Mission Bay Golf Course in sad shape
I wanted to bring attention to the miserable situation going on at Mission Bay Golf Course since the City of San Diego took over management responsibilities. I use the facilities regularly and I am absolutely appalled at the condition of the tee boxes and the fact that the practice putting green has been closed since July 2006.
That’s correct. It’s been over six months since a golfer has hit a practice putt at Mission Bay, and why? They can’t grow a patch of grass!
And how do they compensate us loyal golfers for the miserable state of the course and practice areas? They raise the fees! As an avid golfer, I feel that chipping and putting are just as important as hammering balls down the range. It now costs $22 for 18 holes and $7 for a medium bucket of balls. I feel they should be discounting the green fees and range fees until they can get their act together, make the course presentable and open the practice green.
Ian Dyer, La Jolla

Student loan interest rate cut a good step
As someone who is financing the majority of my college education, Congress’ announcement of a plan to cut the interest rate on student loans to 3.4 percent was music to my ears. Many students of all economic backgrounds invest in their education by taking out student loans. Unfortunately, these same students are severely burdened by loan repayment soon after graduation, preventing them from pursuing certain public interest careers. This reduction in interest will open more doors for tomorrow’s college students and relieve the burden faced by today’s.
That said, there is still much to be done in making a higher education more affordable, and that includes increasing the federal Pell grant to $5,100 per semester. Any steps the new Congress can take to relieve the burden of borrowing for a higher education are steps in the right direction.
Brendon Liner, La Jolla

Years of waiting are over
At last, a reasonable solution to the Shoreline Plaza saga! I thank Councilman Kevin Faulconer for his creative thinking on an issue that should have been resolved long ago. This compromise plan hit the nail right on the head by 1) providing more green space along the water, 2) pushing parking spots away from the water’s edge and 3) still giving us the additional parking we need at NTC. With the 46-acre NTC regional park just yards to the south, Shoreline Plaza “” which is located under the airplane crash zone “” is not the right place for a park. I am so happy that after years of waiting, the construction fences will come down and we will now finally be able to enjoy the shops, historical district, arts and culture, views and access to the water that the renovated Naval Training Center will bring Point Loma.
Patti Adams, Point Loma