Golfers Mixed on Nixing Range Lights

University City Patch Editor Myra Lopez spoke with several golfers at the driving range on Friday afternoon and asked their thoughts on the range lights being permanently shut off.

Coincidentally, U City Patch ran into City Manager Lehman Walker at the driving range while out talking to the golfers. He said he often leaves the office to check in on the various U City facilities.

U City Patch: How do you feel about the city manager's decision to no longer turn on the lights at the driving range for evening use?
"I don't agree with it. I think that the period of time for which they are on is not a long period of time, especially when it's lighter much later. I'd like to see them left on."
U City Patch: Do you use the driving range in the evenings? 
"From time to time."
-Larry Levy, University City resident

"I don't really come at night, just during the day at lunch."
U City Patch: What do you think of the driving range in general?
"It's great. It's convenient for me. It's close to work."
-Tony Gerber, works in Overland and lives in House Springs.

"I don't come up here at night. It's a quick lunch outing kind of a thing."
U City Patch: What do you think of the driving range in general?
"It's nice. It's very nice and convenient. Good resource for the community. There wasn't anything like this in close proximity before."
U City Patch: How often do you use the driving range?
"Once every couple of months."
-Steve Pozaric, works in Clayton and lives in Fenton

"Every day I use it, (the driving range)." 
U City Patch: Do you use the driving range in the evenings?
"I'm never here at night."
U City Patch: What do you think of the driving range in general?
"It's great."
-Booker Ford, 85-year-old retiree, lives in Venita Park

U City Patch: How do you feel about the city manager's decision to no longer turn on the lights at the driving range for evening use?
"That's wrong. That guy over there (motions toward home of range opponent, Ethan Schuman) has been giving trouble ever since they put this range in. What did the lights do to him? They cut them off at 9:30pm. That's a little length of time. But he doesn't want to go along with it."
"I'll tell you something, you're losing a lot of money up here, a lot of money. People come up here about 7:30pm and figure they can hit until 9:00pm. They'll leave because the lights aren't on."
U City Patch: How often do you use the driving range?
"I'm up here all the time...every day that it's nice. 
U City Patch: Do you use the range in the evenings?
"I'm just on my break from work now, but I'll be back up here in the evening."
-Leon Breeland, University City resident

U City Patch: How often do you use the driving range?
"Almost every day. During the daytime."
U City Patch: How do you feel about the city manager's decision to no longer turn on the lights at the driving range for evening use?
"If I was using it (driving range) at night I'd have some opposition towards it, but since I don't tend to use it that much at night I don't see it as a big issue for me."
"The lights point this way (motioning away from the homes), so I don't understand. If they are pointing toward the range, I don't understand how the light affects the houses behind it."
U City Patch: What do you think of the driving range in general?
"I love it. I was so happy when they put it here. I really enjoy it."
-Bobby Willis, University City resident

EDITOR'S NOTE: Readers, U City Patch visited the golf course Friday at noon. U City Patch will soon visit in the evening to talk with the golfers most likely affected.