IS IT GOLF, YET? . . . The only birdies and eagles at the Palo Alto Golf Course recently have been the ones with wings. Since last week's flooding, the popular layout was closed. As of Monday, however, the driving range was back in operation and there were plans to reopen the course Wednesday. If it doesn't rain. Too much run was the culprit last week, which forced closure of the course for nearly a week. "Tuesday (Feb. 3) there was four feet of water in the parking lot," said Brad Lozares, Muni's head pro. "There was a lot of flooding on the course. The lake at No. 11 has flowed over to the 18th, and there's a big stretch of water between (holes) 1 and nine, the length of the holes. In some spot, you can't even walk--for safety reasons. We've been here 17 years," continued Lozares, the course's head pro since 1982, "and this is the worst we've seen." The area hardest hit on the course is on the back nine, out by the levees, which overflowed. The holes below sea level . . . you can see that they're below sea level," Lozares said of the more than casual water that created mini lakes on the course last week. Maintenance workers had been unable to even attempt to remedy the soggy situation because their shed behind the sixth green had been flooded. Lozares is hoping for some clear weather that will allow the course to begin to dry out. Lozares said a lot of golfers believed the course has been closed for sometime, since dirt has been hauled in and deposited around the course and new greens constructed in preparation for a long-awaited renovation project in the spring that will improve the course's poor drainage and irrigation conditions. Actually, the course had been closed only since last Tuesday. The drains are clear and Monday's sunny weather did help. However, more rain this week could put the course on hold once again.
YOUTH HOOPS . . . Many of the top young boys' middle school basketball teams in the area will converge on Cubberley Pavilion this weekend for the 34th annual Atherton Lions Club/SANCRA 8th Grade Basketball Tournament. Games begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, with the championship game set for Sunday at 3:30 p.m. JLS Middle School takes on St. Simon of Los Altos in the opening game Saturday in the pavilion. Also entered is Jordan, which faces Abbott of San Mateo at 8:30 a.m. in Cubberley's large gym. In the 5th annual PALO Club 8th Grade girls tournament last weekend at Palo Alto High, St. Simon captured the title with a 44-42 win over Mission Hill of Santa Cruz. Jordan lost to St. Simon in the semifinals, 40-29, while Hillview of Menlo Park was ousted in the consolation second round.
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