Q. Why do we have to go through one centralized number to get a tee time at the city's municipal golf course? I shouldn't have to compete with the golfers trying to get in at the Ala Wai Golf Course if I want to play at West Loch or Pali. Shouldn't each city course have a separate number to call so that golfers would have the best chance to get in at the course where they really want to play?

A. City Golf Course System administrator Garrick Iwamuro said the system is designed to give golfers options without losing their place in line. Resident golfers with registered golf identification cards can call a week ahead for a tee time, he said. Many try to get on the Ala Wai course, which is in town, flat and popular with seniors. But if you call and can't get in there, the system asks if you want to try a different city course.

He said that Ala Wai retains the reputation of the world's busiest course with more than 161,000 rounds played there each year, with smaller numbers for the nine-hole course at Kahuku and the other 18-hole courses at Ewa Villages, Pali, Ted Makalena and West Loch.

With 24 lines linked to the central number, the designers figured it would be the fairest system, Iwamuro said, because it gives you the option of selecting another course to check tee times without having to hang up and call another number. But he said your suggestion is being considered. He said the city is looking at the possibility of automated tee time numbers separate for each course. But he said the cost of such a change would be a key factor.

Q. One of the street signs at the corner of Cooke Street and Kawaiahao Street is spelled wrong. On the 'ewa corner of the intersection, one of the signs says Kawaihao Street, missing the third "a." Can you find out what happened here because the other signs on the intersection are spelled correctly?

A. A city crew followed up on your report and found the sign was indeed spelled wrong by mistake, according to city road maintenance division chief Larry Leopardi. A new sign was fabricated and installed on Oct. 6. Leopardi said the public can call 484-7600 to report a misspelled street name.

In the last fiscal year, which ended on June 30, he said the city installed, reset or replaced 4,995 traffic signs. He said those are signs of all types, e.g., street name, stop, yield, speed limit, etc.

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