This story has been corrected. See below.
Question: To the person complaining about the slow sixsome at West Loch Golf Course in the Oct. 24 “Kokua Line” (see is.gd/7LbGw5): You should be mad at municipal golf course management for allowing five/sixsomes to play. There are five/sixsomes that play fast, but they usually are the first to go out. If you tee off after 9 a.m., you will get a slow group in front of you, and 9 times out of 10, that group will be a five/sixsome. Why don’t they restrict play to no more than four in a group?
Answer: Yours is a frequent complaint around the country according to what we’ve seen posted online about big groups and slow play.
But officials who oversee the city’s six golf courses haven’t found five- and sixsomes to be a problem, based on the complaints they’ve received — or have not received.
If a group is playing slow, you’re advised to contact the starter’s office.
Municipal golf course rules say the standard number of players allowed per group is four. However, they also allow groups of five-six players, provided that all players are riding powered golf carts, said Tracy Kubota, deputy director of the Department of Enterprise Services.
“Although we receive some complaints, it is understood that five/sixsomes may take longer to play,” she said. “Depending on the caliber of the players and the difficulty of the course, foursomes may take just as long or longer.”
She said that on average, “four hours is a good estimate to play 18 holes for a foursome.”
Regarding the “auwe” criticizing the slow play of a group of six at West Loch on Sept. 20, Kubota said staff checked the log for that day, “and it seems they did not receive any calls at the starter’s office requesting assistance to move a slow group along.”
She explained that players usually will call the starter’s office to report that a group is playing slow.
“When a complaint is received, the golf course marshal or starters are responsible for ensuring groups move along at a reasonable pace so to not interfere with or slow other groups’ play,” she said.
Asked whether the rules or information about what golfers should do if they encounter a slow group are posted, Kubota said, “We will post signs for golfers instructing them to call the starter’s office.”
Tax Volunteers Needed
The IRS and its partners are looking for volunteers to prepare tax returns for free.
Last year more than 600 Hawaii residents volunteered to prepare more than 18,000 federal and state income tax returns through the IRS’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs.
Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are welcome, with those having bilingual skills particularly needed, said IRS spokesman David Tucker II.
Volunteers serve as return preparers, site coordinator and greeters. Training usually is held now to January, and volunteers generally study online for their certification.
To volunteer, email taxvolunteer@irs.gov or contact AARP Foundation Tax-Aide at www.aarp.org/taxvolunteer; the Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development — call Susan at 381-0881 or go to www.hawaiitaxhelp.org; the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii — call Elise von Dohlen, 527-8076, email elvondo@lashaw.org or go to www.legalaidhawaii.org; Goodwill Industries of Hawaii — email Lori Lau at LLau@higoodwill.org; or Leeward Community College Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program — contact Roy at 455-0294, kamida@ hawaii.edu or at www2.hawaii.edu/~kamida). Information also is available at IRS.gov (keywords “tax volunteer”).
MAHALO
To the kind person who found my dropped car keys at Waipio Costco on Oct. 24 in the handicap parking stall and turned them in to Lost & Found. You didn’t leave a name, but I want you to know that I appreciate what you did. — Clumsy Senior Citizen
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Write to "Kokua Line" at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
CORRECTION: Tracy Kubota is deputy director of enterprise services. An earlier version of this story and a story on page B2 of Tuesday’s Star-Advertiser said Kubota was deputy director of environmental services.
