
The beginning of the Examiner is a topic of some controversy.
 
COPYRIGHT 1997 Daily News
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 1997, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Article Details
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Title Annotation:SPORTS
Publication:Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
Date:Jul 8, 1997
Words:649
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