It has been estimated that there are 2 million golfers in Southern California and close to 400 courses, which range from world-famous layouts to nondescript, nine-hole operations. Despite the disparity between the number of players and available holes, the city of Bellflower, a surburb of Los Angeles with an estimated population of 68,000, is questioning whether it needs its one course, the par-3 Bellflower Golf and Tennis Center.

City officials recently commissioned an environmental impact report to study the feasibility of an amusement center on the course's 23-acre site. The center would include, among other activities, skateboarding, wall climbing, bicycle racing, in-line skating and, perhaps the most controversial, paintball.

Once the report is finished, the city will conduct public hearings at the planning commission and city council levels. The council will have the ultimate say on the matter.

Bellflower officials view the center as a potential moneymaker — the course earned a little more than $30,000 last year — but residents see it as a potential menace. "I know this is a fad," said Jerry Gendron, who lives across the street from the course. "When this dies out, what's next?"

"My concerns are about the activities that would take place there," said Justine Miller, another resident who is chairman of the Save Golf in Bellflower Committee. "I don't care for the message that we're sending to our children. We would rather have them target golf balls than people."

Giovanni Degidio, vice president of the proposed center's developer, San Juan Capistrano-based SJS Enterprises, said he isn't surprised by the opposition. But he can't understand it, either. "This is a great project that will bring a lot of jobs to Bellflower," said Degidio, whose company also runs a paintball facility in Corona. "The city needs it. I've walked through that community several times, and their point is to leave it alone. It's a tough issue, but we'll do anything to make them happy."

Ted Spaseff, parks and recreation director for the city of Montebello, learned to play golf at the course and remembers when it also included miniature golf. Tennis courts replaced those holes years ago. "It's just a little course that feeds the population," he said. "In fact, if you drive by at the speed limit, you'd probably miss it."

The course does have its share of history. Pearl Sinn, a former U.S. Women's Amateur champion, developed her talents there. A young Tiger Woods played an occasional round there. Mike Davidson, who runs the course's junior program (which he said numbers anywhere from 85 to 100 youths between the ages of 6 and 17) says he has the pictures to prove it. Davidson mirrors the area's concerned citizens who view the course as a place to bring their children and not have to worry about their well-being. "If they take this out, where are they going to go?" he asked.

The course's general manager, Tong Oh, said he feels the same way, but he chooses his words carefully when discussing the matter. "I want to be impartial and everything because I work in the city," he said. "But it's a good course and people enjoy it here. It's a good place to babysit, too. I can understand both sides because I ask questions all the time. I like small places like this one. Everyone is like family."

An emotional attachment can have only so much merit, however. Whether that can be turned into profits is another matter, and that is the underlying issue.

"I can understand what the city's intentions are," said Spaseff, who recently coordinated a $4 million renovation of Montebello Country Club. "There are two schools of thought. The city wants to do what's best to generate revenue. But at the same time, there is some sentimental value. Since I am in the golf industry, I want to preserve every course I can. I'd like to see it stay, but it has to be a moneymaker. That's the reality with anything these days."

Margo Wheeler, director of community development for Bellflower, said she is not surprised at the community's negative reaction to the proposed center. She also said opposition leaders are overlooking the fact that nearby Long Beach boasts several of the area's most popular courses and practice facilities. And a nine-hole executive course, Ironwood, is less than a 10-minute drive away on the Artesia Freeway.

"It's not like this is the only opportunity for golf," she said. "That simply isn't the case. We are not an island unto ourselves. Whenever you want to do something, you always tend to bring out folks that don't want change. This happens in any city and for any project. Change is always difficult. You buy property and live in a community, and there always is an issue of wanting things the way you expect them to be."

Larry Morgan is golf writer at the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.